Obscene post targeting Hindu deities shared in Jharkhand; devotees demanded action against accused and group admin
Garhwa, Jharkhand, India 
12 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Manjhiaon, Jharkhand, an obscene and offensive post targeting the Hindu religion and deities was shared. The post was deeply vulgar and hurtful, and caused widespread outrage and distress among the group’s Hindu members, who demanded swift legal action. Following the circulation of the post, several members of the group approached senior officials, including the Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner, calling for immediate legal action against the individual who posted the content, as well as against the group administrator. It was reported that the group admin had been informed of the offensive post three days earlier, yet took no action to remove the post or notify the police. This inaction has further angered the complainants. The community representatives insisted that such provocative and indecent posts could incite tensions and disrupt peace, and that those responsible must be held accountable under the law. Speaking on the matter, Mahuwa police station in-charge, Inspector Sunil Kumar Tiwari, stated that appropriate legal action will be taken once a formal complaint is submitted. The police have assured that the matter will be treated seriously, given the sensitive nature of the content and the impact it has had on social cohesion and public sentiment.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the Hinduphobia tracker under the primary category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation. The subcategory selected is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses. An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The other primary category selected is - Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The obscene and offensive post shared in Manjhiaon, Jharkhand, constitutes a clear case of religiously motivated hate crime. In Hindu tradition, deities are not merely symbolic but are considered living representations of the divine and hold profound spiritual and devotional significance. The deliberate circulation of vulgar content targeting Hindu deities is not only deeply disrespectful but also reflects animosity towards the Hindu faith itself. By distorting sacred images into objects of ridicule or vulgarity, the perpetrator engaged in a form of hate speech that fosters division, incites hostility, and violates the right of a community to practice its faith with dignity. Hence, this case is included in the hate crime database. In recent times, social media has increasingly become a platform for anti-Hindu hate, with derogatory memes, videos, and messages targeting Hindu religious symbols, practices, and deities. Such content is recognised as part of a broader pattern of Hinduphobia and religious hate crimes online. This deliberate targeting of revered religious icons firmly establishes this act as a religiously motivated hate crime; therefore, it is being categorised under the hate crime database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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