Temple priest’s room burnt in Bhatni Hanuman Mandir after repeated theft attempts
Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, India 
21 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Rajwal, under the Bhatni police station area, unknown individuals set fire to the temple premises. In the incident, the priest’s blanket and bedding were completely burned to ashes. The priest, Nanhe Tiwari, said that after the evening prayers and rituals, he went home. When he returned to the temple the next morning, he saw that the room adjacent to the temple was on fire. This is the same room where he usually rests at night. According to him, unidentified people entered through the window and set fire to the belongings. He narrated that this was not the first incident. A month ago, a water pitcher, a plate, and a torch were stolen from the temple. He mentioned that items keep disappearing from the temple regularly, causing him considerable distress. Upon learning about the incident, nearby shopkeepers gathered at the site and demanded action against the culprits. The priest said that he intends to file a complaint at the police station. Bhatni Station House Officer Jitendra Singh said that he has not received any official information yet, but assured that once a complaint is filed, the matter will be investigated and action will be taken against those responsible.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This incident involving the setting of fire to a room within the premises of the Manokamna Siddha Hanuman Temple in Rajwal, Bhatni, could potentially be categorised as a religiously motivated crime against a Hindu institution. In Hindu Dharma, temples are sacred spaces central to religious life and devotion. Any form of attack, desecration, arson, or theft targeting a temple or its premises is considered an attack on the faith itself, often rooted in religious hostility. In this case, the priest (pujari) reported that the same temple had been previously targeted for theft, with items such as a water pitcher, plate, and torch stolen just a month prior. The repeated targeting of the same temple, culminating now in an act of arson, raises serious suspicion that the motive may be religious in nature, potentially aimed at intimidating or desecrating a place of worship. However, since the identity and intent of the perpetrators remain unknown and no direct evidence has yet emerged to confirm religious motivation, the case is currently being included under the “Undecided” category in the tracker. If further information surfaces indicating that the crime was driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith, the case will be reclassified as a Hate Crime.
Case Status
Complaint not filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
