Hindu temple vandalised, idols of religious deities desecrated by unknown miscreants in Haryana
Palwal, Haryana, India 
29 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Palwal district, Haryana, a Hindu temple was deliberately vandalised and sacred idols broken and desecrated by some unknown miscreants. The temple, Shiv mandir, is located on Chhayansa Road in Swamika village of Palwal district. According to the local Hindu devotees, when they came in the morning to offer their daily prayers, they found the temple vandalised with its idol broken and the sanctum sanctorum desecrated. The Shilving present in the temple was deliberately broken by some unknown individuals. As news of the incident spread, hundreds of villagers gathered at the site in protest and grief. Former sarpanch Parasram submitted a complaint to the police demanding strict action. He also pointed out that this temple had been targeted previously as well, including cases of theft. As of the date of writing this report, a case was registered by the police, and the investigation was ongoing. Police were checking for nearby CCTV footage and were working to identify the culprits.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of: - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within it, the sub-category selected is: - Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. 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. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The other sub-category relevant here is: - Attack on temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case has been added to the tracker as the perpetrators deliberately targeted a Hindu temple, an institution that holds immense spiritual importance in the Hindu faith. For Hindus, temples are not mere physical structures; they are sanctified spaces that embody the divine presence of Hindu deities. Acts of violence against such spaces are not isolated incidents of destruction but reflect underlying hostility towards Hindu beliefs and identity. The attack also involved the deliberate desecration of Hindu religious symbols through the vandalism of the Hindu temple and its idols, including the Shivling. In Hinduism, idols of Hindu deities are not just artistic representations but are deeply revered manifestations of the divine. Their desecration is seen as a direct affront to the religious sentiments of Hindus and an act of profound disrespect. Such acts of violence against Hindu temples and their idols are not just an attack on the temple property; it is an act of violence against the religious sentiments of the Hindu community that derives spiritual, cultural, and social meaning from that temple space. Furthermore, the psychological impact of such attacks is immense. Hindu devotees who visit temples seek solace, peace, and a sense of connection with the divine. When these sacred temples are targeted and desecrated, it shatters the sense of security and belonging that the Hindu community derives from its religious institutions. The pain caused by the desecration of the temple idols is not limited to the physical damage; it is a wound to the collective psyche of the Hindu community. The former sarpanch also pointed out that this temple was also targeted in past. This further proves that it was not an isolated act of violence; it was a premeditated attack launched at the Hindu community and their sacred shrines. Since this attack was directed at both the Hindu temple and the temple idols, it is classified as a religiously motivated hate crime against the Hindu community. It is important to mention here that though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed from hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
