Idol of Radha-Krishna stolen from Hindu temple by unknown miscreant in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India 
16 July, 2025
Case Summary
In the Mohalla Badi Bamnpuri, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, an ashtadhatu (eight-metal) idol of Radha-Krishna was stolen from a Hindu temple by an unknown miscreant. According to reports, the theft occurred late at night and was discovered the next morning when a local Hindu resident, Rajiv Rastogi, noticed that the lock of the temple was broken. He immediately alerted the police. It has been reported that a Hindu temple had been built outside a closed house. The owner of the house lives abroad, and the temple was maintained by the local Hindu community, who visited there for worship. There was construction going on at a nearby house, combined with heavy rainfall, which weakened the temple walls. Upon receiving the information, police reached the spot and began examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area. In one of the recordings, a young man is seen approaching the temple with a rickshaw around 3 a.m. and later returning with the idol loaded onto it. While the face of the accused is not visible in the footage, it is suspected that he is a garbage picker who used the opportunity to flee with the idol. As of the date of writing this report, efforts were underway to apprehend the perpetrator, and recovery of the idol was to be expected soon.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
Temples in Hindu society are not merely physical structures but serve as foundational religious and cultural institutions. Any intrusion, desecration, or looting of temple property directly impacts the collective religious identity of the community. In this case, while the offenders remain unidentified and their motives have not yet been ascertained, the act of looting a temple carries the potential for religious significance. Across multiple documented incidents, it has been observed that non-Hindu perpetrators sometimes deliberately target Hindu temples as a manifestation of hostility towards the faith itself. These crimes are not always driven by economic motives alone but are also tied to broader patterns of ideological contempt. However, since there is no current evidence directly linking the perpetrators' actions to religious hatred or anti-Hindu sentiment, this case has been placed in the 'Undecided' category. Should further investigation uncover motives of religious animosity, the case will be reclassified as a hate crime accordingly.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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