Assault on Hindu place of worship: Muslims men attempt to encroach upon temple land; put up a graveyard signboard
Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, India 
27 May, 2025
Case Summary
In the Mallawan area of Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh, the Muslim community encroached on land belonging to the “Laalta Baba Dev Sthan,” a Hindu place of worship. According to the villagers, the disputes arose because the members of the Muslim community, in the middle of the night, put a graveyard signboard on the land and fenced it with wires and iron pillars. The land that was fenced belonged to the Lalla Baba Devasthan and had a religious significance within the Hindu community in the village. Therefore, when the Muslims put up the signboard, Hindu villagers objected to it, calling it an encroachment. The villagers stated that the land in question is recorded in official revenue documents as barren land belonging to the village society and is associated with a Hindu religious site, thereby disallowing any private use without legal sanction. The Muslim community claimed that the land has been used for burials for several years and that they had received verbal permission from a former village head for its use as a cemetery. Amidst these tensions, the villagers submitted a written complaint to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate regarding encroachment. An inspection team, including Naib Tehsildar Yashwant Singh, visited the site to conduct an on-ground inspection and verify land records. The inspection confirmed that the land legally belongs to the village society and holds no official status as a cemetery. Consequently, the administration removed the unauthorised fencing and signage, effectively ending the encroachment.
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: - Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. 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. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case has been added to the tracker because members of the Muslim community tried to encroach upon land that is part of a Hindu religious site. The land is associated with the Lalla Baba Devasthan, which holds deep religious significance for the local Hindu population. The fact that Muslims put the signboard and fencing in the middle of the night shows their malicious intent. They tried to assert control over the land that does not legally belong to them, as proven by the land records. This was deliberate from the Muslim side in an attempt to restrict Hindus from practising their faith in that area. This should not be viewed as just a case of land encroachment, but it also signifies a deeper pattern of religious hostility towards Hindus and their places of worship. This case is on the lines of a broader pattern where temple lands and Hindu places of worship are illicitly taken over by the Muslim community, in an attempt to restrict Hindus from practicing their faith. These acts are intentional, deliberate and rooted in religious animosity towards Hindus. They create an atmosphere of fear and exclusion for Hindus and must be recognised for what they are: hate crimes driven by religious animosity.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
