Hindu temple idols desecrated by unidentified miscreants in Uttar Pradesh
Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, India 
29 May, 2025
Case Summary
In Khasa Mohammadpur village, located in the Ramgaon police station area of Bahraich, idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva in a Hindu temple were desecrated by unidentified miscreants. Reports also mention that some provocative posts were made on social media to incite people. The Hinduphobia Tracker managed to contact the police, who confirmed that the desecration of the idols did occur. However, they stated that the perpetrators remain unidentified and that the investigation is ongoing. According to media reports, as soon as news of the desecration spread, tensions rose throughout the village. Angry villagers gathered outside the temple and began protesting against this act of desecration. Police and administrative officials soon arrived at the scene and managed to pacify the villagers by assuring them that action would be taken. Subsequently, the villagers immersed the broken idols in the Saryu River. The temple priest warned police officials that he would self-immolate if strict action was not taken in this matter. Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), Durga Prasad Tiwari, stated that some miscreants had damaged the idols in the temple at Khasa Mohammadpur village. Tiwari also mentioned that larger idols are being ordered to be installed in the temple. The police registered a case and began their investigation, questioning anyone they found suspicious. Section 163 was imposed in the area to maintain law and order.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu Religious Representations. Within this, the subcategory- Desecration of Hindu religious symbols. 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 subcategory selected 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 incident qualifies as a hate crime as the act involved the deliberate vandalisation of an idol of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva, two deeply revered deities in Hinduism. The miscreants physically desecrated the idol, which signifies a blatant insult to Hindu beliefs and religious sanctity. The act of damaging the deity's idol is deeply offensive to Hindus, as Hindus hold the religious symbols like idols, flags and symbols as sacred, and any attempt to damage them is a direct indication of religious animosity towards Hinduism and Hindus at large. This act signifies a blatant insult to Hindu beliefs and religious sanctity. The perpetrators involved in the vandalism and the desecration were fully aware that Hindu temples are sacred centres of worship for Hindus; despite this, they deliberately attacked the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The purpose behind this was obviously to intimidate, harass, and provoke Hindus. In Hinduism, a Hindu temple is very sacred and is regarded as the abode of the deity. The temple is highly revered and sacred as it is believed that it is infused with divine energy, making it an essential part of the faith. Any act of aggression against a temple or its idols is not merely an act of vandalism but an attack on the religious identity of Hindus, rooted in animosity towards Hinduism. Temples are sacred spaces and centres of worship for Hindus, and such attacks reflect a deep disregard for Hinduism. Such attacks not only cause physical destruction of the religious site but also inflict profound wounds on the spiritual and cultural fabric of the Hindu community, as temples symbolise their faith and collective identity. It is also 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 idols in the Hindu temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. Such attacks underscore religious animosity, warranting their inclusion in the Hinduphobia Tracker under the hate crime database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
