Muslim man enters Bageshwar Dham temple with desi pistol and ammunition
Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, India 
19 June, 2023
Case Summary
At the Bageshwar Dham Temple in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, a man named Rajjan Khan entered with a desi pistol and ammunition. Devotees spotted him carrying the gun in the Parikrama Marg, causing panic. Police were alerted, and Khan was apprehended. The gun was identified as a 315-bore desi pistol, and Khan, a resident of Indrapuri Colony in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, was taken into custody.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In Hinduism, a religious structure is also considered divine. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the religious structure itself is sacred. In this sub-category, we would document attacks against religious structures which are not consecrated temple spaces. Such religious spaces could be temporary in nature – for example – the religious spaces erected specifically for festivals like Durga Puja etc. This category would also document cases of attacks against religious centres. These spaces in their own right may not be ‘sacred’ per se, however, are often spaces where religious gurus live, religious teaching is imparted, or belong to religious institutions. Any attack against religious structures is a result of animosity towards the religion itself, which manifests itself through the religious spaces and therefore, such attacks are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Religious centres are also manifestations of the religion, its teachings or gurus and therefore, attacks against such centres would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Here, a man named Rajjan Khan entered the Bageshwar Dham Temple in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh and with a desi pistol and ammunition, represents a case of violating the sanctity of a place of worship, motivated by religious animosity. Temples and other places of worship are considered sacred spaces where people gather for spiritual practices in an atmosphere of peace and safety. Bringing a weapon into such a space disrupts this sanctity, causing fear and panic among devotees, and can be interpreted as an act of intimidation. In this case, Khan’s presence with a gun in the Parikrama Marg, a pathway meant for religious observance, signifies not only a blatant disregard for the rules of the temple but also a potentially premeditated act of religious hostility, which is why this case has been added here.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
