Temple floor vandalised in broad daylight, idols attempted to be removed
Nawabganj, Uttar Pradesh, India 
14 April, 2025
Case Summary
In Nawabganj, an individual entered a Hanuman temple located on Bijauliya Road in Adarsh Nagar, a locality within a small town, and broke the temple floor. The person then attempted to remove the idols and the Shivling placed within the temple. Upon hearing the commotion, local residents and passers-by rushed to the site, prompting the individual to flee the scene. The incident led to public outrage, and officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Circle Officer, arrived with police personnel to assess the situation. The temple, frequented daily by local men and women for worship, was maintained by a resident of the neighbourhood, Leelavati, who also served as the temple caretaker. According to her report submitted at the Nawabganj police station, the intruder damaged the flooring and attempted to displace the deities. Police began an inquiry immediately after receiving the complaint and initiated an examination of CCTV footage collected from the vicinity to identify the perpetrator. The accused was captured on CCTV cameras, and a photograph was retrieved to aid the investigation. Police authorities began efforts to locate the individual, and senior officials directed a thorough inquiry into the matter. The local community expressed anger over the desecration of the religious site in broad daylight and demanded strict action against the offender.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The sub-category relevant in this case is- 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 sub-category relevant in this case 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 because it involved the desecration of a temple and sacred Hindu religious symbols placed within the premises. The deliberate act of breaking the temple floor and attempting to remove consecrated idols and the Shivling constitutes an attack on icons that hold immense spiritual significance for Hindus. Any desecration of such religious symbols stems from an inherent hostility towards the faith itself, as these icons are tangible expressions of the sacred. Therefore, this act reflected religious animosity and falls within the category of a religiously motivated hate crime. Furthermore, the intrusion into a temple premises and the violence against its sanctity amount to an attack on the temple as a religious institution, which is central to Hindu worship and belief. An attack on the temple structure or its surroundings is not just vandalism—it is an assault on the core of Hindu belief. The intentional disruption of the spiritual environment within the temple reflects a deliberate affront to the faith and its followers, thus classifying it as a hate crime against the Hindu religious 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 filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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