Revered Hindu site dedicated to folk deity desecrated by unknown miscreants
Katihar, Bihar, India 
15 April, 2025
Case Summary
In the Kadwa block of Katihar district, miscreants vandalised the railing surrounding a revered local shrine known as Masaan Sthan, located between Singalpur and Diyari villages in the Pelagadh panchayat. The site, dedicated to Masaan Baba and situated near a Pakhar tree, featured a platform built by local devotees. The iron railing that enclosed the platform was broken and damaged, which led to widespread anger among residents. By morning, villagers discovered the damage and expressed deep frustration. They recalled previous incidents of theft from the site, including the removal of a hand pump and a donation box. The shrine had long served as a centre of worship and prayer for the surrounding community. The platform and railings were constructed in 2015 by local devotees to ensure comfort and safety for visiting worshippers. Upon receiving information about the incident, police from the Kadwa station arrived at the scene and began an investigation. Leaders from both the BJP and JDU visited the site and urged the police to take strict action against those responsible. The station officer appealed for calm and assured the community that the culprits would be identified and punished. He also promised assistance with reconstructing the damaged railing.
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- Violence against religious structures or centres. 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. This incident qualifies as a hate crime because it involved the deliberate destruction of a religious structure that holds cultural and spiritual significance for the local Hindu community. Masaan Baba is a local or folk deity often associated with Lord Shiva in his fierce and ascetic form. The shrine at Masaan Sthan, though not a formal temple, has served as a sacred space for decades, where devotees gathered for worship. The targeted damage to the platform's railing represents a direct attack on a structure regarded as holy, which deeply offends the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Such acts are not merely vandalism but are motivated by hostility towards the religion itself. The destruction of a space central to Hindu religious practice reflects an underlying intent to insult and intimidate the followers of the faith. Given that this space was purpose-built by devotees and used consistently for worship and offerings, the attack is seen as an expression of contempt towards the religious identity of the community, thus making it a religiously motivated hate crime. 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 Hindu site and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
