Hindu temple attacked and vandalised with photo of Lord ram thrown away; devotees aasaulted for opposing the desecration
Vadodara, Gujarat, India 
21 May, 2025
Case Summary
In Vadodara, Gujarat, Ramji temple, located in Ekta Nagar, was attacked and vandalised by a Muslim man named Irfan Mohammad Sheikh. According to police, the accused, identified as 45-year-old Irfan Shaikh, is a resident of the same locality. He forcibly entered the temple at around 7:30 p.m. and disrupted the evening aarti. He vented out his frustration by stating he was fed up with the daily "dhating" (nonsense), after which he threw away a photo of Lord Ram and damaged the loudspeaker. When Akshay, one of the devotees, attempted to stop him, Shaikh physically assaulted Akshay and his mother. The police promptly arrived at the location and arrested the accused. He was sent to judicial custody.
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 first sub-category 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. The second sub-category selected is: - Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. 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 second primary category selected here is: - Attack not resulting in death. Within in, the sub-category selected is: - Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim. In several cases, Hindus are attacked for opposing religiously motivated crimes being committed against a fellow Hindu or simply for voicing an opinion opposing radical elements, who either have in the past or continue to persecute Hindus. In such cases, the initial attack against the victim, against which the Hindu was trying to defend the victim, would also need to be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime. Since the initial crime itself was religiously motivated and the subsequent crime of attempting to save the victim or speaking against the radical elements ends up inviting a violent attack, it would also be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case has been added to the tracker as a clear instance of a religiously motivated hate crime. A Muslim man deliberately entered a Hindu temple during a sacred ritual and proceeded to desecrate the premises by throwing away a photo of Lord Ram, a deeply revered deity in Hinduism, and damaging the temple's loudspeaker. By referring to the aarti (a central Hindu religious ceremony) as "nonsense," the accused openly mocked and belittled Hindu religious beliefs and practices, indicating a deep-seated contempt for the faith. When a devotee and his mother attempted to stop the desecration, they were physically assaulted, further reinforcing the deliberate and aggressive nature of the attack. This was not merely an act of individual frustration but one that targeted core symbols of the Hindu religion, suggesting underlying religious hostility. Such incidents are emblematic of a broader pattern where expressions of Hindu faith, especially in public or communal spaces, are met with intolerance or violence by individuals from other religious communities. Attacks on temples and Hindu symbols are not isolated acts of vandalism; they are acts of religious aggression aimed at undermining and intimidating the Hindu community. For these reasons, this incident has been rightfully categorised as a hate crime targeting the Hindu faith.
Victim Details
Total Victim
2
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 1
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 2
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 2
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
