Hindu devotees targeted while practising faith: Muslim men assault Kanwariyas carrying holy water to Babadham in Deoghar
Dhanwar, Jharkhand, India 
22 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Lal Bazar under Dhanwar police station limits, a group of Muslims attacked and assaulted Kanwariyas, Hindu devotees, predominantly of Lord Shiva, who undertake an annual religious pilgrimage known as the Kanwar Yatra during the sacred month of Shravan (Sawan). The Kanwariyas were on their way to Babadham Deoghar after collecting water from Rajdaha in Sariya, when they were assaulted by a Muslim group. Angered by the assault, Hindu devotees blocked the road, leading to a confrontation where thousands from both communities gathered on opposite sides. At the time of writing this report, administrative officials were trying to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, the Hindu side continued the road blockade, and police were engaged in resolving the issue.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker un the primary category of - Attack resulting in death. The sub-category selected is - Attack against Hindu devotees. Hindu devotees are a few of the easiest targets of religiously motivated hate crimes because during the festival/procession/puja etc, for non-Hindus it is easy to profile their victims on the basis of religion. Hindu devotees come under attack on several occasions by individual non-Hindus or mobs of non-Hindus owing to their animosity against Hinduism, its symbols and tradition/practices. There are several instances of Hindu devotees being attacked while they worship in temples or temporary religious structures, during religious processions, doing bhajan/kirtan/puja in their own homes, in the residential society etc. These attacks are perpetrated by non-Hindus primarily because of their animosity towards Hindus and their faith. In some cases, the trigger for the violence may be non-religious, however, there are two elements that make these hate crimes. First, the Hindus who come under attack are attacked violently while indulging in religious activity. Whether they are in a place of worship or not is immaterial to the crime. When individuals are attacked while indulging in religious practices, the attack in itself is a hindrance to their freedom to practice religion and therefore constitutes a hate crime. Secondly, religious supremacist doctrines and ideologies deem religious practices of Hindus to be offensive ab initio since they are considered “sinful” by these ideologies, worthy to be annihilated by force or coercion. Driven by these religious supremacist ideologies and doctrines, the attacks against Hindu devotees stem from intrinsic animosity towards Hinduism. In some cases, the trigger for the violence may be non-religious, however, it develops into a religiously motivated crime during the course of the violence. Since these attacks stem from animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, they are considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The other sub-category selected is - Attack on religious procession. The outward celebration and display of religious symbols in an intrinsic part of Hinduism. Religious processions on various festivals are age-old traditions and a way to manifest faith and form a part of the religious practices of Hindus. On several occasions, such religious processions come under attack by non-Hindu mobs, in a manifestation of their animosity towards Hinduism and their practices. The reasons cited for such violent attacks are many and range from crossing a non-Hindu resident-dominated area to playing loud music, crossing from an area where there is a religious structure of another faith etc. The violent attacks are triggered by the outward display of religiosity by Hindus. The attacks are mainly a manifestation of religious supremacist doctrine which believes that idolatry, essentially the Hindu faith, is one that deserves to be annihilated since the very tenets of Hinduism, its practices and traditions are considered a sin in those doctrines. Since these attacks emanate from intrinsic and doctrinal animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, it is considered a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. The other sub-category selected is - Communal clash/attack. Communal clash is a form of collective violence that involves clashes between groups belonging to different religious identities. For a communal clash between Hindus and non-Hindus to qualify as a religiously motivated hate crime, the trigger of the violence itself would have to be anti-Hindu in essence. For example, if there is a Hindu religious procession that comes under attack from a non-Hindu mob and after the initial attack, Hindus retaliate in self-defence, leading to a communal clash between the two religious communities. While at a later stage, both communities are involved in the clash/violence, the initial trigger of the violence was by the non-Hindu mob against the Hindus and therefore, it could safely be termed as an anti-Hindu violence. Further, the trigger would also have to be religiously motivated. In the cited example, the attack by the non-Hindu mob was against religious processions and therefore, can be concluded to be religiously motivated. In some cases, the trigger may be non-religious, however, it develops into religious violence against Hindus at a later stage. In such cases too, the foundational animosity towards Hindus becomes the motivating factor of the crime and therefore, it would be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus under this category. In this incident, the Kanwariyas, Hindu devotees undertaking a sacred pilgrimage to Babadham Deoghar, were targeted and assaulted while actively engaging in a religious practice. The attackers, identified as members of the Muslim community, confronted and assaulted them in Lal Bazar. Since the Kanwariyas were visibly engaged in their religious observance, wearing saffron and carrying holy water, their identity as Hindu devotees was unambiguous. Such an attack on individuals during a religious act amounts to an assault on their religious freedom and beliefs. It reflects a targeted act of violence against Hindus during the practice of their faith, and the deliberate disruption of this religious observance signals religious animosity. The targeting of Hindu devotees specifically because of their visible religious identity makes this incident a religiously motivated hate crime. Kanwar Yatra is not merely a personal observance but a highly public and symbolic religious procession that is integral to Hindu tradition. The attack on the Kanwariyas en route to Babadham is an attack on a religious procession and thus represents a broader hostility to Hindu practices. Religious processions are often challenged by non-Hindu mobs due to doctrinal opposition to public displays of Hindu faith, particularly involving symbols like saffron clothing, music, and chanting. The disruption of such a procession by non-Hindus is therefore more than just a physical altercation; it is an ideological act rooted in the desire to suppress the outward expression of Hindu religious identity. The communal tension was triggered specifically by an unprovoked attack by a Muslim group on Hindu Kanwariyas who were peacefully observing their religious pilgrimage. The Kanwariyas, clearly identifiable by their attire and sacred water pots, were exercising their right to religious practice when they were violently confronted. This assault by the Muslim group constituted the initial act of communal violence, not provoked by any prior aggression from the Hindu side. The violence was aimed at disrupting a Hindu religious procession and was rooted in animosity towards the public expression of Hindu devotion. In conclusion, the targeted assault on Kanwariyas during their pilgrimage, the obstruction of a Hindu religious procession, and the communal aggression by members of the Muslim community reflect clear religious hostility. As this violence directly infringes upon the Hindu devotees’ right to practise their faith peacefully, the incident is classified as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
