Hindus subjected to derogatory abuse; Muslim man insults Hindu deities during minor verbal dispute
Hyderabad, Telangana, India 
24 June, 2025
Case Summary
In the Ramkot area of Hyderabad, Telangana, derogatory remarks about Hindus and Hindu deities' idols were made by a Muslim man during a minor verbal argument with a Hindu shopkeeper. According to news reports, the Muslim man had purchased vehicle parts from a Hindu shopkeeper. Then he went to a mechanic shop where the mechanic informed him that he had been overcharged by Rs 140. On hearing this, the Muslim man returned to the shop of the Hindu man and demanded a refund of the extra amount. The Hindu shopkeeper refused, explaining that the man might have bought the item from some other shop. This disagreement escalated into a heated exchange, during which the Muslim man made derogatory comments about Hindus and Hindu idols. He said, “I’m not lying and I’m truthful since I’m a Muslim. What about this man (pointing to the Hindu shopkeeper), who worships and bows before stones?”, referring to Hindu deities' idols. The remarks immediately caused outrage among the other Hindu customers and local residents. Local Hindu residents confronted the Muslim man, urging him to remain silent and challenging his comments about Hinduism. Despite their attempts to calm him, he continued to argue. Eventually, people managed to persuade him to leave the premises. The Hindu shopkeeper stated that a warning notice was displayed in his shop, clearly stating that customers should check items carefully, as goods or money would not be refunded. Following the incident, the Hindu shopkeeper lodged a complaint with the police. The authorities registered a case and arrested the Muslim man. The entire incident was captured on the shop’s CCTV, and the footage was circulated widely on social media. BJP MLA from Goshamahal, Mr Raja Singh, tweeted: “A Muslim man went to a shop and made objectionable remarks insulting those who worship stone gods. This incident took place in the Narayanguda police station area of Hyderabad. The police took immediate action and arrested the person.”
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. Another primary category selected is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory selected 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. In this case, the Muslim man’s comments went beyond a personal dispute and entered the arena of religious insult, targeting not just the Hindu shopkeeper but the entire Hindu community and their faith. The verbal altercation began as a simple disagreement over a transaction, a situation that could have been resolved in a calm manner. However, the Muslim man escalated the situation by making offensive remarks about Hindus and Hindu idols. By making religious insults at Hindus and their religion, the Muslim man made a personal conflict into a religious one. His words were not just directed at the Hindu shopkeeper but the entire Hindu community. The Muslim man made comments specifically targeting Hinduism and its practices. Referring to Hindu idols as “stones” and mocking the act of worshipping them is a direct affront to the core of Hindu religious beliefs. For the Hindus, the idols of Hindu deities are not mere objects but are representations of the divine. Idols of Hindu deities are highly revered by Hindus. Dismissing these idols as mere “stones” is a deliberate attempt to belittle and insult the Hindu community and their religious beliefs and practices. Another important point to note is that the Muslim man implied that Hindus are inherently dishonest because of their religious practice of idol worship. He asserted his own truthfulness based on being a Muslim, attempting to link the perceived dishonesty of the Hindu shopkeeper to the act of idol worship performed by Hindus. By doing so, he made a sweeping generalisation that all Hindus are dishonest because they worship idols. Hindu deities are an integral and sacred part of the Hindu religion. Any attempt to mock or desecrate them is not merely an expression of individual opinion; it is an act of deep religious insult. In this case, the Muslim accused made objectionable remarks about Hindu gods and goddesses. This was not a random or misguided act, but a calculated and ideologically rooted expression of religious hatred. In Islamic theology, idol worship, referred to as Shirk, is regarded as the gravest sin. The Qur'an strictly condemns it, and Islamic teachings emphasise the complete rejection of any practice associated with idol worship. Muslims are taught from a young age that idolatry is an unforgivable sin. While this belief is central to Islamic faith, it has also led, historically and in contemporary times, to intolerance and hostility towards idol-worshipping religions, especially Hinduism. When individuals publicly mock Hindu deities, it reflects more than personal disrespect—it is often the manifestation of deep-seated theological contempt against Hindu practices, stemming from the Islamic doctrinal view that idol worship is impure and offensive. Such actions target the identity, beliefs, and dignity of Hindus. Mockery of deities is a deliberate attack on the religious sentiments of the Hindus that stem from the intrinsic animosity against the religion. This is why this incident warrants inclusion in the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
