Attack on Hindu sentiments: Statue of revered Hindu king Maharana Pratap vandalised by unknown miscreants
Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, India 
3 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Aligarh Chungi, Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, a statue of a revered Hindu king, Maharana Pratap, was vandalised by unknown miscreants. This action sparked outrage among the local Hindu community. According to media reports, the statue was installed just a few days prior to its desecration. As soon as news of the vandalism spread, the members of Hindu organisations arrived at the scene. They stated that anti-social elements were responsible for this act. Members of Hindu organisations also raised slogans in protest against the vandalism. Upon receiving information, Khurja Kotwali in-charge Rajpal Tomar arrived with the police force and attempted to calm the situation. Hindu organisations demanded the installation of CCTV cameras and fencing around the premises to ensure the statue’s safety. They also called for strict action against those responsible. The police assured the protestors that stringent action would be taken against the perpetrators.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory 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 a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case has been added to the tracker under the hate crime database, as it involves the deliberate desecration of a statue of a revered Hindu king, Maharana Pratap. He is honoured as a saviour of Hinduism and its followers for his strong resistance against Islamic invaders, particularly the Mughal tyrant Akbar. He refused to submit and fought very bravely in the Battle of Haldighati and chose hardship over surrender. His life stands as a powerful symbol of sacrifice, courage, and unwavering devotion to his people and his religion. Because of this bravery in protecting Hindus and their faith, he holds a special place of respect within the Hindu community. In this incident, the unknown perpetrators deliberately vandalised a statue of Maharana Pratap. This act clearly shows an intent to provoke and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. Such behaviour is rooted in deep-seated hatred towards Hindus and their revered historical figures, making this a religiously motivated crime against the Hindu community. It is also important to mention here that, though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed from hatred against the Hindu community and resulted in the desecration of Maharana Pratap's statue 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 
