Saraswati Puja celebrations disrupted by unknown miscreants in Assam
Barpeta, Assam, India 
2 February, 2025
Case Summary
A group of miscreants disrupted the Saraswati Puja celebrations at Aryabhatta Academy by vandalising the entrance gate, creating tension in the area. The entire incident was recorded on CCTV, providing clear evidence of the disruption. The reckless actions of the youths sparked widespread outrage among local Hindu residents, who strongly condemned the act and demanded authorities take appropriate action based on the footage.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected 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. The act of damaging the puja venue was not just an act of vandalism but a clear attempt to disrupt a sacred Hindu festival and intimidate devotees. The entrance gate holds symbolic significance, as it represents the sanctity and decorum of the religious event. By attacking this structure, the perpetrators sought to desecrate the spiritual atmosphere of the puja and create fear among the worshippers. Such incidents reflect a broader pattern of hostility toward Hindu religious expressions, where sites of worship and religious festivities are deliberately targeted to harass 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 out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred temple 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 
