Shani Dev temple vandalised by unknown miscreants in West Bengal
Darjeeling, West Bengal, India 
18 February, 2025
Case Summary
On the night of February 19, 2025, unknown miscreants broke into a Shani Dev temple in the Goursinghjot area of Naxalbari, Darjeeling, West Bengal. The temple was completely vandalised by the miscreants. Locals witnessed the desecrated place of worship early in the morning.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation. Under this, 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 vandalism was carried out despite the understanding that temples are sacred spaces and centres of worship for Hindus. Such attacks not only cause physical destruction but also deeply wound the spiritual and cultural fabric of the Hindu community, as temples symbolise their faith and collective identity. The deliberate targeting of these revered spaces underscores the profound animosity Islamists harbour towards the Hindu faith. It is 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
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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