Shitala Mata temple vandalised and idol desecrated in South Dinajpur, West Bengal
Keshabpur, West Bengal, India 
29 March, 2025
Case Summary
On 30th March 2025, reports emerged of an attack on the Shri Shri Shitala Mata Temple in Keshabpur village, Jahangirpur region of South Dinajpur district, West Bengal. The desecration had occurred under the cover of night, with miscreants vandalising the temple and defiling the idol of Shitala Mata. The destruction was discovered by local devotees the following morning, leading to widespread outrage. Visuals of the desecrated idol surfaced on social media, drawing strong condemnation from various quarters. BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar denounced the attack, attributing it to extremist elements and criticising the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for its appeasement policies. He demanded an immediate and thorough investigation to apprehend those responsible. The incident also led to concerns among the local Hindu community, who called for heightened security measures to prevent similar acts of desecration in the future. BJP leaders warned of mass protests should the authorities fail to take swift action. Law enforcement agencies had yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack or provide updates on the investigation. The case highlighted concerns over religious intolerance and the need for stronger protections for places of worship. The response of the authorities would be crucial in ensuring justice for the affected community and maintaining communal harmony in the region.
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 first sub-category 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. The second 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 attack on the Shri Shri Shitala Mata Temple was a hate crime as it deliberately targeted a sacred Hindu religious symbol. The desecration of the idol was not just an act of vandalism but an expression of hostility towards the Hindu faith, intending to intimidate the community. Additionally, temples hold central significance in Hinduism as the abode of the deity. By vandalising the temple, the perpetrators attacked the faith itself, making this a clear case of religiously motivated hate crime. 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
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
