Centuries old Shivalinga stolen from ancient Bihar temple, other idols vandalised
Nalanda, Bihar, India 
31 March, 2025
Case Summary
A 100-year-old Shivalinga was stolen from an ancient Shiva temple in Kathauli village, Nalanda district, Bihar. Along with the Shivalinga, the thieves took the idol of Nandi and reportedly attempted to damage other idols within the temple. The incident occurred in the Rahui police station area. The temple held significant historical and religious importance for the villagers. The theft sparked widespread anger among residents, who considered the stolen idols to be invaluable cultural and spiritual artefacts. The chief of Mai Farida Panchayat, condemned the act, calling it an attack on the faith of the local community. He urged the authorities to take immediate action, apprehend the culprits, and ensure the safe return of the stolen idols. The temple priest also expressed his distress, stating that the site had been a place of worship for generations and that the theft had deeply saddened devotees. In response to the incident, local police launched an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage from the area. Rahui police station officer Kunal Kumar assured the public that all possible efforts were being made to identify and capture the perpetrators.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The sub-category relevant in this case 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 other sub-category relevant in this case 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 theft of the 100-year-old Shivalinga and the Nandi idol, along with the attempted vandalism of other idols, constitutes a hate crime as it specifically targets Hindu religious symbols. The idols hold profound spiritual significance in Hinduism, and their desecration is not merely an act of theft but an attack on the faith of the Hindu community. The deliberate targeting of these sacred idols suggests religious animosity, as such acts have historically been used to intimidate and demoralise Hindu devotees. Given the temple’s long-standing cultural and religious importance, this incident goes beyond a property crime and directly impacts the religious sentiments of 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
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