Three Hindu temples vandalised on Ugadi; Christian crosses and anti-Hindu messages painted
Andhra Pradesh, India 
31 March, 2025
Case Summary
On the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, three Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh were vandalised by Christian fanatics. The desecration included the painting of Christian crosses inside temple premises, along with messages like "You are a sinner if you don't believe in Jesus" and "Jesus is the only God." Videos of the attack quickly went viral on social media platforms, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where accounts such as Angry Saffron and Hindu Post shared visuals of the damage. The footage showed religious graffiti defacing temple walls, reinforcing concerns over rising instances of targeted attacks against Hindu places of worship.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the 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. Vandalising Hindu temples on Ugadi, a sacred festival marking the Hindu New Year, is a deliberate act of religious hatred. The perpetrators not only defiled places of worship but also painted Christian crosses and messages denouncing Hindu beliefs, directly attacking the faith of the devotees. Such actions are not random acts of mischief but a calculated attempt to intimidate Hindus, undermine their religious identity, and assert religious supremacy. Given the targeted nature of this attack, the desecration of sacred spaces, and the anti-Hindu messaging, this incident qualifies as a hate crime driven by religious bigotry. 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
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
