In recent years, there has been a disturbing trend of targeted violence against Hindu festivals in Bharat, particularly during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations from 2017 to 2024. On September 7, 2024, Islamist extremists, continuing their pattern of hostility, launched a meticulously planned attack on the festivities marking Bhagwan Ganesha’s birth. Such assaults are part of a broader strategy by radical Islamist groups to disrupt communal peace and harmony during Hindu religious events.
Radical Islamist factions have increasingly targeted Hindu festivals with the intent of creating discord and undermining communal harmony among Hindus. These Islamist Jihadi groups employ tactics aimed at inciting violence and creating chaos during significant cultural and religious celebrations, thereby exacerbating tensions between communities. The pattern of attacks observed in recent years highlights a troubling escalation in efforts to disrupt the peace among Hindu populations. These are few instances where radical Islamist extremists perpetrated violence against Hindus.
1. Lohardaga Ganesh puja committee attacked by local Islamist group
Communal tensions flared in Valmiki Nagar, Lohardaga, after members of a Ganesh Puja committee were allegedly attacked by a group from the local Islamic community following a dispute over the location of a Ganesh Puja pandal. Based on the reports from Organiser, the clash occurred on Thursday, September 5th, when the group reportedly assaulted Yogi Sena district head, Praveen Thakur, and his associates over the pandal site. Although initial tensions had been amicably resolved with the help of police and administration officials, as soon as they left, a group of 25–30 individuals attacked Thakur and his colleagues, leaving six people injured.
2. Hindu devotees attacked with hot water during Ganesha murthi procession in Chittagong, Bangladesh
On Friday, September 6th, a procession of Hindu devotees carrying the murthi (idol) of Lord Ganesha was attacked in the Kadam Mubarak area of Chittagong, Bangladesh, as per the reports from OpIndia. The incident took place just a day before the scheduled Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. According to reports, members of the ‘Batargalli Dhwapara Sarbajanin Puja Committee’ were transporting the idol from the factory of artisan Uttam Pal when hot water was deliberately thrown on both the idol and the devotees from a high-rise building on Momin Road, located near the Kadam Mubarak mosque.
Eyewitnesses further reported that bricks were also hurled at the procession, escalating tensions between the Hindu devotees and residents of the building. One young Hindu man sustained injuries during the attack, and another devotee was seriously hurt with a head injury. In a video shared by the Bangladesh Awami League, the injured man expressed frustration, asking, “Why are minorities being attacked?” The attack has raised concerns about the safety and religious freedom of minorities in Bangladesh.
3. Hindu family attacked while crafting Ganpati murthis in Rajkot
On the night of August 26, 2023, a Hindu family making Ganpati murthis in Rajkot was attacked by three Islamist men, identified as Amin Habib Sama, Rafiq, and Sameer. The incident took place around 10 PM while Kishan Rathod, a Rajasthan native residing in Rajkot, was busy painting the murthis. Amin, along with his two accomplices, arrived at the scene and began shouting at Rathod before proceeding to break the murthis and insult him. A complaint was lodged at the Rajkot Taluka police station, leading to the arrest of the three accused. Rathod, who has been living with his family near the Gurukripa factory in Shaktinagar for the past three months to make Ganpati murthis, filed the police complaint, and an FIR was subsequently registered.
2022: Attacks on Ganesh idols and processions across Bharat
In Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, on September 3, 2022, a Ganesh idol procession was violently attacked by a group of Islamists in Alinagar. Based on the reports from ETV Bharat, when locals protested, the attackers escalated the situation by entering nearby homes and assaulting residents, leaving six individuals severely injured. This shocking incident has raised concerns in the region.
In another incident from Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, on August 28, 2022, an Islamist youth named Abrar Khan was arrested after he pelted stones at a Ganesh murthi, damaging it during the festival celebrations. The local police swiftly registered a case against Khan under sections 153A and 295 of the Indian Penal Code, ensuring his arrest. The incident has heightened tensions in the district, with demands for strict enforcement of law and order.
Similarly, in Hubli, Karnataka, on September 6, 2022, attacks were reported on Ganesh Chaturthi processions near the Eidgah grounds in both Hubli and Bengaluru. The processions were disrupted when a group of Islamist individuals launched an assault on devotees. Among those arrested for the violence was Nawaz Ahmed, along with several others involved in the attacks. These incidents have sparked widespread outrage and calls for stronger measures to protect religious processions.
In Kamathipura, Maharashtra, on August 21, 2022, an incident of religious disrespect occurred when an Islamist youth, Abdul Karim Attak Khan, also known as Shahbaz, threw an egg at a Ganesh murthi. This act of defilement caused outrage among the local Hindu community. The Nagpada police took swift action by arresting Abdul, who was later sent to jail. The incident highlighted the growing concern over religious intolerance during Hindu festivals in the area.
In Vadodara, Gujarat, on August 30, 2022, a Ganesha murthi procession was violently attacked by an Islamist mobs. The procession, which was peacefully making its way through the city, faced sudden aggression from the crowd. The Vadodara police responded quickly, arresting 13 individuals involved in the attack. They were charged under sections 143, 147 (rioting), 336, and 295 (defiling a place of worship). This act of communal violence added to the existing tensions in the city, raising concerns about the safety of religious Hindu processions.
Another alarming incident took place on September 4, 2022, in Bagdogra, West Bengal, where a group of Islamist miscreants attacked a Ganesh Puja pandal, damaging the murthi. According to the pandal’s priest, the attackers also assaulted several people present after a cultural program at the pandal. The desecration of the murthis deeply hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community, further exacerbating communal tensions in the region.
2017: Attacks on Ganesha visarjan processions
In Giridih, Jharkhand, on August 26, 2017, a peaceful Ganesha murthi visarjan procession was violently disrupted when Jihadi extremists launched a heavy stone-pelting and firing attack. The assault left a 14-year-old boy, Amar Kumar, seriously injured after being shot. This incident of communal violence heightened tensions in the area, causing unrest among the local Hindu community.
In another similar attack on August 11, 2017, in Vadodara, Gujarat, Islamist Jihadi extremists targeted a Ganapati procession with stones, leading to widespread chaos and violence. The brutal attack left 10 people injured, including two police officers. The violence escalated as the attackers set over 50 vehicles on fire, causing massive damage and further deepening the communal divide in the region.
Stones pelted at Ganeshotsav pandal in Surat (GJ) and Ratlam (MP)
Apart from these incidents, this year’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations saw additional acts of violence and misconduct perpetrated by Islamist extremists. During the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, which include processions across Bharat, there have been recurring incidents of attacks by Islamist extremists. This year, these attacks have extended beyond Bharat, affecting neighboring Bangladesh as well. On September 7th and 8th, stones were thrown at a Ganeshotsav pandal located in the Lal Gate area of Surat, Gujarat. OpIndia reports indicate that some minors from the Islamic community were responsible for the stone-pelting, leading to a strong response from the Hindu community, who staged protests and called for strict action.
The incident occurred at the Ganesh pandal in the Variyali Bazar area of Lal Gate. Following the attack, local Hindus filed a police complaint, which led to increased security in the area and several arrests. The situation escalated as news of the incident spread, prompting large crowds to gather and demand immediate measures from the authorities.
According to reports from OpIndia, while police were investigating the stone-pelting incident, further stones were thrown at them from nearby Islamic-majority areas. Hindu organizations have accused local mosques of being involved in these attacks, intensifying communal tensions in the region.
Additionally, a tense situation unfolded in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, when a Ganesh Chaturthi procession came under attack with stones, allegedly intended to disrupt the Hindu community’s celebrations. As per the reports from Organiser, the incident occurred while devotees were transporting the murti of Bhagwan Ganesh to a pandal for its installation. The procession was targeted near the Mochipura area, with eyewitnesses reporting that the first stone struck the murti itself, followed by stones hitting the police vehicles escorting the procession.
The police responded by lodging multiple FIRs against both the accused and the affected parties, citing a breach of peace and communal harmony. As a result, three individuals were arrested, and a complaint was filed against approximately 150 unidentified individuals.
The recent wave of targeted attacks against Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations underscores a troubling trend of religious intolerance and arrogance among certain Islamist extremists. These acts of violence by Jihadists reveal a blatant disregard for religious freedom and communal harmony. By specifically targeting Hindu festivals, these Islamist extremists not only disrupt celebrations but also challenge the very essence of coexistence and respect for diverse beliefs. The ongoing attack, aggression, and critical violence against Hindu traditions and religious practices underscores the urgent need for decisive action from both the police and the government.
