A recurring pattern is visible across these incidents. As per OpIndia reports, peaceful Hindu processions were frequently stopped under the pretext of route disputes or noise complaints, only to be followed by organized violence. Stone-pelting, radical Islamist mob aggression, and targeted attacks on devotees during peak ritual moments, particularly murthi immersion, suggest deliberate attempts to disrupt Hindu religious expression in public spaces. Such acts go beyond spontaneous clashes and point toward sustained religious intolerance directed at Hindu festivals.

The incident on 26 January 2026 in Nawada village, in the Bidupur police station area, Vaishali district, Bihar, exemplifies this pattern. During a Saraswati murthi immersion procession, Hindu devotees were attacked by mazhaabi radical elements who pelted stones from rooftops, injuring several participants and triggering chaos in the area. Similar incidents, recorded consistently over the past six years, underline the vulnerability of Hindu religious observances to organized hostility.

While law-enforcement agencies have taken action in several cases, including arrests and deployment of security forces, the repetition of such attacks highlights deeper concerns. This documentation is against a growing trend of radical Islamic intolerance that seeks to normalize violence during Hindu festivals. By systematically compiling these incidents, this report aims to ensure that such acts are neither ignored nor dismissed as routine law-and-order issues, but recognized as a serious challenge to Hindu religious freedom and the constitutional rights of Hindu citizens across Bharat.

Vaishali, Bihar: Saraswati murthi immersion procession attacked, several devotees Injured

On 26 January 2026, violence broke out in Nawada village under the Bidupur police station limits of Vaishali district during a Saraswati murthi immersion procession. The incident occurred during the final ritual of the Saraswati Puja. A dispute arose over the procession route, following which Islamist radical elements objected to the movement of the immersion procession through the area.

According to local accounts, soon after the objection was raised, the situation escalated rapidly. Stones were allegedly hurled from rooftops and nearby houses at the procession. Several Hindu devotees participating in the immersion were injured in the stone-pelting, leading to panic and chaos in the area. Women and children accompanying the procession were forced to flee for safety as the attack intensified.

The incident heightened tension across the village, prompting local police to intervene. The injured were taken for medical treatment, and additional security personnel were deployed to prevent further escalation.

Darbhanga, Bihar: Attack on Saraswati immersion procession over ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant

Violence was reported from Jayantipur village in Darbhanga district on 26 January 2026 during a Saraswati Puja immersion procession. The attack followed objections raised by radical Islamist elements over the playing of the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on a DJ system accompanying the procession. The initial dispute had occurred a day earlier, on 25 January, when tensions first surfaced during the celebrations.

On 25 January, local intervention had reportedly led to the DJ being switched off, temporarily defusing the situation. However, the following day, when the immersion procession resumed, the radicals allegedly regrouped and launched a fresh attack on Hindu devotees. Stone-pelting was carried out against the procession, resulting in injuries to several participants.

The sudden outbreak of violence caused widespread panic in the area and disrupted the immersion ceremony. Police later reached the spot to restore order and prevent further clashes. The incident highlighted a pattern in which objections to religious slogans were used as a pretext to target Hindu religious processions during festival observances.

Lohardaga, Jharkhand: Saraswati puja turns violent after dispute, Hindu homes attacked

A Saraswati Puja immersion procession in Baridih village of Lohardaga district turned violent on 25 January 2026 following a dispute involving a Muslim family. Hindu devotees were carrying the murthi of Devi Saraswati through the village when the vehicle transporting it reportedly brushed the roof of a Muslim household while passing through a narrow stretch.

Following the incident, members of the Muslim family and their associates allegedly gathered and assaulted the driver of the vehicle. Although tensions remained high through the night, the situation deteriorated further by morning. A Muslim mob reportedly launched a coordinated attack on Hindu devotees and later targeted Hindu homes in the village.

Several Hindus sustained injuries in the violence, and property damage was reported from the affected areas. Police intervention became necessary to control the situation and restore law and order.

Hazaribagh, Jharkhand: Heavy stone-pelting during Saraswati puja, several Hindus injured

Late on the night of 24 January 2026, violence erupted in Beltu village under the Keredari block of Hazaribagh district during a Saraswati murthi immersion procession. Hindu devotees had taken out the immersion procession as part of the concluding rituals of Saraswati Puja when Islamic radical elements suddenly launched a violent attack. Without prior warning, stones were hurled at the procession, causing panic among participants.

According to victims, the violence was triggered following a dispute over music being played on a DJ system accompanying the immersion procession. What began as a verbal objection quickly escalated into organized stone-pelting by a Muslim mob. Several Hindu devotees sustained serious injuries, and the immersion procession was thrown into disarray as people ran for cover to protect themselves.

In view of the deteriorating law-and-order situation, additional security forces were deployed in the area. The police later brought the situation under control and imposed strict surveillance, effectively turning the locality into a security zone.

Kailashahar, Tripura: Saraswati puja procession attacked, BJP office set on fire

Tension escalated into violence in the Katal Dighirpar area of Kailashahar on 23 January 2026 during Saraswati Puja celebrations. A group of around 16 Islamist youths allegedly attacked a Hindu religious procession using sharp weapons such as sickles and blunt objects like sticks, in an attempt to disrupt the festivities and dismantle the procession.

According to BJP Mandal President Pritam Ghosh, the attackers launched a sudden and aggressive assault when local party members reached the spot after receiving information about the disturbance. He stated that the attackers assaulted them indiscriminately, resulting in injuries. Pritam Ghosh himself was injured in the attack, while the house of BJP Yuva Morcha district president Arup Dhar was vandalized during the violence.

Following the attack, the situation further deteriorated when the BJP office in the Katal Dighirpar area was set on fire. Police forces were later deployed to control the unrest and prevent further escalation. The incident marked a serious breakdown of law and order and highlighted the escalation of religious hostility into political and communal violence during Saraswati Puja celebrations.

Nadia, West Bengal: Hindu teacher brutally assaulted for observing Saraswati puja

On 2 February 2025, a Hindu teacher was brutally assaulted in Nadia district’s Haringhata block for attempting to organize Saraswati Puja at a government primary school. The incident occurred at Daspol Danga Primary School during Basant Panchami celebrations, when the teacher sought to observe the festival within the school premises.

According to reports, local Islamic radical elements forcibly entered the school compound and attacked the teacher. The assailants verbally abused him and subjected him to physical violence, beating him mercilessly in full public view. The assault created fear among school staff and local Hindu residents, who were left shocked by the brazenness of the attack.

Investigations later revealed that the attack had been orchestrated by a radical Islamist individual identified as Alimuddin, who allegedly incited nearby Muslims to oppose the Saraswati Puja. The incident drew widespread condemnation and underscored the growing hostility toward even modest and peaceful expressions of Hindu religious practice in educational institutions.

Jharkhand: Saraswati immersion procession attacked, murthis damaged and women injured

On 5 February 2025, another incident of violence targeting Saraswati Puja celebrations was reported from Jharkhand, where Hindu devotees were attacked during a Saraswati murthi immersion procession. The incident came to light after a video circulated widely on social media, clearly showing Islamist radical elements attacking the immersion procession as it passed near their residential area.

According to the footage and eyewitness accounts, the attackers objected to the immersion procession passing in front of their houses. This objection quickly turned violent, with the mob assaulting the procession and damaging the murthis being carried for immersion. The sudden attack caused chaos, leaving participants struggling to protect the murthis and themselves.

As a result of the violence, several women and children who were part of the immersion procession sustained serious injuries.

Darbhanga, Bihar: ‘Islam Zindabad’ group orchestrated attack on Saraswati immersion

On 15 February 2025, violent attacks were carried out on a Saraswati murthi immersion procession in Muria village under the Bhalpatti OP police station area of Darbhanga district. Hindu devotees had taken out the procession on the occasion of Basant Panchami to immerse the murthi of Devi Saraswati when Islamic radical elements launched a coordinated assault. The attackers resorted to heavy stone-pelting, targeting devotees participating in the immersion.

Eyewitnesses reported that, in addition to stones, corrosive substances were also thrown at the procession, resulting in injuries and panic among participants. The sudden escalation of violence caused chaos, forcing devotees to abandon the procession temporarily. The attack marked a severe escalation in brutality, as the use of acid-like substances posed a grave threat to life and safety.

Subsequent police investigations revealed that the attack had been premeditated and coordinated through a WhatsApp group named “On Top Islam Zindabad.” Darbhanga police arrested several accused, including Faizan, Mehtab Alam, Abdul Bareek, Mohammad Abdullah, and around ten other Islamic radicals. The arrests confirmed the organized nature of the violence and highlighted the use of digital platforms to mobilize attacks against Hindu religious processions.

Bhagalpur, Bihar: Stone-pelting as Saraswati murthi passed through Muslim locality

Violence was reported on 16 February 2025 in Lodipur, Bhagalpur district, when a Saraswati murthi immersion procession came under attack while passing through a Muslim locality. The murthi from Tahbalpur Mandal Tola was being carried toward the designated immersion ground when, upon entering the Lodipur Muslim Tola area, stones were suddenly hurled at the procession.

The stone-pelting caused panic among devotees, who scattered to protect themselves. During the attack, the murthi of Devi Saraswati was damaged, causing distress and outrage among the Hindu participants. The attack disrupted the immersion ritual and heightened communal tension in the surrounding areas.

Following the incident, additional police forces were deployed to prevent further violence. Under heavy security presence, the damaged murthis were eventually immersed. The incident once again underscored the repeated targeting of Saraswati Puja immersion processions when passing through Muslim-dominated localities.

Ranchi, Jharkhand: Lathi-charge and firing on Saraswati immersion procession

On 16 February 2025, a Saraswati murthi immersion procession in Ranchi’s Nagri area was violently attacked as it passed along the main road. Hindu devotees were proceeding toward the immersion site, singing and dancing, when a confrontation began near a mosque. Members of a Muslim crowd reportedly initiated verbal altercations with the procession participants.

Shortly thereafter, the attackers launched a sudden assault, beating devotees with sticks and clubs. Several rounds of gunfire were also reportedly discharged, creating terror and chaos at the site. Devotees ran for cover as the violence escalated rapidly, placing lives at serious risk.

Ranchi police arrived at the scene and managed to disperse the attackers after considerable effort. The procession was allowed to continue only after the situation was brought under control. The incident marked one of the most serious escalations of violence during Saraswati Puja immersions in the region, involving both physical assault and the use of firearms.

Deoghar, Jharkhand: Stone-pelting on Saraswati immersion despite police presence

On 16 February 2025, a Saraswati murthi immersion procession in Chongakhar village of Deoghar district came under heavy stone-pelting by an Islamist mob, despite the presence of administrative authorities. The violence erupted as the procession passed near a mosque, where objections were raised over the DJ music being played during the immersion.

According to injured devotee Jaydev Yadav, individuals, including Shahabuddin Ansari, Habib, and Azad, were among those leading the objections and instigating the crowd. Soon after demands were made to stop the DJ, members of the surrounding Muslim population began pelting stones at the procession. Notably, children, elderly individuals, and women were also reportedly involved in the stone-pelting.

Several Hindu devotees were injured in the attack, further intensifying fear and anger in the locality. The incident raised serious questions about administrative preparedness, as the violence occurred even in the presence of police forces. It reinforced concerns regarding the recurring pattern of organized attacks on Saraswati Puja immersion processions across Jharkhand.

Darbhanga, Bihar: Nearly 18 Hindus injured in stone-pelting on immersion procession

On 16 February 2025, a Saraswati murthi immersion procession came under heavy stone-pelting in the Benipur–Bahera area of Darbhanga district, barely 200 yards from the local police station. The immersion procession was moving from Bahera Bazaar toward Chhota Bazaar for immersion in a nearby pond when Islamist stone-pelters allegedly targeted the devotees without fear of law enforcement presence.

Eyewitnesses reported that stones were hurled from rooftops near a mosque as the procession approached the area. The sudden attack sparked chaos, forcing devotees to run for safety while they tried to protect the murthi. Several participants, including women, were injured in the assault.

At least eighteen Hindu devotees sustained injuries, including Kumari Devki Kumari, Guddu Sahni, Rita Devi, Kartik Kumar, Munna Ram, and Kanhaiya Ram. The incident triggered panic across the locality and raised serious concerns about the safety of religious processions even in close proximity to police establishments.

Jamtara, Jharkhand: Murthi broken and police injured during Saraswati immersion violence

Violence broke out on 27 January 2023 in Dokidih village under Narayanpur police station limits during a Saraswati murthi immersion procession. As the procession approached a Muslim locality, radical elements allegedly began pelting stones at the devotees, abruptly halting the immersion ritual.

The attack resulted in injuries to several participants, including two on-duty police personnel who were attempting to control the situation. Amid the chaos, the murthi of Maa Saraswati was damaged, causing deep distress among devotees.

Police later intervened to disperse the attackers and restore order.

Gopalganj, Bihar: Hindu youth killed in knife attack during Saraswati immersion

A fatal incident occurred on 27 January 2023 in Gopalganj district during a Saraswati murthi immersion procession. An Islamist mob allegedly attacked the procession using knives, targeting Hindu youths participating in the ritual. Two young men, Ankit and Hariom, were critically injured in the assault.

Ankit succumbed to his injuries at the spot, while Hariom was rushed to hospital, where he remained in critical condition for several months. The sudden and brutal nature of the attack sent shockwaves through the local Hindu community.

The incident led to widespread tension in the district and prompted a heavy police deployment. The killing underscored the extreme vulnerability of immersion processions and marked one of the most severe episodes of violence associated with Saraswati Puja.

Hazaribagh, Jharkhand: Minor Hindu beaten to death during immersion

On 6 February 2022, a 17-year-old Hindu boy, Rupesh Kumar Pandey, was brutally beaten to death during a Saraswati murthi immersion in Dulmaha village of Hazaribagh district. The minor was part of a group heading toward the immersion site near an Imambada when a verbal altercation reportedly broke out with a radical Islamist crowd.

The argument quickly escalated into violence, with the Islamist mob assaulting Rupesh repeatedly. He sustained severe injuries and died as a result of the beating, triggering outrage and grief among villagers.

Following the incident, the administration registered an FIR naming 27 accused and listing around 100 unidentified Islamist individuals. The killing drew attention to the repeated failure to safeguard minors and devotees during religious processions.

Dhanbad, Jharkhand: Lathi-charge on Saraswati immersion in Keshalpur

Violence erupted on 7 February 2022 in the Keshalpur area under Ramkanali OP during a Saraswati murthi immersion procession. As devotees were returning after the immersion, an Islamist mob allegedly lay in wait and suddenly attacked the procession using sticks and clubs.

The surprise assault left more than half a dozen Hindu devotees injured. Many participants were unable to escape due to the narrow lanes, resulting in serious injuries and panic.

Police later intervened to control the situation. Local Hindu residents stated that the attack appeared premeditated, further intensifying fears over organized assaults on immersion processions.

Patna & Jamtara: Stone-pelting and obstruction during Saraswati immersion

On 30 January 2020, a Saraswati immersion procession taken out by Patna College students came under violent attack near the Lalbagh area. An Islamist mob allegedly pelted stones and opened fire on the procession, injuring several devotees along with a police inspector and a constable. During the unrest, multiple vehicles parked along the road were set ablaze.

The following day, on 31 January 2020, similar disruptions were reported from Jamtara district. In Partol village, objections were raised over musical instruments accompanying the idol, leading to the procession being stopped. Despite police presence, tensions persisted.

In Kathbarari village, objections near a mosque escalated into heated arguments, forcing the police to conduct the immersion themselves to prevent violence. These back-to-back incidents reflected a recurring pattern of obstruction and hostility toward Saraswati immersion rituals.

Baufal, Bangladesh: Saraswati puja-linked harassment followed by tragedy

On 4 February 2025, a deeply disturbing incident was reported from Baufal Upazila, where a 19-year-old Hindu girl died by suicide following alleged public harassment by an Islamist man. The victim had participated in the Saraswati Puja celebrations earlier that day and later visited a restaurant with her friend. During this visit, she was reportedly subjected to physical harassment in full public view.

According to available information, the accused was identified as Hridoy Rehan, a 30-year-old Islamist man. The incident caused severe psychological distress to the victim, who returned home and later took her own life. The sequence of events drew widespread concern, particularly as the harassment occurred immediately after her participation in a Hindu religious festival.

Further details revealed that the accused was the son of Mohsin Hawladar, president of the Baufal Upazila Jatiya Party. The incident sparked outrage among local Hindu communities and highlighted the vulnerability of Hindu women in the aftermath of religious celebrations, raising serious questions about accountability and protection of minorities.

Rajshahi, Bangladesh: Radical attack on Saraswati immersion procession

Violence erupted on 4 February 2025 in Fudki Para village of Rajshahi as Hindu devotees carried out a Saraswati murthi immersion procession following Basant Panchami celebrations. As the procession moved through the area, radical elements reportedly attacked the devotees without provocation.

Eyewitnesses stated that Islamist radicals assaulted Hindu women participating in the immersion and vandalized the Saraswati Puja pandal. The attackers also broke the murthi of Devi Saraswati, causing panic and forcing devotees to flee the area.

The incident intensified fear among the Hindu minority in the region and reinforced concerns over repeated attacks on Saraswati Puja rituals in Bangladesh. The destruction of religious symbols and assault on women underscored the severity of the violence and the precarious position of Hindu religious observances.

Rajshahi, Bangladesh: Saraswati puja pandal vandalized, murthi desecrated

On 14 February 2024, Islamist miscreants attacked a Saraswati Puja pandal in the Paikpara area of Rajshahi, leading to the desecration of the worship site. The attackers vandalized the pandal and deliberately damaged the murthi of Devi Saraswati during the assault.

According to reports, the assailants beheaded the murthi and threw the severed head aside, an act that caused deep anguish and outrage among the local Hindu community. The attack appeared targeted and symbolic, aimed at humiliating and intimidating devotees.

The incident further heightened communal tension in the area and added to a growing list of attacks on Hindu religious sites in Bangladesh. It reinforced fears that even non-processional, stationary religious observances were increasingly unsafe.

Patuakhali, Bangladesh: Hindu family attacked for inviting former mayor

On 17 February 2024, a Hindu family in the Puran Bazaar area of Patuakhali was attacked following a dispute related to a Saraswati Puja invitation. The family had invited Mohiuddin Ahmed, nephew of a former municipal mayor, which reportedly angered supporters of former mayor Shafiqul Islam.

According to the victim, Ram Chandra Krindu, the attackers issued death threats and later assaulted his home using weapons and sticks. The attack caused damage to property and created a climate of fear in the neighborhood.

The incident demonstrated how participation in or association with Saraswati Puja celebrations could trigger targeted violence against Hindu families. It also reflected the broader pattern of intimidation and coercion faced by Hindu minorities in Bangladesh during religious festivals.

Rautahat, Nepal: Saraswati immersion procession attacked near the Mosque

On 15 February 2024, violence broke out in Nepal’s Rautahat district when a Saraswati murthi immersion procession was attacked as it approached the Ishnath area. Hindu devotees were carrying the murthi to a river for immersion as part of the concluding rituals of the Saraswati Puja. Tensions escalated when the procession passed in front of a mosque, leading to a sudden and aggressive reaction from the Islamist crowd.

According to eyewitness accounts, members of the Islamist mob forcibly tore down a bhagwa flag bearing an image of Bhagwan Ram from the procession and threw it into a drain. The attackers also vandalized a nearby Hindu temple, causing damage to religious property. The mob objected to the immersion procession passing in front of the mosque and attempted to stop the devotees from proceeding further.

During the violence, at least three Hindus were injured, including Naresh Kumar Paswan and two minor children who were part of the immersion procession. The incident triggered fear and insecurity among the local Hindu community and highlighted the challenges faced by Hindu devotees while conducting religious rituals in public spaces. The attack added to growing concerns over the safety of Saraswati Puja immersion processions in the region.

History is a stubborn witness: Hindus have never been the aggressors. From Saraswathi Puja processions to everyday acts of faith, Hindu society has consistently stood for coexistence, tolerance, and restraint, even when provoked. Yet, repeated attacks on Hindu festivals, symbols, and devotees expose a dangerous pattern of selective outrage and calculated silence. Peace has too often been mistaken for weakness.

But there is a line. When Hindus are targeted again and again, unity ceases to be a choice, it becomes a necessity. Hindu unity is not about hatred or domination; it is about self-respect, cultural survival, and equal justice. A society that refuses to stand up for itself invites erasure.

If Hindus rise above divisions of caste, region, language, and politics, the idea of a Hindu Rashtra will not need slogans; it will become a lived reality rooted in civilisational confidence. Not through violence, but through collective resolve. Not by starting conflicts, but by ending the culture of fear. Silence has cost enough. Unity is the only answer left.