Hindu extremists vandalize Muslim shrine in northern India

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim shrine in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh was allegedly vandalized by members of the Hindu militant outfit Bajrang Dal after the group accused its caretakers of carrying out religious conversions and “love jihad,” a conspiracy theory frequently invoked by Hindu extremists to target Muslims.

The incident occurred in Shahzadpur Uphar village in Kaushambi district, where caretakers of the Syed Salar Ghazi shrine alleged that a group of around 25 to 30 men arrived on motorcycles and began damaging the entrance gate and other parts of the shrine.

Local media reported that the attackers also assaulted the shrine’s caretaker after he attempted to stop the vandalism.

Witnesses told reporters that panic spread as the group allegedly chased people gathered at the shrine, forcing many to flee.

They said several visitors were beaten during the attack, including Hindu devotees who had come to pay their respects at the shrine, which is visited by followers of multiple faiths.

In a video statement, Bajrang Dal’s district coordinator Dhirendra Singh claimed the group had received repeated complaints that religious conversions and the exploitation of women were taking place inside the shrine.

He also alleged that women were being drugged before being converted, but provided no evidence to support the claims.

Instead, Singh asserted that local residents confronted those at the shrine out of public anger and denied that Bajrang Dal members damaged the property.

Police said officers were deployed to the site after receiving reports of unrest and that the situation has since been brought under control.

Authorities said they have launched an investigation, are collecting evidence from the scene and promised that the damaged portions of the shrine would be repaired.