Bihar temple vandalism: 3 Muslim minors detained after CCTV shows stone-pelting, urinating inside Shiva temple

Image via X

Three minor Muslim boys were detained after an incident of vandalism at a Shiva temple in the Sherpur-Thawai area of Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district. The incident, which took place on Saturday, 12th September, was recorded by CCTV cameras installed at the temple.

The footage showed three children throwing bricks and stones towards the temple from outside its grille. The cameras also captured them urinating inside the temple premises and using abusive language. The incident later became a matter of concern among local residents, after which the police were informed.

The matter came to light when local youth Suraj Kumar visited the temple on Saturday evening for puja. He noticed bricks and stones scattered around the premises. He initially cleaned them up, but later checked the CCTV recordings. The footage showed three boys entering the area at around 2:45 pm and carrying out the acts.

After being informed, police reached the temple and examined the CCTV footage. In a press statement, police said that three boys, around four to five years old, had tried to damage the idol of Hanumanji. They were detained and questioned before being released. Police have also received a written complaint in the case.

Some residents said they suspected that the children may have been acting under someone else’s influence and called for the matter to be investigated. They also demanded strict action against anyone found responsible.

Police deployed as a precaution

Following the incident, police personnel were deployed near the temple to prevent any further tension. On Sunday, 13th September, workers of the Bajrang Dal visited the temple and took stock of the situation. They also demanded strict action in the case.

Suraj Kumar said residents informed the administration soon after watching the CCTV footage so that the situation would not get worse. He also pointed to problems around the temple, saying that some pathways leading to the shrine had been encroached upon and one of the roads had been closed.

He said these issues have made it harder for devotees to reach the temple and claimed that similar incidents had happened in the area before.

Aman Kumar, who performs puja at the temple, said, “The area is predominantly Muslim, and we only have one temple in the area. Miscreants often gather there. The children deliberately threw stones at the temple gate and urinated inside. Thefts have also occurred at the temple before. These incidents continue to hurt the sentiments of local Hindu devotees.”

Bihar has seen other temple vandalism cases

This is not the first incident of temple vandalism; there are many incidents of temple vandalism and desecration across various districts in Bihar.

In March 2025, a Hanuman idol at a village temple in Dadhiya Belar village in Samastipur district was damaged. The incident was reported by the Karpuri Gram Police Station area on 28th March. Residents said unidentified people threw stones inside the temple, damaging a limb of the idol.

A similar case was reported from Bhagalpur on 24th October, 2024. The Shiv Shakti Temple in Sanhaula, located near a pond, was found damaged. Media reports said the idols of Bhagwan Ram, Lakshman, Mata Sita, Radha Krishna and Maa Durga had been damaged. The temple priest found the idols in this condition after reaching the temple at around 7 am.

Before that, in June 2021, idols inside the Ram Janaki Temple at Baswaria Dhuniyapatti in Bihar were damaged and destroyed. The damage was discovered after the temple was opened in the morning. The incident led to anger among local residents.

The latest incident has again raised concerns about the safety of religious places in the state, while police action and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the children remain closely watched by local residents.

Written by OpIndia Staff
Last modified at