Following the damage to the Ashoka emblem inside the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR). The incident, which involved the breaking of the emblem on an inaugural stone inside the shrine, has sparked controversy and widespread condemnation.
The FIR, numbered 76 of 2025, has been registered at the Nigeen police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These sections include 300 (voluntarily disturbing an assembly lawfully performing religious worship or ceremonies), 352 (addresses intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of the peace or another offence), 191 (2) (rioting), 324 (cause wrongful loss or damage to any person or the public) and 61 (4) (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS.
The incident occurred after locals objected to the installation of the Ashoka emblem, claiming it was against Islamic principles and should not be placed in a shrine. Video footage circulating online shows a mob defacing the emblem inscribed on the shrine's foundation stone, which is currently undergoing reconstruction and redevelopment by the Waqf Board.
The damage has drawn strong reactions from political figures. J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi called the act a grave insult to the shrine, labeling it "nothing less than terrorism". She has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest those responsible, alleging that the chaos was deliberately engineered by political workers and their supporters.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the Waqf Board's decision to use the national emblem on the renovation plaque, stating that the symbol is meant for government functions and not religious institutions. He suggested that the Waqf Board should apologize for what he termed a "mistake" that has hurt religious sentiments.
Several political leaders and members of the public have voiced their opinions on the matter. Some argue that placing a sculpted figure inside the shrine violates Islamic principles, while others accuse the BJP of exploiting the situation for political gain. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) expressed concern that Muslims are being deliberately provoked and criticized calls for the use of the Public Safety Act (PSA), viewing it as a reflection of a "punitive and communal mindset".
Police have initiated a process to identify those involved in the vandalism, utilizing video footage to aid their investigation. The incident has further heightened tensions in the region, prompting calls for calm and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the damage to the Ashoka emblem.
