A man entered the temple and destroyed century-old murtis with an iron bar. He was charged with sacrilege; courts later considered his mental state and police said they would determine motive.
Temple Incident Details
- Temple / sacred site
- Samabula Shiv Temple
- Tradition / sampradaya
- Not recorded
- Incident type
- Religious Statue / Murti Desecration, Physical Attack
- Damage type
- Murti / sacred image damaged
- Was anyone inside?
- Unknown
- Investigation status
- Court Outcome
- Law-enforcement agency
- Not publicly identified
- Last updated
- 2026-10-03
Evidence Concerning Targeting or Motive
No specific evidence of motive has been recorded. A perpetrator's religion is never treated as evidence of motive.
Casualties / Displacement
- Fatalities
- Unknown
- Injuries
- Unknown
- Displaced
- Unknown
Where credible sources differ, the archive shows confirmed figures and reported estimates separately rather than a single exact number.
Sources
Primary sources
- 'Hate and discrimination': Temple attack sparks outrage in Fiji's Indo-Fijian community — RNZ, 2025-07-14Contemporaneous News ReportMajor news organization
Secondary sources
- Court reviews Samabula Sacrilege case — FBC News, 2026-09-21Contemporaneous News ReportCredible local reporting
Methodology
This record distinguishes documented facts from allegations, estimates and disputed interpretations, and may be revised as reliable evidence emerges. Last reviewed 2026-10-03. Read our research methodology.