In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, a chilling wave of violence has swept across India, with the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) documenting at least 184 hate crimes targeting Muslims and Kashmiris between April 22 and May 8, reported the Maktoob Media.
The comprehensive report lists 84 hate speeches, 39 physical assaults, 19 incidents of vandalism, and three murders. The documentation includes verifiable links to reports of each incident.
One of the most horrifying cases occurred in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, where members of the Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal reportedly lynched a Muslim man and injured his cousin in retaliation for the attack in Pahalgam. In Karnataka’s Mangaluru, another Muslim man was lynched over allegations of shouting a “Pakistani slogan.” A third lynching was reported from Bokaro, Jharkhand, where a Muslim man was killed by a Hindu mob.
The report points to the involvement of individuals and groups affiliated with Hindutva organizations and political outfits. Victims ranged from students, vendors, and civilians to entire neighborhoods and places of worship.
Assaults were especially widespread. Kashmiri women and students were attacked in Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, with reports of police inaction. In Uttarakhand’s Mussorie, Bajrang Dal members allegedly attacked Muslim shawl vendors, after which police reportedly asked the victims to leave.
“Uttar Pradesh saw the highest number of incidents, followed by Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Telangana. Karnataka, Punjab, Chandigarh, and West Bengal also witnessed serious cases,” the APCR report noted.
In Mumbai, BJP workers allegedly assaulted Muslim hawkers. In Bhopal, a Muslim police constable was attacked while on duty. In Santacruz, Maharashtra, a mob armed with hockey sticks and swords reportedly assaulted Muslim women, children, and men. One woman carrying her child was allegedly forced to chant “Jai Shree Ram” and was threatened with being sent to Pakistan.
Disturbingly, a minor boy in Aligarh was reportedly forced to urinate on a Pakistani flag, while another minor in Varanasi was beaten for accidentally brushing against a woman.
Other cases included assaults on Muslim teachers, cattle traders, and civilians. In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim man reportedly committed suicide following assault and police harassment.
Calls for Muslims to vacate places like Darul Uloom Deoband were made by mobs. Economic and social boycotts were incited during rallies, and hate speeches included open calls for Hindus to arm themselves against Muslims.
Several properties associated with Muslims were vandalized. These included mosques, madrasas, shops, and homes. In Rajasthan, a BJP MLA allegedly vandalized a mosque during a rally, while another was attacked in Uttarakhand. A mazaar was defaced in Uttarakhand, and Muslim homes in Ujjain were stoned and set ablaze.
Karachi Bakery, named after a Pakistani city, was targeted in Andhra Pradesh. Muslim clinics, calendars, and vendors’ carts were also vandalized. In Kashmir, houses allegedly linked to militants were demolished, reportedly in defiance of Supreme Court orders.
There were multiple allegations of police complicity, indifference, or bias. A Muslim MLA was arrested after calling the Pahalgam attack a conspiracy, and a Muslim migrant laborer was detained over anti-Modi social media posts.
The APCR report paints a grim picture of the rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred in India and highlights the urgency for systemic accountability and justice.
