New Delhi: Indian Muslims, especially Kashmiris living in major cities, are facing rising hostility after the Red Fort blast on November 10 that killed 13 people. The explosion triggered an online wave of hate speech. Many users targeted Muslims with threats, abuse and collective blame. The climate has left students, professionals and migrant workers anxious about ordinary public interactions.
A Kashmiri student in Delhi preparing for a PhD exam described a sharp shift in public behavior. He reported longer stares, tense remarks and growing suspicion. He said students now avoid crowded locations and speak less in public. He added that innocent people are being blamed for an act they had no link to.
The online hate surge intensified after a doctor from Pulwama was named as an accused. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged the public not to treat the community as a monolith. His remarks did little to stop coordinated trolling that portrayed Muslims as responsible for multiple past attacks.
Journalist Hamza, based in New Delhi, said discrimination feels constant. He explained that online attacks often translate into street-level hostility. He said the prejudice stays below the surface and resurfaces after every major incident.
Civil society groups tracked the pattern earlier this year. CJP recorded more than 180 hate attacks on Muslims across five states, with 37 percent linked to revenge narratives. Online forums and memes added to the tension and fuelled anger.
Residents in Kashmir said the fallout of the blast has turned daily life tense. They said every attack triggers a cycle that leaves Muslims and Kashmiris exposed to anger. Many described a widening gap between communities and rising anxiety about safety.
As reported in Outlook India
