Indian Muslim students harassed in Islamophobia incident
Muslim students traveling for Islamic exams threatened at Delhi railway station, highlighting rising identity-based harassment in India
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A group of Muslim students traveling across India for religious examinations were allegedly threatened and harassed at a major railway station in the capital, in what observers describe as another instance of identity-based intimidation targeting Muslims.
The incident occurred on March 26 at New Delhi Railway Station, one of India’s busiest transit hubs, when students traveling from Hyderabad in southern India to the northern state of Uttar Pradesh were confronted by a man who allegedly threatened them over cow-related accusations. A video of the encounter, recorded by one of the students, circulated widely on social media.
Footage showed the students standing quietly on the platform, wearing traditional attire such as skullcaps and long tunics commonly associated with Islamic religious students.
A saffron-clad man was seen approaching them aggressively and issuing threats in Hindi, warning them not to kill cows and saying they would otherwise be killed — rhetoric frequently associated with cow vigilante groups in India.
One of the students described the encounter as “identity-based provocation,” saying the group had been quietly waiting for their connecting train when the man approached them. The student suggested the confrontation appeared intended to provoke a reaction that could escalate into legal trouble or violence.
The student also urged others traveling for examinations to remain cautious. He warned that Muslims wearing religious attire, including traditional kurta-pyjama clothing, may face harassment during travel and advised fellow students to avoid confrontation.
The students were traveling to Darul Uloom Deoband, located in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district in northern India. Founded in 1866, the institution is among South Asia’s most prominent Islamic seminaries, drawing thousands of students annually from across India and abroad for examinations and religious studies.
The incident has renewed concerns about Islamophobia and identity-based harassment in India, where Muslims have reported growing incidents of intimidation in public spaces, including trains, markets and educational institutions.
Rights advocates say individuals wearing visible religious symbols such as skullcaps, beards or traditional clothing are often targeted.
New Delhi Railway Station serves as a major transit point connecting multiple regions of India, and incidents at such high-traffic locations have raised concerns about the safety of minority communities during domestic travel.
Authorities did not immediately confirm whether any complaint had been filed, and no arrests were reported. However, the video’s circulation has prompted renewed debate about rising identity-based harassment and communal tensions in India.
For many observers, the incident highlights how everyday travel — including journeys for education — is increasingly becoming a source of anxiety for Muslim students in parts of India.
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