Hindu extremist group attacks Muslim religious event in India
Assault on Islamic event organizers in Tripura highlights growing intimidation of Muslim religious life under Hindutva politics
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — An attack on Muslim organizers promoting a religious gathering in India’s northeastern state of Tripura has renewed fears about shrinking civic space and religious freedom for minorities, particularly Muslims, amid the growing influence of Hindu extremist groups.
The incident occurred last week in Pekuchhara, a rural area under Panisagar subdivision in northern Tripura — a small, hilly state bordering Bangladesh and located more than 1,500 kilometers from New Delhi.
According to local accounts, a vehicle making public announcements for a Waz Mehfil — a traditional Islamic religious and cultural seminar involving sermons and community gatherings — was intercepted and attacked by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a Hindu nationalist group closely aligned with India’s broader Hindutva movement.
Those assaulted were identified as Abdul Malik, Tasleem Uddin, and Maulana Junaid Ahmed, all involved in organizing and publicizing the upcoming religious program.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived in a vehicle displaying VHP flags and physically assaulted the driver, the announcer, and the cleric without provocation, triggering panic across the locality.
Residents described the attack as deliberate and targeted. Eyewitnesses said the assailants accused the organizers of making announcements without “permission,” a claim local Muslims strongly disputed.
Community members said no administrative approval is required under Indian law for making public announcements related to religious or community events, particularly in rural areas.
While local police and a sub-divisional administrative official later arrived and dispersed the crowd, Muslim residents said the intervention came only after the violence had already occurred. There was no immediate clarity on arrests, injuries, or whether a formal police complaint had been registered.
A local newspaper described the announcements as “unauthorized,” echoing claims made by those who confronted the organizers. Community members rejected that framing, saying it mirrored a broader pattern in which Muslim religious activity is portrayed as unlawful or provocative, even when similar practices by Hindu groups face little scrutiny.
The incident briefly disrupted movement in the area and deepened anxieties among Muslims about their safety and ability to hold religious gatherings. Residents said the assault appeared intended to intimidate the community and discourage public expressions of Islamic identity.
Rights advocates have long warned that under Hindutva ideology — which seeks to define India primarily as a Hindu nation — everyday Muslim religious practices are increasingly treated as suspicious or illegitimate.
From mosque loudspeakers to street processions and community sermons, activities once considered routine are now frequently contested, policed, or violently opposed by extremist groups.
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