Hindu extremists attack Muslim home during Holi festival

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim family in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has accused a group of Hindu extremists of attacking their home during Holi celebrations, breaking their door and issuing death threats in an incident that has heightened tensions in the area.

The attack occurred in Dharamgadpur village in Pilibhit district, located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh near the border with Nepal. According to the complaint filed with police, several men celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi gathered outside the home of a Muslim family before forcibly damaging the door and threatening those inside.

Shaista Begum, a resident of the house, told police that the family was inside the home when the group arrived and began creating a disturbance.

“They came to our house, broke the door and threatened us. We were inside and very scared. We want protection and justice,” she said in her complaint.

A video recorded by a nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera has circulated on social media and is now being examined by investigators. The footage reportedly shows a group of men gathered outside the house shortly before the door is broken.

Police at Madhotanda police station, the local law enforcement unit responsible for the area, confirmed that a complaint has been registered and that officers are reviewing the video footage to identify those involved.

“We have received the complaint and are examining the CCTV footage. Efforts are underway to identify the accused and appropriate legal action will be taken,” a police official said.

Members of the local Muslim community say the incident has created fear among residents, particularly as the attack occurred during a major religious festival when crowds are common in many parts of northern India.

Rights advocates and community representatives have warned that attacks targeting Muslims during religious festivals have become a recurring concern in several states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose politics is closely associated with Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology promoted by extremist groups.

Local residents say the family has remained frightened since the incident and is calling for swift arrests. Police say they are collecting witness statements and reviewing the available footage as part of the ongoing investigation.