Indian Muslims face nationwide attacks as Hindu extremists unleash mob violence

Mob attacks, hate speeches, and threats surge as Hindu supremacist groups target Muslims — from schoolboys to lawmakers

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) —Since the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, a disturbing pattern of state-enabled collective punishment has gripped India, as Hindutva mobs, emboldened by political silence, have launched a wave of violence, harassment, and threats against Indian Muslims in cities across the country.

What began as a deadly attack in Pahalgam — which left 26 dead — has become a pretext for mass intimidation of Muslims. 

Rights groups say the response resembles a targeted campaign of communal retribution.

According to the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), a Delhi-based collective of lawyers and human rights activists, at least 21 incidents of anti-Muslim violence and intimidation have been reported across the country since the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 people dead.

From lynching to evictions and hate rallies, the assaults have escalated into a chilling nationwide pattern.

In Mangaluru, southern Indian state of Karnataka, a man named Ashraf, reportedly mentally unstable and originally from Wayanad in state of Kerala, was beaten to death by a mob after being accused of chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” (Long Live Pakistan) during a cricket match.

In Aligarh, northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a 15-year-old Muslim schoolboy was physically assaulted by members of a Hindutva group who forced him to urinate on a Pakistan flag and chant pro-India slogans. 

A viral video shows the boy pleading with his attackers while being dragged by the collar.

In Jhinjhana village, Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh, another Muslim man, Sarfaraz, was attacked with an axe in front of his young son. 

The assailant reportedly declared, “26 ke badle 26 marunga” (“I will kill 26 in return for 26”), a reference to the Kashmir attack.

In Bhopal, central Indian state of  Madhya Pradesh, Government Railway Police officer Nazar Daulat Khan was assaulted at the Rani Kamlapati railway station by a group of intoxicated Hindu youths after they identified him by his Muslim name. 

He was punched, verbally abused, and had his uniform torn in a violent altercation captured on video.

Even Muslim lawmakers have been targeted. 

Arif Masood, a state legislator in Bhopal, received death threats during a public rally led by BJP leader Krishna Gharge, who called him a “Pakistani agent” and warned, “We will not spare those dogs. We will kill them here.”

Hate speech rallies and targeting of Kashmiris

The Coalition to Stop Online Hate (CSOH), a Washington D.C.-based monitoring group, recorded 10 hate speech events in India since April 22. 

Speakers at these rallies reportedly encouraged economic boycotts of Muslims, urged Hindus to arm themselves, and issued threats against Kashmiri Muslims.

These sentiments have translated into real-world consequences.

In Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, two Kashmiri shawl vendors were assaulted by members of Hindutva militant outfit Bajrang Dal. 

Though three men were briefly detained, they were released without charges. 

According to Nasir Khuehami, national convener of the J&K Students Association, police officials said no FIR was registered because the attackers had “apologized.”

Meanwhile, 16 Kashmiri traders, mostly from Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir, were threatened, harassed, and forcibly evicted from their accommodations in Uttarakhand. 

All have since returned to the Kashmir Valley, fearing further violence.

In several states, Kashmiri students also reported threats and intimidation, with many evicted from hostels or off-campus housing. Some returned to the Kashmir Valley prematurely, citing concerns for their safety.

Activists emphasize that this wave of attacks is not confined to street violence. 

The targeting of uniformed Muslim officers like Nazar Khan and elected leaders like Arif Masood illustrates a broader reality: even Muslims in positions of authority are not immune.

While India has witnessed communal violence before, the post-Pahalgam crackdown represents a dangerous escalation in scale and impunity.

So far, no central government authority has issued a public condemnation of the violence. 

Experts warn that silence at the top risks legitimizing hate speech, deepening polarization, and accelerating democratic backsliding.