In India, the world’s largest democracy, there has been a disturbing rise in lynching incidents targeting Muslims. This violent phenomenon not only tarnishes India’s social fabric but also highlights escalating communal hatred and lawlessness.
Understanding Lynching in India
Lynching in India is the extrajudicial killing of individuals, often by mobs, without legal trials. In recent years, India has seen a spike in similar occurrences with Muslims being the primary target.
Allegations of cow slaughter, beef consumption, or other religious issues frequently trigger these acts of violence.
The proliferation of hatred towards Muslims is often worsened by misinformation and provocative content on social media platforms. Cases of lynching of Muslims have been reported for many years, but since 2014, these incidents have seen a marked increase.
Numerous cases illustrate how such violence is fueled, directly or indirectly, under the current government. The brutal murder of Akhlaq Khan in 2015, who was accused of consuming beef, is just a reminder of how hate can turn into extra-judicial killings.
It was not an isolated incident but the beginning of a horrifying trend that has continued over and over the subsequent years, coinciding with political developments.
Recent incidents in June 2024 further underscore the severity of the issue
7 June 2024: Two Muslim men lynched in Chattisgarh over alleged cow smuggling.
9 June 2024: Maulana Mohammad Farooq was beaten to death in Sonpur Village, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly over a land dispute.
16 June 2024: Mob violence targeting a Madrasa and Muslim properties in Medak, Telangana, triggered by allegations of animal slaughter during Eid celebrations.
19 June 2024: Attack on a Muslim man’s shop in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, following his WhatsApp status depicting animal sacrifice.
19 June 2024: Fatal assault on a Muslim man in Aligarh on suspicion of theft.
27 June 2024: Demolition of homes of two Muslim men in Madhya Pradesh amid allegations of cow slaughter.
30 June 2024: Irshad Alam was fatally beaten in Kolkata over suspicion of mobile theft.
30 June 2024: Dr. Istekhar was brutally assaulted in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, seemingly for his religious identity.
1 July 2024: Salman Vohra attacked during a cricket match.
3 July 2024: Two brothers beaten to death in Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, after a visit to a shop to exchange some items.
3 July 2024: Muntaj Sheikh killed in Durgapur, Murshidabad, allegedly by the police.
5 July 2024: Lynching of a Muslim man in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, over allegations of theft.
While the cases of lynching are alarming, it is important to understand the patterns and similarities among these cases. Many cases of lynching are sparked by accusations and rumours related to cow slaughter, a highly sensitive issue in India as cows are considered sacred and worshipped by Hindus.
On the other hand, islamophobia and religious intolerance also play a significant role. Usually, victims are targeted based on accusations of cow slaughter, beef consumption, or simply their religious Identity and such incidents are driven by the deep rooted bias.
The real crime lies in the mob mentality driven by baseless accusations, deep-rooted prejudice and political rhetoric.
Root Causes
Allegations of cow slaughter and beef consumption are among the major triggers for lynchings. The mere suspicion in such activities is enough to provoke mob violence.
The cultural and religious importance of cows in Hinduism, combined with political narratives that emphasize cow protection, has intensified these sentiments.
Vice President of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hindi Salim Engineer told the media a report prepared by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) tracked the unjust targeting of the Muslim community post-election.
According to the APCR report, there have been ten lynching incidents between June 7 and July 5 with cases being reported from Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal besides communal violence in Telangana, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
There have been targeted bulldozer actions in Madhya Pradesh and U.P. besides forced evictions following attacks on Muslim establishments in Himachal Pradesh. In many cases, despite the registration of First Information Reports, no arrests have yet been made.
Over the years, there have been several cases provoked by social media rumours and misinformation. Social media has played a significant role in spreading misinformation and inciting violence. False rumours and doctored videos can quickly go viral, leading to mob action before any facts are verified.
Despite the increasing number of lynching cases, the judiciary has failed to provide
adequate justice to the victims and their families. The judiciary’s failure to address these cases has emboldened the perpetrators and perpetuated a culture of impunity, according to Rights Bodies.
According to the rights bodies, the police have been complicit in many lynching cases, either by standing by and watching the violence unfold or by actively participating in it. The police’s failure to protect Muslims and their complicity in violence has eroded trust in the law enforcement agency.
Subramaniam, a retired Indian Police Service Officer, told the Indian publication Live Mint that there’s indeed an “ingrained bias in the police against Muslims, which often leads to victimisation. He cited a communal riot in the state of Uttar Pradesh as an example in which Muslims were the prime victims, suffering the most casualties, but they were also the highest number of people arrested by the police.
Islamophobia has long been ingrained in Indian society, perpetuating discrimination,
marginalization, and stereotypes against Muslims. This systemic bias has been nurtured for decades through political rhetoric, media portrayal, and social dynamics.
Thus, Indian Muslims often find themselves outsiders in their own country, contributing to a major identity crisis. Such discrimination takes a severe toll on mental health, with studies indicating higher rates of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among Muslims compared to other religious groups. This pervasive discrimination fosters feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, and low self-esteem.
Moreover, recent socio-political events, such as the anti-CAA protests and subsequent arrests, have exacerbated these tensions, instilling fear and hesitancy among Muslims to speak out against injustices for fear of reprisal.
The information presented in this article represents the personal viewpoints of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Observer Post.
