Following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, a series of hate crimes, including three murders and more than three hundred cases of assault resulting in physical injuries, were reported against Muslims and Kashmiris across India, according to a report published by APCR. More than a hundred out of the 184 show a direct link triggered by the incident. The report also comments that the actual number of physical assaults could be more than what is documented.
The report shows Anti-muslim hate crimes include hate speech, assault, vandalism, murder, threats, intimidation across different states. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh have the highest reported crimes. And grave incidents took place in Karnataka, Punjab, and Chandigarh. Other states include Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi and Bihar.
Mohammad Gulfam (25) and his cousin began their daily means of livelihood, opening their Chicken Biriyani shop, when the assailants called for revenge in the wake of the attack in Pahalgam. He was murdered on the spot, shot dead, while the bullet nicked the shoulders of his cousin.
Among the other victims is also a mildly mentally disabled, Muslim man who was brutally lynched in Karnataka over alleged Pak slogans during a cricket match. Later, it was found that the man lynched was Mohammad Ashraf (32), originally from Kerala. The attack began over a scuffle, which then turned into a mob attack.
Hate Speech
Hate speech was among the most reported crimes, in which Hindutva leaders supported and encouraged Hindus to take up arms against muslims, gave anti-muslim hate speeches against Kashmiris on social media, targeted protests against Muslims and called for a boycott of businesses run by Muslims. In Ambala, the Muslim vendors were forcibly stopped from setting up their shops and were removed with the support of the Police.
One of the Hindutva leaders urged the Government to enact the Israeli model of violence in Kashmir, as that in Palestine, in retaliation for the Pahalgam violence. Another one gave derogatory speeches against Kashmiri muslims
Muslims were also called ‘jihadis’ during the protests, and multiple incidents in different states reported the boycott of Muslims.
According to the report released by India Hate Lab in 2024, 74% of hate speeches were reported against minorities in India, most of which have been propagated by leaders and Constitutional dignitaries.
Harassment, Assault and Vandalism
Bajrang Dal members vandalised a Muslim fruit shop in Aligarh, and in Mumbai, nine members of the BJP assaulted Muslim hawkers. Many muslim shops were vandalised by a Hindu mob and members of the Bajrang Dal.
In Rajasthan, BJP MLA Acharya, during a rally protesting Pahalgam attacks, tried to enter a mosque, shouted provocative slogans, and pasted objectionable posters outside the mosque.
Muslim labourers have been vehemently removed from their jobs and barred from entering villages in Ghaziabad. Shockingly, they were also chased away, physically assaulted, and lashed out, “Muslims are the reason for the Pahalgam attack, and muslims will not be allowed to work in Hindu houses or regions.”
Many Kashmiri students were also attacked, threatened, and assaulted, asking to leave their residences and campuses.
According to the reports, at least 9 houses of suspected militants in South Kashmir were demolished entirely, and a few of them were blasted off in violation of the existing Supreme Court guidelines.
No suspected militants were arrested or found during these demolitions, leaving ailed parents and other family members stranded and homeless, the reports said.
Locals said this includes houses of some of the suspected militants left their homes years ago and have never come back.
Abuse, Harassment, Threats and Intimidation
Kashmiri students studying in different states across the country faced an imminent threat, assault and intimidation to leave hostels and campuses following the Pahalgam attack. They were attacked, threatened in multiple locations, including Bhopal, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Armed mobs via online gave a call against muslims to evacuate Darul Uloom Deoband, threatening life and livelihood. A muslim woman was abused and harassed by a Hindutva mob in Maharashtra, and the Police refused to register the FIR.
At least three Muslim men were harassed and threatened for stopping the desecration of Palestinian flags by a Hindutva mob.
Kashmiri activist received rape threats, abusive comments and onine harassment for safeguaring Kashmiri students.
Earlier, reports published by India Hate Lab show that 98.5% of the hate crimes since 2024 were targeted against Muslims, most of which took place in states run by the BJP government.
