Communal violence spikes during religious festivals, with fatalities disproportionately affecting Muslims.
New Delhi-A new report released by the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) has highlighted a worrying surge in communal riots across India. According to the findings, 59 communal riots took place in 2024, a sharp rise compared to the 32 incidents recorded in 2023. This marks an 84% increase in communal violence in just one year.
The report reveals that a significant portion of these riots occurred in states where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies hold power. Specifically, 49 of the 59 riots took place in such regions, underlining the trend of escalating communal tensions in politically significant areas.
Maharashtra emerged as the epicenter of these disturbances, accounting for 12 of the 59 riots. The western region of India, particularly during religious festivals and processions, has seen a sharp rise in communal clashes. For instance, 4 riots broke out in January 2024 during the Pura Pratishthan ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The report also mentions other key events where riots occurred, including Saraswati Puja idol immersions, Ganesh festivals, and Eid-ul-Azha.
“These incidents point to a disturbing pattern where communal violence flares up during religious occasions,” said the CSSS report. “Such events are becoming flashpoints for growing religious tensions in the country.”
The report also notes the fatal nature of many of these incidents. Out of the 59 riots, 13 were fatal, resulting in the deaths of 10 Muslims and 3 Hindus. The imbalance in casualties highlights the vulnerability of certain communities, especially Muslims, during periods of unrest.
Alongside the riots, the report also recorded 13 mob violence incidents, commonly known as mob lynching. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, including 9 Muslims, 1 Hindu, and 1 Christian. While the number of mob lynching incidents decreased from 21 in 2023, the ongoing nature of such violence remains a grave concern.
“This data serves as a stark reminder that communal violence continues to plague India, and the frequency of such incidents is a clear indicator of rising intolerance,” said the report’s authors.
The CSSS compiled this analysis using reports from prominent national and regional newspapers, including The Times of India, The Hindu, The Indian Express, as well as Urdu publications like Sahafat and Inqilab. According to the CSSS, the increase in communal violence observed in 2024 is both alarming and indicative of a broader societal shift towards more frequent outbreaks of religious violence.
With communal tensions on the rise, the report urges immediate intervention by authorities to address the root causes of these incidents and ensure greater protection for all communities.