Fact-finding report exposes coordinated violence, media silence, and state complicity
Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi: In a chilling exposé, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has documented a nationwide outbreak of anti-Muslim violence following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, revealing an orchestrated campaign of hate and brutality. Over a two-week period, the civil liberties group recorded 184 hate crimes across 19 states, painting a grim picture of deepening communal polarization and state inaction.
The 178-page fact-finding report, released this week, details an alarming average of more than 10 hate incidents per day between April 22 and May 6. These include 84 instances of hate speech, 39 physical assaults, 19 acts of vandalism, 12 attempted lynchings, and three murders. Victims included children, women, the elderly, and working-class Muslims — many of whom were vendors, students, and daily wage earners.
“These acts followed clear, repeated patterns. They were coordinated, intentional, and far from isolated,” the APCR report concludes.
‘Revenge for Pahalgam’: A Dangerous Justification
According to the APCR, 106 of the 184 incidents were directly tied to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Right-wing outfits used the tragedy as a justification for sweeping acts of retribution, amplifying hate narratives and targeting Muslim communities across India.
“A minimum of 316 individuals were physically attacked, harassed, or displaced — a conservative estimate,” the APCR stated. The actual figure, it warned, could be far higher due to rampant underreporting and media blackouts.
Deadly Mob Attacks and Lynching Attempts
Among the most disturbing revelations are violent mob attacks and attempted lynchings in broad daylight:
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Agra, Uttar Pradesh (April 23): A Muslim man was shot dead, and his cousin seriously injured by members of the Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal. The killers described the act as “revenge for Pahalgam.” A video later surfaced of a man in a blue vest claiming responsibility, threatening to kill “2,600 Muslims for the 26 tourists killed in Kashmir.” (ThePrint)
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Mangaluru, Karnataka (April 27): A 32-year-old Muslim man was lynched following false claims of shouting pro-Pakistan slogans during a cricket match. (Indian Express)
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Bokaro, Jharkhand: A Muslim man was dragged from his home and beaten to death by a Hindu mob. (Clarion India)
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Santacruz, Mumbai: A mob of around 30 Bajrang Dal men attacked a Muslim man with iron rods, fracturing his leg. The police arrested the victim — not the attackers. (Adv. Waris Pathan, X)
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Shamli, UP: A Muslim man was attacked with an axe while the mob chanted, “26 ke badle 2600.” (Siasat.com)
Women, Children Targeted Amid Rising Bigotry
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Santacruz, Mumbai: A hijab-clad woman carrying her child was beaten by a stick-and-sword wielding mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” She was told to chant the slogan or be “dragged to Pakistan.” Muslim men defending her were arrested. (Gallinews.com)
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Aligarh, UP: A 15-year-old Muslim boy was beaten and forced to urinate on a Pakistani flag. (Indian Express)
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Jalandhar, Punjab: A Kashmiri girl was assaulted in her hostel and branded a “terrorist.” (Hindutva Watch)
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Varanasi, UP: A Muslim minor was assaulted after accidentally brushing past a Hindu woman. (Muslim Mirror)
Genocidal Calls, Hate Rallies, and Far-Right Speeches
The report identifies more than 60 incidents of hate speech, including calls for genocide, sterilization, and economic boycotts of Muslims — many by elected representatives:
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Ghaziabad, UP: Hate monk Yati Narsinghanand called for the “elimination of all Muslims.” (Hindutva Watch)
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Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand: BJP CM Pushkar Dhami delivered an inflammatory speech against Muslims. (Hindutva Watch)
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Madhepura, Bihar: Protesters publicly pledged to boycott Muslims economically and socially. (Hindutva Watch)
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Bhopal, MP: BJP MP Alok Sharma advocated forced sterilization of Muslims. (Zee News Hindi)
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Jaipur, Rajasthan: A BJP MLA stormed a mosque, shouting anti-Muslim slogans. (The Hindu)
Mass Evictions, Student Exodus, and Economic Boycotts
Fear has gripped Muslim communities across multiple states, with reports of evictions, vendor bans, and student displacements:
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Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Over 32 Kashmiri students fled hostels after threats from Bajrang Dal. (Indian Express)
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Ambala, Haryana: Muslim vendors were banned from markets. (Amar Ujala)
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Santacruz, Mumbai: Entire Muslim neighbourhoods were forced to vacate. (Clarion India)
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Pune, Maharashtra: Four villages banned non-local Muslims from praying in mosques. (Clarion India)
Institutional Bias: Denied Care, Education & Jobs
The report exposes widespread institutional discrimination:
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Indore & Maheshtala: Muslim women were denied medical care following hate rallies. (Facebook account of a victim’s sister)
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Delhi CRPF HQ: A Muslim jawan was dismissed for marrying a Pakistani woman. (Observer Post)
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Meerut, UP: A hijab-wearing student was barred from class. (Team Rising Falcon on X)
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Hubli, Karnataka: A bus driver was suspended for offering namaz. (Siasat.com)
Police Collusion: Victims Jailed, Attackers Free
A recurring theme in the report is police inaction and bias. In several incidents, police either refused to register FIRs, arrested victims instead of perpetrators, or allowed mobs to operate freely.
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In Santacruz, despite video evidence, no FIR was filed against attackers; victims were arrested. (Clarion India)
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In Nainital & Gaya, police allegedly stood by as mobs attacked Muslims or refused to act on fabricated harassment cases. (Maktoob Media, Observer Post)
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In Delhi, Muslim vendors were forced to declare their religion, and received no police protection. (Clarion India)
Cyber Hate & Online Calls for Mass Violence
The report highlights a surge in online threats and incitement:
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Activist Nasir Khuehami received rape and death threats for speaking out. (Clarion India)
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Viral videos threatened to kill “2,600 Muslims”, mirroring real-life violence.
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BJP MP Raghunandan Rao demanded surveillance of madarsas and profiling of Muslims. (Clarion India)
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BJP leader Krishna Ghadge issued a death threat to Muslim MLA Arif Masood. (Indian Express)
Hate Campaigns Led by Saffron Outfits Across States
The report also reveals that far-right leaders, including those affiliated with the RSS, Bajrang Dal, and AHP, led hate marches and boycott campaigns across cities:
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In Ahmedabad, AHP chief Praveen Togadia urged Hindus to expel “5 crore Bangladeshi Muslims.” (Hindutva Watch)
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In Kalyan, protesters labelled Muslim vendors as “infiltrators.” (Hindutva Watch)
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In Nahan, false claims were made about Muslim plots to kill Hindus. (Hindutva Watch)
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Kolhapur, Maharashtra saw banners calling for a Muslim boycott, erected by Sakal Hindu Samaj. (Radiance News, Shodhan Weekly)
A Pattern of Persecution
The APCR report concludes that this wave of hate is not spontaneous, but part of a growing systemic and ideological campaign against Indian Muslims — one that is politically sanctioned, socially normalized, and largely unchallenged by the institutions tasked with upholding the rule of law.
As violence escalates and civic protections erode, civil society now faces a sobering challenge: to defend constitutional values and protect vulnerable communities before hate becomes the new normal.