Muslims endure violence, unjust arrests, and boycotts as several Hindutva groups sow hatred
NEW DELHI — Aided and abetted by several state governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Hindutva groups managed to hijack the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to launch a vicious campaign of violence, harassment, and discrimination against Muslims, particularly Kashmiris, in many parts of the country.
This comprehensive report, based on credible international and Indian media sources, details the unjust allegations of Muslims supporting Pakistan, arbitrary arrests, mosque desecration of mosques, injuries, deaths, and systemic discrimination from 22 April to 11 May, 2025. It underscores the immense suffering of Indian Muslims, condemns the divisive role of Hindu nationalism, and celebrates the resilient spirit of Muslim communities striving for peace and unity.
Unfounded Allegations and Arbitrary Arrests
The Pahalgam attack was quickly attributed to Pakistan by Indian authorities, with outlets like The Times of India and India Today highlighting foreign terrorism. Tragically, this narrative was distorted to smear Indian Muslims, especially Kashmiris, who were falsely accused of supporting Pakistan. Social media platforms were rife with hateful posts, as The Hindu reported on 26 April: “Right-wing groups are spreading lies to vilify Muslims, without any evidence.” This toxic campaign led to a wave of arrests unfairly targeting Muslims.
Key cases include:
• Aminul Islam, Jammu and Kashmir MLA (24 April): Arrested on sedition charges for allegedly suggesting the Pahalgam attack was a “government conspiracy,” as per The Indian Express. The arrest was condemned as an attempt to silence a prominent Muslim leader. “Aminul is being punished for his faith and honesty,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a Srinagar cleric. By 11 May, no trial had started, leaving Islam in detention under harsh conditions.
• Bokaro, Jharkhand (23 April): Md Naushad, a 28-year-old Muslim shopkeeper, was detained over a social media post wrongly interpreted as pro-Pakistan, reported The Hindustan Times. “It was a misunderstanding; he’s being targeted for being Muslim,” said his sister, Ayesha Khan. Inspector Naveen Kumar of Balidih police station confirmed the detention, but Naushad was denied bail.
• Widespread Detentions: The Guardian reported on 2 May that over 2,000 Muslims were detained in Jammu and Kashmir for vague “security checks.” In Uttar Pradesh, The Wire documented 350 Muslims questioned for social media posts, often without evidence. “This is a calculated attack on our community,” said Anuradha Bhasin, editor of Kashmir Times. BBC noted “a disturbing trend of arbitrary arrests” in northern states, with many Muslims held for weeks before release, often after protests.
Human Rights Watch condemned the “systematic targeting” of Muslims, estimating thousands of detentions nationwide. The lack of clear charges and transparency exposes a gross miscarriage of justice, with Muslims presumed guilty based solely on their religion.
Horrific Violence: A Death and Mounting Injuries
The communal backlash unleashed horrific violence against Muslims, particularly in northern and western India, claiming one life and injuring many. Hindu mobs, emboldened by false narratives, attacked innocent Muslims under flimsy pretexts. Key incidents include:
• Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (24 April): A 15-year-old Muslim boy was viciously assaulted by a mob linked to the Hindu Yuva Vahini, BBC reported. A video verified by The Wire showed him being dragged, forced to urinate on a painted Pakistani flag, and coerced into chanting “Hindustan Zindabad.” He suffered bruises and severe trauma. “They said I’d die; I was so scared,” he told The Indian Express anonymously. Aligarh police filed a case, but no arrests have been made thus far, highlighting the impunity Hindu attackers enjoy.
• Haveri, Karnataka (27 April): Asif Qureshi, a 32-year-old Muslim tailor, was lynched by a 20-member Hindu mob for allegedly shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” during a market dispute, The Hindu said. The brutal attack killed Qureshi, devastating his family. “He was a kind man, killed for his faith,” said his wife, Rubina Qureshi. Police arrested 15 suspects, but India Today reported slow progress, fuelling Muslim distrust.
• Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (8 May): After India’s Operation Sindoor missile strikes on 7 May, a Hindu mob attacked a Muslim neighbourhood, targeting homes and shops, The Times of India reported. Three Muslims were injured, with no fatalities. The violence stemmed from false rumours of Muslims celebrating Pakistan’s response. “We were just at home; they attacked us for being Muslim,” said Bilal Ahmed, a shopkeeper. Police arrested six attackers, but fear persisted.
• Ahmedabad, Gujarat (9 May): Farooq Khan, a 40-year-old Muslim vendor, was beaten by a Hindu group chanting anti-Muslim slogans, reported Reuters. Khan sustained a fractured wrist and cuts. “I’m an Indian, but they targeted my religion,” he told Al Jazeera. Police filed a case, but no arrests were made, citing “lack of evidence.”
• Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (10 May): A Muslim youth was assaulted over a social media post about cricket, wrongly deemed pro-Pakistan, The Wire said. He suffered facial injuries. “It was just a post; they saw my faith,” he said. Police intervened, but no arrests were confirmed.
• Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (11 May): BBC reported a clash where two Muslims were beaten by a Hindu group over a rumoured “anti-national” comment. Both sustained minor injuries. Police filed a case, but no arrests were reported.
Total Casualties: One confirmed death (Haveri) and eight injuries (one in Aligarh, three in Meerut, one in Ahmedabad, one in Lucknow, two in Kanpur). Human Rights Watch warned of “numerous unreported attacks,” suggesting a higher toll. These assaults reveal the barbaric targeting of Muslims, driven by unchecked hate.
Desecration of Mosque: Attack on Muslim Dignity
While no mosques were destroyed, a shocking act of desecration in Rajasthan struck at Muslim hearts:
• Jaipur, Rajasthan (29 April): BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya stormed a mosque in Malviya Nagar, defaced it with a “Pakistan Murdabad” poster, kicked the wall, and shouted “Jai Shri Ram,” The Wire reported. The filmed act was a deliberate affront, sparking outrage. “This is a hateful attack on our sacred space,” said Imam Qasim Raza of Jaipur’s Jama Masjid. Muslim protests demanded justice, but police only filed a case after pressure, with Acharya escaping arrest due to his BJP ties, The Hindu reported. The mosque remained intact, but the desecration deeply wounded the community.
Reuters noted “isolated vandalism” of Muslim religious sites in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but details were sketchy. Underreporting likely conceals further incidents, given the anti-Muslim climate.
Systemic Discrimination and Cruel Boycotts
Muslims faced relentless discrimination, with Kashmiris suffering immensely:
• Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (27 April): Hindu shopkeepers near the Banke Bihari temple launched a boycott of Muslim traders and workers, reported The Hindu. “Muslims aren’t welcome after Pahalgam,” a shopkeeper told the BBC anonymously. The boycott devastated 70 Muslim families, with vendors reporting empty stalls, as per The Indian Express. “We’re starving because of their hate,” said Amina Begum, a vegetable seller.
• Panipat, Haryana (4 May): Muslims leaving a mosque were harassed by Hindu vigilantes demanding “Aadhaar card checks,” a pretext for intimidation, India Today reported. “They insulted us, called us traitors,” said Mohammad Aslam, a tailor. Many Muslims stopped attending prayers, living in fear.
• Kashmiri Muslims Nationwide: The Times of India reported on 3 May that Kashmiri students and traders in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Dehradun faced threats and vandalism. “My shop was ruined; they called me a terrorist,” said Bilal Dar, a Kashmiri shawl seller in Mussoorie, whose attackers were fined but freed, reported The Wire. Over 1,500 Kashmiri students fled colleges outside Jammu and Kashmir by 7 May, as per The Hindu.
• Institutional Bias: Human Rights Watch documented heavy police surveillance in Muslim neighbourhoods in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Young Muslim men faced arbitrary detentions, with The Wire estimating 500 cases in Uttar Pradesh. “This is religious profiling,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director.
• Hate Speech Surge: Al Jazeera reported a flood of anti-Muslim hate speech, with Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rallies demanding Muslims “prove loyalty.” “Muslims don’t belong,” a VHP leader in Gujarat told Reuters. Social media campaigns urged boycotts of Muslim businesses, crippling livelihoods, The Indian Express said.
Hindu groups, emboldened by the BJP-led government’s policies, drove this violence. The 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and ongoing anti-Muslim rhetoric have marginalised Muslims, per Human Rights Watch. “Pahalgam was an excuse to target Muslims,” said Praveen Donthi of the International Crisis Group, quoted by the BBC.
BJP leaders fanned the flames. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s 28 April claim that 34 “anti-nationals” were jailed targeted Muslims. “This is incitement,” said Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief, who condemned the attack and urged peace. The BJP’s silence on the Jaipur desecration and Mathura boycott emboldened mobs.
Hindi media outlets like Zee News and Sudarshan News vilified Muslims. “The media turned us into enemies,” said Mirza Waheed, a Kashmiri writer, quoted by Al Jazeera. Yet, voices like Himanshi Narwal, widow of a Pahalgam victim, shone through. She said on 5 May: “Muslims are our family; stop this hate,” The Hindu quoted her as saying. Her plea faced trolling, condemned by the National Commission for Women.
The full extent of violence is likely underreported, as Indian media often prioritises nationalist narratives. BBC News, Reuters, and Human Rights Watch provide credible accounts, but rural incidents may go undocumented. No centralised data exists on arrests or injuries, and The Wire noted “deliberate suppression” of communal stories.
Despite immense suffering, the Muslim community showed remarkable resilience. In Srinagar, thousands marched on 23 April to condemn the Pahalgam attack, with cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stating, “Kashmiris grieve with all Indians,” as per The Indian Express. Sikh communities in Delhi and Punjab offered aid to harassed Kashmiri Muslims, as per The Hindu. “We’re one nation,” said Gurpreet Singh, a Sikh volunteer.
Muslim leaders urged peace. “We reject terrorism and share India’s pain, but we’re scapegoated,” said Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. Interfaith peace marches in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata showed Muslim commitment to unity, an Indian Express report said.
The BJP’s divisive rhetoric and the media’s biased narratives deepened the crisis, exposing India’s secular vulnerabilities. The suffering in Aligarh, Haveri, Jaipur, and Mathura demands justice. Yet, Indian Muslims’ resilience and calls for peace embody hope for unity. As Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, said on 11 May, “India thrives on unity, not hatred.”
