Hyderabad: Seventy-four hate crime incidents were reported across India in May, with Muslims accounting for 63 of the cases, followed by five involving Dalits and Adivasis, four targeting Christians and two involving Hindus, Siasat.com reported.
The report compiled by Siasat.com said the month began with political controversy in West Bengal after newly elected BJP Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said he would work for the Hindus of Nandigram, noting that Muslim voters had backed the Trinamool Congress in the constituency. Adhikari’s victory ended the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state and was followed by incidents of violence.
West Bengal accounted for 10 of the documented hate crimes, with incidents reported from Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Islampur and Kolkata. Among them, a Taj Mahal-themed selfie point in Dinhata was set ablaze, while in Darjeeling’s Jor Pokhari area, a mob allegedly climbed onto a mosque, hoisted a saffron flag and raised religious slogans. The report also cited attacks on non-vegetarian shops in parts of the state.
The report said several incidents occurred around Bakrid celebrations on May 28. In Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, Mayor Sunita Dayal faced criticism after a video showed her confronting two children carrying bags of meat. In another incident in Muzaffarnagar, police arrested food vlogger Anas after he briefly showed a Shiva temple while reviewing a non-vegetarian food stall, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments.
The report also referred to protests against animal sacrifice during Bakrid in several states. In Mumbai, some residents objected to Muslim neighbours keeping animals for sacrifice, claiming they were being housed illegally. According to the report, protesters even brought a pig to the demonstration.
It also highlighted controversial remarks by public figures. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated that offering namaz in public places was prohibited and warned of action against violators. Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane described Muslims as “green snakes” and rejected the idea of communal brotherhood.
Among other incidents, Hindu Raksha Dal chief Bhupendra Tomar, also known as Pinky Chaudhary, was seen in a viral video refusing food to a Muslim man at a distribution event. In Gujarat, a Muslim man accused of cow slaughter was allegedly assaulted and tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle. In Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, a dispute over a cigarette allegedly led to the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old Muslim man, Arbaaz, with three minors apprehended.
The report also documented cases involving Christians and Dalits. In Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, Christian families alleged they were denied access to common water sources and pressured to convert to Hinduism. In Telangana, an edited version of the Bhagavad Gita referencing Jesus triggered controversy. In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, members of a Dalit family were allegedly assaulted after failing to donate what was considered an adequate quantity of wheat to a temple.
According to Siasat.com, the incidents recorded during May reflect continuing communal and caste-based tensions across the country, ranging from inflammatory public statements to physical violence, discrimination and restrictions on religious practices.
