Muslim mob pelts stones from Eidgah leading to communal clash, enter homes of Hindus and assaults them
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India 
20 June, 2024
Case Summary
Violence erupted in the Sursagar area of Jodhpur after Hindus protested against radical Islamists' attempt to open a gate at an Eidgah near a Hanuman Mandir. This led to clashes, including arson and stone-pelting, resulting in injuries and property damage. A Hindu woman, Lajwanti Gehlot, lost vision in one eye due to a stone injury. A shop and a tractor were set on fire, and two police officials were injured. The police used a lathi-charge to control the violence. Following the incident, Section 144 was imposed, and a heavy police force, including drones for surveillance, was deployed. On June 22, complaints emerged about individuals entering homes and assaulting family members, including women. Two FIRs were filed, naming 200 people, with 45 arrests made, including seven Hindus. The police are continuing raids to arrest remaining suspects. The conflict stemmed from a long-standing dispute over a gate being constructed at Eidgah near Rajaram Circle, opposed by locals due to its proximity to the Hanuman Temple and also because it hindered the movement in the area. Despite an agreement to halt construction, radicals insisted on proceeding, leading to the violence. The violence was started by Muslims pelting stones from the Eidgah at Hindus. There were reports that also indicated that the Muslim mob then started entering homes and attacking some Hindus who were not even involved in the initial altercation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
Communal clash is a form of collective violence that involves clashes between groups belonging to different religious identities. For a communal clash between Hindus and non-Hindus to qualify as a religiously motivated hate crime, the trigger of the violence itself would have to be anti-Hindu in essence. For example, if there is a Hindu religious procession that comes under attack from a non-Hindu mob and after the initial attack, Hindus retaliate in self-defence, leading to a communal clash between the two religious communities. While at a later stage, both communities are involved in the clash/violence, the initial trigger of the violence was by the non-Hindu mob against the Hindus and therefore, it could safely be termed as an anti-Hindu violence. Further, the trigger would also have to be religiously motivated. In the cited example, the attack by the non-Hindu mob was against religious processions and therefore, can be concluded to be religiously motivated. In some cases, the trigger may be non-religious, however, it develops into religious violence against Hindus at a later stage. In such cases too, the foundational animosity towards Hindus becomes the motivating factor of the crime and therefore, it would be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus under this category. The other sub-category this case is being added to is 'attacked for Hindu identity'. In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. In this case, the locals protested against the Eidgah gate because it hindered the movement of locals and also, because of its proximity to the Hanuman temple. The situation escalated to communal violence after the Muslim mob initiated the violent by pelting stones at Hindus fro the Eidgah itself. The Hindus then responded in self defence. Further, the Muslim mob then proceeded to attack Hindus by entering their homes, based solely on their religious identity, eventhough they were not involved in the preceding conflict. The violence initiated by the Muslim mob against the Hindus, including Hindus in their homes, is a marker of a religiously motivated hate crime since Hindus were selectively targeted based on their religious identity. For that reason, this is being categorised as a hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
