Hindus protesting against ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Bangladesh attacked by Muslim mob

Case ID : 0b67647 | Location : Nashik, Maharashtra, India | Date of Incident : Thu, 15 August, 2024

Case ID : 0b67647

Nashik, Maharashtra, India

15 August, 2024

Hindus protesting against ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Bangladesh attacked by Muslim mob

Attack not resulting in death

Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim

Case Summary

Tensions erupted in Nashik and Jalgaon after protests by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, condemning the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, were met with resistance and stone-pelting by Muslims, sparking a law and order situation. In Nashik, a district-wide shutdown was called on August 16 to protest ongoing violence against Hindus and the destruction of temples in Bangladesh. Clashes broke out in the Bhadrakali area during the protests, leading to violent confrontations and the forced closure of shops. Similar unrest occurred in Jalgaon, where stones were thrown by Muslim mobs at a vehicle showroom during a protest march. The violence in Bangladesh intensified following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, leading to anti-Hindu attacks and vandalism of places of worship. In response, Hindu organisations demanded that the Indian government take immediate steps to protect Hindus in Bangladesh. Nashik police arrested 15 people and registered FIRs, with further arrests expected based on photographic evidence. Ten people were injured in the clashes. The situation remains under control according to local officials.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under one sub-category within the prime category 'Attack not resulting in death' of the tracker because of the various distinct components that demonstrate the perpetrator's bias against the Hindu faith. The sub-category selected here is- Attacked for opposing radicals/or trying to save victims from radicals- In several cases, Hindus are attacked for opposing religiously motivated crimes being committed against a fellow Hindu or simply for voicing an opinion opposing radical elements, who either have in the past or continue to persecute Hindus. In such cases, the initial attack against the victim, against which the Hindu was trying to defend the victim, would also need to be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime. Since the initial crime itself was religiously motivated and the subsequent crime of attempting to save the victim or speaking against the radical elements ends up inviting a violent attack, it would also be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. A Muslim mob reportedly pelted stones at Hindus who were protesting against anti-Hindu attacks in Bangladesh, in the cities of Nashik and Jalgaon. This violent response to a peaceful protest not only escalates tensions but also highlights the hostility and aggression faced by the Hindus standing up against the religious persecution of people of their community. Such attacks can be classified as hate crimes, as they stem from animosity towards a particular religious community. The violent actions, targeting individuals based on their religious identity and beliefs, reflect deep-seated hostility and are intended to intimidate and suppress the community’s right to express their grievances or defend their faith. It is pertinent to note that Muslim extremists harbour specific animosity towards Hindus and their faith and also view India as a Hindu collectivity. The very basis of the partition of India was that the Muslims believed that Islam was a nation unto itself, which could not survive with a Hindu collectivity like India. Further, Muslims often believe in transnational unity - or the Ummah - which is a belief that all Muslims across the world are a nation unto themselves and therefore, loyalty as far as the nation-state is concerned lies with the Muslim collectivity and not with a Hindu collectivity like India. This would also mean that an attack against those protesting the ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh is about hailing a Muslim collectivity and an expression of transnational loyalty and anti-Hindu sentiments. For that reason, any slogan which expresses transnational loyalty, faith in the Ummah is automatically a slogan against Hindus and the Hindu collectivity.