Muslims block path and threaten Kanwariyas in Amroha over DJ music causing ruckus

Case ID : 0b6778e | Location : Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India | Date of Incident : Sun, 18 August, 2024

Case ID : 0b6778e

Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India

18 August, 2024

Muslims block path and threaten Kanwariyas in Amroha over DJ music causing ruckus

Attack not resulting in death

Attack against Hindu devotees

Case Summary

In Amroha district, Uttar Pradesh, tensions arose on August 19, 2024, when a group of Kanwar pilgrims was stopped by members of the Muslim community during their yatra. The incident occurred in the Hasanpur police station area, where about 50 Kanwariyas were passing through with a DJ playing religious songs. Some Muslims asked them to stop the DJ, leading to a confrontation. A bike was placed on the Kanwar Yatra route, and the Kanwariyas were challenged, with threats that the Yatra would not be allowed to pass. In response, the Kanwariyas blocked the road, raising slogans like "Har Har Mahadev," "Jai Shri Ram," and "Hindu Ekta Zindabad." Police and administrative officials intervened, resolving the issue and assuring the Kanwariyas of strict action against those responsible. The road was cleared, and the pilgrims continued their journey. The police detained three accused.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This particular case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under 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. Further, as per case details the sub-category chosen under the abovementioned prime category is- Attack against Hindu devotees. Hindu devotees are a few of the easiest targets of religiously motivated hate crimes because during the festival/procession/puja etc, for non-Hindus it is easy to profile their victims on the basis of religion. Hindu devotees come under attack on several occasions by individual non-Hindus or mobs of non-Hindus owing to their animosity against Hinduism, its symbols and tradition/practices. There are several instances of Hindu devotees being attacked while they worship in temples or temporary religious structures, during religious processions, doing bhajan/kirtan/puja in their own homes, in the residential society etc. These attacks are perpetrated by non-Hindus primarily because of their animosity towards Hindus and their faith. In some cases, the trigger for the violence may be non-religious, however, there are two elements that make these hate crimes. First, the Hindus who come under attack are attacked violently while indulging in religious activity. Whether they are in a place of worship or not is immaterial to the crime. When individuals are attacked while indulging in religious practices, the attack in itself is a hindrance to their freedom to practice religion and therefore constitutes a hate crime. Secondly, religious supremacist doctrines and ideologies deem religious practices of Hindus to be offensive ab initio since they are considered “sinful” by these ideologies, worthy to be annihilated by force or coercion. Driven by these religious supremacist ideologies and doctrines, the attacks against Hindu devotees stem from intrinsic animosity towards Hinduism. In some cases, the trigger for the violence may be non-religious, however, it develops into a religiously motivated crime during the course of the violence. Since these attacks stem from animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, they are considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The incident in Amroha district, Uttar Pradesh, on August 19, 2024, exemplifies a significant religiously motivated crime. A group of Kanwar pilgrims, who were celebrating a sacred Hindu festival, faced resistance from local members of the Muslim community. The confrontation began when the DJ accompanying the Kanwariyas played religious songs as they passed through the area. Blocking the Kanwar Yatra route and issuing threats to prevent the pilgrims from continuing not only directly challenged the religious sentiments of the Kanwariyas but also symbolized a deeper effort to undermine the expression of Hindu identity within a predominantly Hindu cultural ritual. In response, the Kanwariyas' actions—blocking the road and chanting slogans like "Har Har Mahadev," "Jai Shri Ram," and "Hindu Ekta Zindabad"—reflect a defensive assertion of their faith. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how the religious identity of Hindus has become a flashpoint for conflict, particularly among radical Islamists. Such actions arise from an inherent animosity toward Hindus and their beliefs, which is why this case has been categorized as a hate crime and included in the tracker.