Hindu youth attacked by Muslim mob, stones pelted in presence of police

Case ID : 5954a45 | Location : Mahudha, Gujarat, India | Date of Incident : Fri, 13 September, 2024

Case ID : 5954a45

Mahudha, Gujarat, India

13 September, 2024

Hindu youth attacked by Muslim mob, stones pelted in presence of police

Attack not resulting in death

Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim

Case Summary

A Muslim youth posted a provocative message on Instagram that hurt Hindu religious sentiments. The post, made from the accounts of Tahir and Konen Kazi, contained offensive remarks targeting Hindus. Three Hindu youths, upon seeing the post in a WhatsApp group, decided to file a complaint at the Mahudha police station. Before they could file the complaint, a Muslim mob gathered at the station and threatened the Hindus. The mob then attacked and pelted them with stones in the presence of police officers. The police intervened and ensured the safety of the Hindu youths, escorting them in a vehicle for protection. Later, as the Hindus were leaving Mahudha town, the mob, which had gathered outside the police station, surrounded them again. The attackers, armed with swords and other weapons, shouted threats and attempted to harm the Hindus. One attacker, Hussain Abbas, charged the youths with a sword, but they managed to survive. The mob dispersed when police reinforcements arrived. The FIR mentions charges against 37 individuals, including Moin, Shahjad, Tauqeer, Nasir, Sameer, and others.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the database under the category- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim. 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. This case is appropriately categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime because the Hindu youths were targeted for attempting to file a complaint against a provocative and offensive social media post that hurt their religious sentiments. The mob's hostility escalated solely due to the victims’ opposition to the radical actions of the accused. The violent response, including threats and physical assault, underscores a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence those opposing radical elements, highlighting the religious animosity motivating the attack.