Hindu students celebrating Holi at a university in Varanasi attacked with stones; Hindu female students molested
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India 
10 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Varanasi, Hindu students celebrating Holi on the campus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University were attacked with stones by a group of outsider miscreants. The students were playing music and dancing inside the college campus when some outsiders entered and attempted to disrupt the celebrations. When the students objected, the outsiders were removed from the campus. However, around 3 PM they began throwing stones onto the campus from outside. In response, some students retaliated by throwing stones back at them. According to the students, the outsiders also molested female Hindu students. One of the students, Harshit, stated, "We were celebrating Holi Milan Samaroh when a group of youths from the nearby Sabzi Mandi entered the campus and started misbehaving with the female students. These individuals had previously quarrelled with students as well. When no one reacted, they left, but after some time, they returned. When we protested against their behaviour, they went outside and started pelting stones. In such a situation, how can we feel safe? We have filed a complaint with the police and demanded action." Dr KK Singh, Chief Proctor of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth said, "Students had taken permission to celebrate Holi and were playing among themselves. During this time, some local residents from outside the campus entered and started misbehaving. In response, a confrontation occurred, leading to stone pelting. Following this, I requested the police to send reinforcements. The police arrived after some time, and we have lodged a complaint." ACP Gaurav Kumar stated, "A Holi Milan function was taking place at Kashi Vidyapeeth University when we received information that outsiders had entered the campus and a confrontation ensued. This later escalated into stone pelting. Some people from outside suffered minor injuries. The police have registered a case and are taking action. We are identifying the accused and those involved in stone pelting using CCTV footage. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for disturbing the peace." The police arrived at the scene and pacified the situation. The Hindu students filed an FIR regarding this incident.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the first sub-category selected 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. The other sub-category under which the case has been placed is- Communal clash/attack. 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 attack on Hindu students during their Holi celebrations was a direct attempt to disrupt and intimidate Hindus engaging in their religious and cultural festivals. The outsiders' deliberate intrusion into the campus, followed by stone pelting and molestation of female Hindu students, suggests a targeted act of hostility against Hindu identity. This was not a spontaneous brawl but an orchestrated attack, as evidenced by the fact that the miscreants first attempted to provoke the students, left the premises, and then returned to attack with stones from outside. This calculated escalation demonstrates premeditation and an intent to disrupt Hindu religious expression. By targeting a Hindu celebration within a university, the attackers aimed to instil fear and prevent Hindus from freely practising their cultural and religious traditions. Thus, this incident is a clear case of religious hate against Hindus, falling under religiously motivated hate crimes targeting Hindu religious gatherings and devotees.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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