Road rage incident distorted to push 'Muslim victimhood' narrative, resulting in targeted vilification of Hindus
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India 
3 May, 2025
Case Summary
Fake news went viral on social media, wherein it was claimed that a Muslim family was attacked with a knife and an iron rod in Dehradun by a mob after asking their name and religion. The post, made by an X user named ‘Mr Haque’, stated that a Muslim family travelling from Doiwala to Chanchak Banjarawala for a wedding was attacked with iron rods and a knife after being asked their name and religion. A video showing a bloodied and injured man accompanied the post, intensifying concerns and reactions online. The narrative was widely circulated, including by Zafarul Islam Khan, notorious for making provocative statements. The incident was swiftly projected as a case of religiously motivated mob violence, fuelling the broader narrative of Muslim victimhood. However, the Dehradun Police issued a detailed statement refuting this version of events. According to their investigation, the incident took place on 1st May and involved a road rage altercation, not a communal attack. The injured man seen in the video was identified as Anish Ali. While en route to a wedding, his vehicle broke down, causing a traffic jam. During this disruption, a heated exchange took place between Ali and another individual, Sanjay Rawat. The situation escalated into a physical fight, resulting in injuries to both men. Police personnel reached the location promptly and ensured that both parties received medical treatment. To maintain order, a police presence was deployed in the area. Authorities also reviewed CCTV footage and registered multiple FIRs in connection with the incident. In their official statement, the police highlighted that certain individuals on social media were attempting to communalise what was essentially a personal dispute arising from a traffic issue. The authorities warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading misinformation and distorting facts for communal polarisation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Within it, the sub-category selected is- Anti Hindu subversion and prejudice, and within it, the tertiary category selected is- Anti-Hindu Fake News or Downplaying. Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Media plays a specific and overarching reach in perpetuating prejudicial attitudes towards a community owing to unfair, untrue coverage and/or misrepresentation/misinterpretation, selective coverage and/or omission of facts of/pertaining to issues affecting a specific religious group. This type of bias can dehumanise the victim group, making it easier for others to justify harmful actions against them, which aligns with the objectives of hate speech laws aimed at preventing such harm. It is often observed that the media takes a prejudicial stand against the Hindu community driven by their need to shield the aggressor community which happens to be a numeric minority, however, is the one perpetrating violence against Hindus. For example, the media is often quick to contextualise religiously motivated crimes against Hindus, omit or misrepresent facts that point towards religiously motivated hate crimes, justify and/or downplay religiously motivated hate crimes or simply present fake news to stereotype Hindus. Such media bias leads to the denial of persecution and is often used to dehumanise Hindus, leading to justification for violence against them. For example, the media covered several fake allegations of Hindus targeting Muslims and forcing them to chant Jai Shree Ram. Most of these cases were proved false and fabricated after police investigation. These fake news reports were subsequently never retracted or clarified. Such fake news led to the justification of violence and dehumanisation of Hindus based on the argument that since Hindus targeted Muslims and forced them to chant Jai Shree Ram, the dehumanisation of Hindus and violence against them was par for the course and merely a retaliation. Such media bias leads to prejudicial portrayal of Hindus and offers a justification for violence against them and therefore, is considered hate speech under this category. The spread of fake news in the Dehradun incident, where it was wrongly claimed that a Muslim family was attacked over their religion, goes far beyond a simple misunderstanding and amounts to a calculated effort to vilify Hindus. What actually happened was a road rage scuffle, but this truth was twisted, giving it a communal colour to make it seem like Hindus were the aggressors and Muslims, the victims. This kind of distortion doesn't just misinform people, it stirs emotions, deepens divides, and paints an entire community in a false and dangerous light. For Hindus, such misrepresentation is more than offensive; it's hurtful and frightening, as it fosters a perception that they are inherently intolerant. When influential voices on social media amplify these false claims, even after police clarification, it reflects a deeper bias—one that unfairly targets and vilifies Hindus. These aren’t just isolated incidents of misinformation—they’re part of a larger pattern that subtly but deliberately chips away at the dignity of the Hindu community. That’s why this isn't just fake news; it’s hate-mongering that uses lies to push harmful narratives, and it needs to be called out for what it is. Disclaimer: While multiple individuals circulated this fake news targeting Hindus on social media, the report specifically names two Muslim individuals who played a prominent role in amplifying it. Therefore, the perpetrator count has been recorded as two in the database.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
