Muslim man masterminds violence over perceived 'blasphemy', 1 dead
Akola, Maharashtra, India 
12 May, 2023
Case Summary
On May 13, 2023, Hindus were targeted by a Muslim mob over an Instagram post by a Hindu man supporting the movie ‘The Kerala Files’. The Muslim mob was offended over the post because they alleged it insulted the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad. After the Instagram post, a Muslim mob gathered at the police station demanding an FIR be registered against the Hindu boy. The mob also raised the murderous Sar Tan Se Juda slogan. One Arbaaz Khan is believed to be the mastermind of the violence. Akola SP Sandeep Ghuge confirmed that the violence began and revolved around a controversial Instagram chat, which 23-year-old Arbaaz had edited and selectively made viral. Reportedly, Khan incited the mob through social media saying how objectionable things were being said towards Muslims and their religion. The clash in Akola was triggered after the Muslim mob started pelting stones. The Hindus there also retaliated. Police had to deploy force to bring the situation under control. They registered an FIR against 120 people involved in the clash and were examining CCTV footage to nab all rioters. Twenty-six people were detained. Eight were injured, including two police officers. Reportedly, one was brought dead to the Civil Hospital as well. Along with detaining the mastermind of the Islamist violence, the police have also taken into custody Sameer Sonawane, a Hindu man, for creating an innocent Instagram profile endorsing the film 'The Kerala Files' and engaging Arbaaz Khan in conversation. The police are still on the lookout for the ‘godfather’ behind the violence.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
Blasphemy essentially refers to the desecration of anything which is held sacred/holy to a group of people. However, for religious supremacist groups, the elements of ‘blasphemy’ are ever-changing, shifting, and expanding – leading to infringement on the rights of other religious groups, freedom of speech and expression, threats, physical violence, and even murder. There are instances where blasphemy is also used as a dog whistle to target Hindus owing to intrinsic animosity towards Hinduism. There are several instances where stating truths as mentioned in the non-Hindu doctrine itself has led to unmitigated violence against Hindus. There have also been instances where non-Hindus have themselves created a ‘blasphemous’ situation, like placing a Quran in a temple, to use it as an excuse to attack Hindus. Essentially, Blasphemy charges are often made up and/or are used to shut down any form of criticism of non-Hindu faiths and as a tool to target Hindus. Any physical violence over Blasphemy charges against Hindus are foundationally based on animosity for Hindus and their faith owing to religious supremacist ideologies. In this category, we would document cases where such allegations of ‘blasphemy’ led to an attack, resulting in the death of the Hindu victim/s. Such attacks would be documented as religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. In this case, the identity of the woman who was killed in the clash remains unknown. However, the attack itself was over allegations of blasphemy. It is clear from the case details that the main mastermind behind the violence edited the post of the Hindu boy and instigated the mob to indulge in violence over the blasphemy allegations against the Hindu boy. Since this violence was perpetrated specifically owing to religious animosity and was targeted against Hindus, it is being added as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
1
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Sources 
