Muslims mock the stampede like situation at Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
29 January, 2025
Case Summary
A stampede broke out at Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh around 1 am on January 29th, 2025 when millions of devotees gathered near Sangam - the point where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet - to take traditional 'Amrit Snan' or holy dip on 'Mauni Amavasya', one of the holiest days of the six-week event. Visuals showed devotees' belongings like clothes, blankets and backpacks strewn around the scene of the stampede. Many people were seen stepping over those belongings while trying to escape the crush. Several Hindu pilgrims, who were en route to the Sangam Ghat, were injured during the stampede-like situation. At least four devotees, including a woman and her daughter, died in the stampede. When the news story about this disturbing incident during the Hindu festival was shared on Facebook, several Muslim users expressed their glee. Islamists began reacting with ‘Haha emojis.’
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Within this, the sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. This incident qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime because it involves Muslims mocking the tragic stampede during one of the most revered Hindu events, the Maha Kumbh. The situation occurred during Mauni Amavasya, a day of immense spiritual significance for Hindus, where millions of devotees gather for the holy dip at the Sangam. The loss of life and injury of several devotees in such a setting marks a deeply tragic moment for the Hindu community. When Muslims reacted with ‘Haha emojis’ and expressed their glee at the misfortune that befell these worshippers, they were not just commenting on the physical event of the stampede; they were mocking the very faith and religious practices of the Hindu devotees. This mockery is not a reaction to the mishap itself, but rather an expression of contempt and derision toward the religious significance of the event and the people involved. Expressing happiness in response to the deaths of Hindu pilgrims is a clear sign of religious animosity. It highlights a malicious intent to belittle and demean Hindu religious observances. In mocking the stampede, these individuals were not simply laughing at a tragic accident but were disrespecting the core of the Hindu faith and the devotion of those who participated in such a sacred event. Such insensitivity is characteristic of those who harbour deep disdain for Hindus and their faith. Given the clear intent to ridicule and denigrate the Hindu faith in the wake of a devastating event, this case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
