Killings, lynchings and arrests: Islamophobia reaches new high in India South Asia Justice Campaign report details surge

A new report by the South Asia Justice Campaign’s India Persecution Tracker has found that at least 44 Muslims have been killed in India since the beginning of 2026, potentially making this year the deadliest since the organisation began keeping records in 2022.

The data indicate growing pressure on India’s Muslim minority from both state authorities and Hindu extremist groups, Caliber.Az reports, citing the British agency ShiaWaves.

Of these deaths, 19 were attributed to state actors, primarily police and security forces, while 25 resulted from religiously motivated attacks by Hindu extremists.

The findings present a complex picture of a community facing sustained pressure. Between May and July alone, 25 deaths were recorded, including those of an 11-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy.

Beyond physical violence, the report highlights what its authors describe as a “full repertoire” of state-backed coercive measures. These include mass arrests, deaths in custody, and widespread demolitions of homes, businesses, and religious structures belonging to Muslims. More than 3,000 such structures have reportedly been demolished since January. While authorities often justify the demolitions as measures against illegal construction or action against suspected criminals, critics argue that the practice circumvents due process and is applied selectively.

The study also focuses on regional hotspots of tension. In Indian-administered Kashmir, security forces detained more than 2,500 people within 48 hours of a militant attack in July.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the changing political landscape following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory in elections has heightened tensions. The report cites targeted attacks on mosques and controversial government measures, including cuts to social benefits, surveillance of madrassas, and the exclusion of members of communities from lists reserving seats for lower classes.

Similar concerns over citizenship, due process, and rhetoric surrounding “infiltrators” have been raised in Assam, where authorities continue to pursue a controversial policy of deportations along the border.

The report also notes an expansion of the legal framework, including the adoption of new Uniform Civil Codes and laws providing punishment for alleged insults to national symbols. Critics argue that these measures undermine personal rights laws and existing mechanisms for protecting minorities.

The document also highlights the issue of systemic impunity, citing prolonged delays in the handling of cases and a lack of accountability in new investigations.

The Indian government, for its part, has consistently rejected allegations of discrimination, arguing that its law-enforcement and administrative measures are aimed solely at addressing security concerns and curbing illegal activity, rather than targeting any particular religious community.