Muslim Community in India Anticipates Rising Retaliation Following Kashmir Violence

Widespread detentions and demolitions targeting Muslims in India have raised concerns that right-wing Hindu nationalists are exploiting last week’s terrorist attack in Kashmir to deepen a campaign of oppression against the country’s largest minority group. Public anger surged after 26 people, nearly all Hindu tourists, were killed by militants near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Pakistan denies. India seems to be preparing a military response to the attack, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to eliminate terrorists and destroy their strongholds. However, instead of focusing solely on Pakistan, India’s central government and right-wing Hindu groups have intensified harassment of Muslims, framing it as a crackdown on undocumented migrants. In states ruled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, officials are targeting individuals labeled as “illegal Bangladeshis” and Rohingya, a Muslim minority fleeing Myanmar, often conflating these with Muslim migrants from other parts of India. These actions have led to the killings of Muslims in several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, with reports suggesting these are hate crimes. Security forces in Kashmir have arrested hundreds in response to the attack and demolished the homes of those accused of terrorism links, reminiscent of previous collective punishments. This crackdown has also extended to harassment and violence against Kashmiris living in other states, with right-wing groups inciting hatred through social media. Human rights organizations criticize the use of the attack as a pretext for reprisals against minorities, warning that ultranationalist rhetoric is fueling violence. In the days following the attack, Kashmiri students nationwide faced threats and harassment, prompting Kashmiri officials to intervene for their safety. In Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim restaurant worker was killed, with the attackers claiming they would avenge the attack. In Karnataka, a Muslim man was lynched for allegedly chanting in support of Pakistan. The most significant action has been in Gujarat, where the police detained 6,500 suspected undocumented citizens, with only 450 identified as such. The government also razed over 2,000 huts in a Muslim slum, arguing for national security. Critics argue this is an unjustified and unconstitutional misuse of state power against the Muslim community.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/world/asia/india-muslims-detentions-demolitions.html