Festivals are meant to bring people together, fill their hearts with happiness, and promote brotherhood and harmony in society. However, festivals in India have now become a matter of anxiety for Muslims. They were already apprehensive of their fellow Hindus, but now they fear their own festivals as well. Just think about what memories the upcoming Eid al-Adha will bring for the family of Mohammad Farid of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. For them, Eid will now signify a day of mourning.
Violence on Eid al-Adha is not a new thing in India. As it approaches, there is a resurgence of concern for animals, even among Hindus who sacrifice animals in temples or consume meat during their festival, Holi. Cow vigilantes become active on the streets. The leaders, who are never tired of saying that ‘the practice of sacrifice in Sanatan Dharma (the religion Hindus follow) has been there since time immemorial’, also start issuing statements regarding Eid al-Adha, urging that goats should not be sacrificed in public places. Ironically, those who openly support anti-Muslim sentiments argue that such practices could incite communal tension in society. Thus, a sudden display of concern for animals emerges among many of India’s Hindutva extremists.
This time, there has been an increase in hate crimes surrounding Eid al-Adha. In fact, it began ten days before the incident of lynching by cow vigilantes. And even after Eid al-Adha, the cycle of hate crimes and hate speech in the name of cows persists. Simultaneously, the authorities are busy implementing what they call ‘bulldozer justice’. A distinct pattern has emerged this time: in many places, Hindutva extremists claim that Muslims discarded meat or beef remains, thereby spoiling the communal atmosphere and making Muslims targets. Police investigations often assume that only Muslims could have discarded the meat or its remains. Whereas in the last few years, many such incidents have come to light, in which people of Hindutva organizations themselves tried to create an atmosphere against Muslims by throwing beef in the temple. In fact, to defame and target Muslims, they have also carried out the incident of breaking the idol present in the temple.
The Indian Constitution guarantees the right of every individual to practice their religion. Yet, numerous instances have surfaced where efforts were made to deprive Indian Muslims of this right. Here, I have endeavored to document some of the incidents that occurred during, before, and after Eid al-Adha across the country. These are merely the cases that have gained attention on social media or have been reported by various websites.
Just before Eid al-Adha
— Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh): In Daravnagar, two days before Eid al-Adha, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad tried to create a tense atmosphere in the area. After that, police officials spoke to both Hindu and Muslim communities, and it was decided that no one would sacrifice a big animal (such as an ox or buffalo).
— Bharuch (Gujarat): Two Muslim religious leaders were arrested in Amod here simply because they shared an educational social media post describing the Islamic tradition of animal sacrifice on Eid-al-Adha. The police alleged that the post could potentially “provoke breach of communal peace” and was intended to “promote enmity” and offended the religious sentiments of Hindus.
— Dhule (Maharashtra): According to a news report, over 300 animals brought for sacrifice two days before Eid al-Adha were seized by the local police.
According to a video on social media, a day before Eid al-Adha, Hindu extremist cow vigilantes vandalized a vehicle accused of transporting cattle and attacked the people inside it.
— Hyderabad (Telengana): A day before Eid-al-Adha, cow vigilantes intercepted a truck carrying cattle for sacrifice in Tadbund, the old city of Hyderabad, attempting to disrupt the atmosphere with anti-Muslim slogans. Despite the truck only containing bulls and no cows, tension spread throughout the area. The police intervened to disperse the vigilantes, allowing the cattle-laden vehicle to proceed to its destination.
— Mandla (Madhya Pradesh): Police bulldozed the homes of 11 Muslim families who claimed to have stored beef in their refrigerators. When questions arose about the grounds on which their homes were demolished, while meat samples were still being tested, then officials alleged that the houses were built on government land and the accused were involved in an “illegal” cattle trade.
— Medak (Telangana): A mob of Hindu extremists attacked a madrasa where sacrificial animals were housed. Armed with sticks and other weapons, shouting “Jai Shri Ram,” they targeted local Muslim residents, shops, and even a hospital, resulting in injuries to several Muslims.
— Mewat (Haryana): Tensions escalated before Eid al-Adha due to violent clashes between cow vigilantes and Muslims. Local reporters indicated that cow vigilantes from Haryana orchestrated disruptions in Mewat. On June 15, armed vigilantes raided Pachgaon and assaulted two Muslims, accusing them of cow slaughter and beef sales.
— Mumbai (Maharashtra): In Mira Road, Hindu extremists created a ruckus outside two residential complexes, Jaypee Infra Society and Hill Galaxy, where a Muslim family had brought a goat for sacrifice on Eid al-Adha. Several such incidents were reported in other cities in Maharashtra as well.
— Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh): Jaora witnessed heightened tensions when alleged remains of beef were discovered near a temple three days before Eid al-Adha. Police arrested four Muslim youths in connection with the incident and proceeded to demolish their homes. A fact-finding report condemned the police actions as unjust and arbitrary.
— Sant Kabir Nagar (Uttar Pradesh): In Mushara village, Muslims are prohibited from sacrificing goats. Reports indicate that police confiscate all goats before Eid and return them after three days—a practice upheld since 2007.
— Srinagar (Kashmir): For the sixth consecutive year, the Indian government denied permission for Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid, Kashmir’s largest mosque. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the mosque’s preacher, was also placed under house arrest.
During the three days of Eid al-Adha
— ….. (India): On the second day of Eid al-Adha, an attempt was made to spoil the atmosphere by making a 1:21-minute video go viral on social media. In this video, carcasses of cattle were lying on the road, and there was blood and water mixed on them. People were wandering around. Many users shared this video and claimed that it showed Eid celebrations in West Bengal. But a fact-checking website found that this video is at least a year old and shows scenes from Bangladesh.
— Ajmer (Rajasthan): On the third day of Eid al-Adha, meat was allegedly thrown in front of a vegetable shop in Kishangarh Sabzi Mandi. Following this, people from several Hindu organizations took to the streets and started protesting and shutting down the market. During this, stones were also thrown at the police leading to communal tension across Ajmer city.
The police stated that Bundu Khan (70), a resident of Kishangarh, has been detained in connection with this case. During interrogation, he told that he is a retired employee who was transporting sacrificial meat on Eid al-Adha. Some pieces fell into the market, after which, he panicked and fled. Subsequently, rumours spread that a Muslim threw beef in front of a vegetable shop in Sabzi Mandi. However, upon examining the meat pieces, the police confirmed them to be from a buffalo.
— Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh): On the second night of Eid al-Adha, Mohammad Farid was accused of theft and fatally beaten. Farid’s family members allege that he was returning home at night but was thrashed and killed because he was a Muslim. Now, eleven days after his lynching, the police have filed an FIR against the deceased victim, his brother, and five others on charges of robbery, assaulting a woman, and outraging her modesty. A fact-finding report also indicated that the mob identified him as Muslim by checking his private parts before beating him to death.
— Aurangabad (Maharashtra): On the first day of Eid al-Adha, a house in the Daulatabad region was allegedly ransacked for meat and vandalized. Subsequently, it was alleged that a cow was sacrificed on the occasion of Eid. After this incident, an attempt was made to vitiate the communal atmosphere. The police have registered an FIR against four Hindus and 19 Muslims on this charge.
— Balasore (Odisha): On Eid al-Adha, Hindu extremists attacked the homes of Muslim families, accusing them of cow slaughter, resulting in violence that left at least 15 people injured, including five policemen. Due to the severity of the situation, a curfew was imposed, and internet services were suspended.
— Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh): On the first day of Eid, police strictly prohibited the offering of prayers on the road and street outside the Imambara in Ballia village, Thana Bhamora area. Those who protested were apprehended but later released with a stern warning. Local Muslims reported that as the Imambara became overcrowded, some worshippers attempted to pray on the street outside, only to be prevented by the police.
— Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh): Communal tension erupted on Eid al-Adha in Jogither village, C.B. Ganj, with a large crowd gathering and chanting slogans against Muslims. Allegations were made that Muslims had sacrificed a buffalo in an open space near a Shiva temple, prompting authorities to deploy forces in the village.
— Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh): Two Muslim youths residing in the Imambara Kargaina locality of Bareilly allegedly posted a video of cow slaughter on social media, sparking communal tension in the area. Upon immediate investigation, police determined the video was old and unrelated to Bareilly. Nevertheless, the youths were arrested on charges of attempting to disrupt communal harmony.
— Basti (Uttar Pradesh): On the third day of Eid al-Adha, members of the Bajrang Dal attacked a rickshaw driver in Pakri village, alleging he was transporting beef.
— Begusarai (Bihar): Tensions persisted on Eid al-Adha in Ekamba village, Chaudahi police station area, with slogans raised against Muslims. Local Hindu leaders, particularly those affiliated with the BJP, alleged that Muslims had slaughtered a cow and left its horns in their area.
— Birbhum (West Bengal): A 19-year-old Muslim man, Tufan Sheikh, was brutally assaulted by a Hindu extremist mob, tied to a pole, and beaten with bamboo sticks on the day of Eid. Sheikh was falsely accused of throwing a packet of meat in front of a Hindu temple.
— Bokaro (Jharkhand): On the first day of Eid al-Adha, the accidental death of two cattle was given a communal twist, resulting in a confrontation between members of both communities and subsequent stone-pelting that injured more than a dozen people.
— Darbhanga (Bihar): In Jamalpur, Hindu community members began playing loudspeakers during Eid prayers, leading to tension when Muslims requested them to stop briefly. Hindutva groups politicized the incident, escalating tension throughout the area.
— Dhule (Maharashtra): On the second day of Eid al-Adha, Cow vigilantes set up a checkpoint to inspect auto rickshaws with Muslim passengers for beef in Nagar Patti here and beat up those carrying any kind of meat.
— Forbesganj (Bihar): There was a lot of uproar after animal remains were allegedly found in the Satsang Mandir premises in Saifganj on the second day of Eid al-Adha with slogans raised against Muslims. It is alleged that animal skin and meat were thrown in the temple premises.
— Gomati (Tripura): Communal tensions flared in Udaipur city, Gomati district, on the second day of Eid al-Adha, following allegations that someone had dumped a chopped cow’s body part outside a local Hindu resident’s home.
— Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh): On the second day of Eid al-Adha, two youths got into a fight here, which later took a communal turn. People from both communities came face-to-face. The crowd also raised religious slogans.
— Khordha (Odisha): Cow vigilantes entered Muslim houses and checked for meat. They entered a house, seized all the meat, and confiscated the fridge on suspicion of storing beef.
— Medininagar (Jharkhand): There was tension in Naudiha-Bahera village on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. It is alleged that a piece of cow meat was thrown in the cowshed located in the house of a person named Manoj Mishra.
— Mumbai (Maharashtra): On the second day of Eid al-Adha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists seized four vehicles near Al-Shams Jamia Masjid in Naya Nagar, Mira Road, and alleged that they were filled with beef. After this, an atmosphere of communal tension prevailed in the entire area.
— Nahan (Himachal Pradesh): After a Muslim youth shared a picture of animal sacrifice on WhatsApp, a Hindutva mob looted his ready-made garment shop while shouting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram.” Later, police investigation revealed that the picture shared by the youth was not of a cow but of a buffalo sacrifice, which can be slaughtered legally. Despite this, the police arrested the youth for spreading hatred. No action was taken by the police against those who looted the shop and those who gave genocidal slogans and hate speech on the streets.
— Pakur (Jharkhand): Hindu extremists exacerbated the communal atmosphere by alleging cow slaughter on Eid al-Adha. The police reported that they recovered no meat from the spot.
— Palamu (Jharkhand): Communal tension arose on the second day of Eid al-Adha in Bahera village in the Pipratand police station area. Hindutva people alleged that they found cow meat at two places. The police said that they are investigating the matter.
— Rampur (Uttar Pradesh): There was a dispute between people of two communities regarding sacrifice in Imratpur and Mallupura villages. In Imratpur, Muslims were stopped from sacrificing goats. Hindus said that a few years ago, the Muslim community here did not sacrifice on Eid al-Adha, so we will not allow a new tradition to start in the village. Police accepted this reasoning, prohibiting Muslims from sacrificing. Meanwhile, tensions flared in Mallupura after a Muslim performed an animal sacrifice in his field.
— Ranchi (Jharkhand): Attempts to stir unrest were made by alleging cow slaughter, with a local BJP leader sharing a video on social media. Police have sent the meat for forensic examination.
After Eid al-Adha
— Durg (Chhattisgarh): On June 22, Hindu extremists created communal tension in the Girdhari Nagar area by saying that remains of severed cow heads were found in the area. After this, hundreds of activists took to the streets. But in the complaint filed by Bajrang Dal at the police station, they said that cows were attacked with sharp weapons at several places in the area.
— Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh): Police arrested 9 Muslims, including minors and elderly individuals, for the sole reason that they had performed Eid al-Adha prayers in an open field. According to the police, efforts are underway to identify other suspects based on video and other evidence, with plans to arrest others who participated in the prayers.
— Pali (Rajasthan): The communal atmosphere suddenly deteriorated here after three days of Eid al-Adha. As per reports, tension escalated when the remains of four severed animal heads were found on the night of June 20. Hindu organizations protested vehemently, leading to stone pelting targeting Muslim homes and shops. The police are investigating the incident to ascertain whether the remains are from a cow or a buffalo. A case has been registered against unidentified individuals.
— Sangam Vihar (New Delhi): The following evening, after three days of Eid, a severed cow head was discovered in a drain near a temple. This discovery prompted a large gathering, with religious slogans being chanted and tensions escalating. Days later, a protest was held demanding action against the perpetrators. During this protest, a local BJP leader openly threatened in front of senior police officials, stating, “There are 1.5 lakh Muslims here, or 2 lakhs; I will kill them all.” He went on to say, “I will give a sword to each one of them and kill them all; I will not spare even one.” Despite these hateful statements, the police did not arrest him.
— Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand): In Bazpur, police conducted a raid on a residence and arrested a woman under suspicion of possessing 50 kilograms of beef.
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