Christian women tied, forced to strip by Hindu militants in Odisha
Two Christian women from Odisha’s Balasore were beaten and tied to a tree by Hindu militants a day after Christmas over allegations of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. One of the victims is hospitalized and in critical condition. The women, according to a local pastor, were dragged out of a house, choked, kicked, and stripped.
In another incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, Hindu militants shaved the head of a Christian Dalit man, and paraded him through the village. They then forced him to convert to Hinduism at a temple, chanting “Jesus Murdabad,” meaning “defeat to Jesus.”
Hindu militants harass married interfaith couples, accuse Muslims of “love jihad”
In Uttar Pradesh’s Basti, Hindu extremists harassed an interfaith couple, accusing the man of “love jihad”, despite the woman pleading with them and explaining that they had legally married in court. Similarly in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, Hindu militants from the Bajrang Dal harassed a Muslim youth who was out with a Hindu girl, accusing him of engaging in “love jihad.”
Hindu militants are known for violently policing interfaith relationships and interactions between Muslim men and Hindu women, resulting in Muslim men being publicly attacked, arbitrarily arrested, and sometimes lynched.
40-year-old madrasa demolished in Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur, civic officials demolished a 40-year-old madrasa. The madrasa, named Islamia Anwarul Uloom, was built 40 years ago. Officials claimed that the madrasa was built on government-owned land and was hence an encroachment.
India’s Supreme Court recently banned the weaponization of demolitions as collective punishment against Muslims, declaring that any demolitions carried out without proper notice or legal permission amounts to contempt of court.
Hindu extremist cow vigilantes harass Muslim drivers, fire at truck
In Haryana’s Rohtak, Hindu extremist cow vigilantes caught and harassed two Muslim drivers who were transporting bulls in a pickup truck, accusing them of cattle-smuggling. In the Delhi-Mumbai Highway, Hindu extremists stopped a truck carrying cattle by firing at it and apprehended the driver, accusing him of cow smuggling.
Hindu militant mobs regularly attack Muslims over baseless accusations of committing crimes. These mobs, also known as cow vigilantes, assault and often lynch Muslims accused of transporting cattle or consuming beef.
