IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (March 13, 2026)
This Week at a Glance
A string of anti-Muslim lynchings and murders rocked India this week. In Bihar, a Muslim woman was beaten to death by a mob; a 65-year-old man was lynched after objecting to Islamophobic slurs; a Muslim truck driver was shot dead in Rajasthan; and a Muslim man was killed in Uttar Pradesh following a dispute. In Sambhal, a court ordered the demolition of a mosque and imposed a fine of over $700,000 on the imams, while Delhi authorities demolished portions of a Muslim family’s house after protests by Hindu groups. Meanwhile, cow vigilante leader Monu Manesar, the prime accused in the sadistic murder of two Muslim men in 2023, received a celebratory welcome after securing bail. Other incidents this week included a mosque set on fire in Haryana’s Palwal during Ramadan, attacks on Muslim youths in Aligarh, and the killing of two Bengali Muslim men during violence in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills.
Top Stories
Multiple Muslims murdered across India
Several incidents of violence against Muslims reported from different states in recent weeks. In Bihar’s Madhubani, a Muslim woman was beaten to death by a mob after approaching a village head over a dispute. In another incident in Darbhanga, 65-year-old Abdul Salam was lynched after objecting to Islamophobic slurs by a group of young men. In Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi, 28-year-old truck driver Aamir Khan was shot dead while transporting fruit to Delhi, with his family reporting that cow vigilantes were responsible. In Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, 60-year-old Aas Mohammad was also shot dead following a dispute during Holi celebrations.
(Indian Express)
Court orders demolition of mosque, imposes over $700,000 fine on imams
A local revenue court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district has ordered the demolition of a mosque, a shrine and several houses in Saif Khan Sarai village. Authorities also imposed a fine of over $700,000 on two local imams, triggering anger among residents over blatant anti-Muslim targeting.
Murder accused Monu Manesar receives grand welcome in village after bail
Hindu extremist leader Monu Manesar was released from jail after the Rajasthan High Court granted him bail. Manesar is the prime accused in the 2023 murders of two Muslim men, Junaid and Nasir, who were kidnapped, brutally beaten, and then set on fire by cow vigilantes in Haryana. Manesar was welcomed by supporters with garlands and drumbeats as he travelled to his native village in Gurugram.
After Hindu groups protests, Delhi civic body demolishes house linked to Muslim accused
Civic officials in Delhi carried out a bulldozer demolition of alleged illegal portions of a Muslim family’s house in Uttam Nagar, linking the property to one of the accused in the murder of 26-year-old Tarun Kumar. The action followed protests and a campaign by Hindu extremist groups after the killing, which occurred during a clash between neighboring families during Holi celebrations.
Hate crimes and discrimination in India
This week, in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, a 22-year-old Dalit man was stabbed to death after wishing neighbours “Happy Holi,” while in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills, two Bengali Muslim men were killed during violence linked to tensions over local council elections. In other incidents, a mosque in Haryana’s Palwal was set on fire during Ramadan, four Muslim youths were attacked after offering prayers in Aligarh, and Pune police booked self-styled cow vigilantes for allegedly forcing a truck driver to eat cow dung. Meanwhile, a weapon distribution ceremony organised by Hindu extremist groups in Himachal Pradesh and a land dispute affecting dozens of Muslim families in Chhattisgarh have further added to concerns over rising communal hostility.
Resistance & Organizing
37 rights groups seek release of PFI founder E. Abubacker over failing health
The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of at least 37 rights groups, demanded the immediate release of E. Abubacker on humanitarian and medical grounds, expressing concern over the deteriorating health of the 72-year-old who has been in custody for over three and a half years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Civil Society Marches Demanding Justice for 12-Year-Old Unaiz Khan Shot Dead at Birthday Party
Members of civil society and community activists took to the streets of Lucknow, organising a march to demand swift and transparent justice for 12-year-old Unaiz Khan, who was shot dead at point-blank range during a classmate’s birthday party on March 2
Defenders of the Week
This week, we’re featuring Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who served as India’s fifth President from 1974 until his death in 1977 and was the first person from Assam to hold the country’s highest constitutional office. Before independence, he participated in the freedom movement and was imprisoned during the struggle against British rule, later serving in Assam’s government and as a Union minister before becoming President. BJP-ruled Assam recently sparked controversy by deciding to remove his name from the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College, a move critics say erases the legacy of one of Assam’s most prominent leaders.
Voices from the Ground
“In just one week, four innocent Muslims have been killed across the country — from 13-year-old Unaiz Khan to 65-year-old Roshan Khatoon.
Every Muslim knows, deep inside, that justice is unlikely to be served when the perpetrators belong to Hindutva mobs. And yet, despite this pain and anger, you will not find Muslims out on the streets calling for revenge against innocent Hindus. You will not see their homes being bulldozed in collective punishment, nor mobs demanding blood for blood.
Instead, there is silence, grief, and an unbearable sense of helplessness.”
- Aasif Mujtaba, Muslim activist
IAMC in Action
- On our latest episode of Beyond the Taj, activist Sharjeel Usmani joins us for a heartbreaking and harrowing exploration of life as a Muslim in Modi’s India, from the impact of navigating a constant fog of oppression, to the ways in which individuals continue to hope, keep faith, and resist. Watch or stream this episode now on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.
What to Watch Next Week
- Ramadan Mubarak! Our volunteers will be putting on a Ramadan roadshow to raise awareness about Hindutva and IAMC’s work at masajid across the country. If you’d like to invite IAMC for a presentation at your masjid this Ramadan, contact amin@iamc.com.
