84% rise in communal riots and lynching in 2024, Muslims most targeted: Report
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In a sharp increase of 84 per cent in communal riots in 2024 in India, with the Muslim community being the primary target, a report by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) stated that 13 deaths occurred, including 10 Muslims and 3 Hindus. Maharashtra is identified as the epicentre, accounting for 12 of the 59 incidents. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were followed by seven riots each.
The report questioned the state's narrative of communal harmony, suggesting that the increase in riots contradicts claims that India is free from communal tensions. It further pointed out that religious festivals and processions were the primary triggers for these riots, contributing to 26 of the 59 incidents.
Events like the Pran Pratishthan ceremony at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the Ganesh and Saraswati Puja idol immersions were among the occasions where tensions escalated, highlighting how such celebrations have become platforms for political mobilization and communal unrest.
Furthermore, the report emphasized a growing pattern of conflict over contested places of worship, fuelled by allegations from right-wing groups that mosques and dargahs were built on Hindu religious sites. Such disputes led to six communal riots, with five additional incidents linked to the desecration of religious places.
Interestingly, 49 of the 59 riots occurred in states governed by the BJP, either independently or in coalition, while seven riots were recorded in Congress-ruled states, and three in West Bengal, governed by the Trinamool Congress.
The CSSS also noted a troubling shift in the location of communal riots, as rural areas, which were once relatively peaceful, have seen an uptick in such violence, with incidents increasingly occurring in villages and small towns. This contrasts with the pattern observed a decade ago, where riots were largely confined to urban centres.
In addition to the riots, 13 mob lynchings were reported in 2024, resulting in 11 fatalities. While this marked a decrease from the 21 incidents in 2023, the persistence of such attacks remains a serious concern. The majority of lynchings were linked to cow vigilantism or allegations of cow slaughter, with others related to accusations of ‘love jihad’ or attacks on Muslims due to their religious identity.
The timing of the riots was also noted to coincide with the 2024 general elections and state elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand, where hate speeches were used to further polarize communities along religious lines. This, the CSSS suggested, contributed significantly to the rise in communal violence during the year.