Muslim voters attacked to stop them from voting in Uttarakhand
Several Muslim voters were attacked and stopped from voting during a clash in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Uttarakhand state’s Manglaur during assembly polls. In videos circulated on social media, many Muslims, including the elderly, can be seen bloodied.
The election was held after a sitting member of parliament died. Two Muslim candidates and one BJP leader were on the ballot.
Opposition candidate Qazi Nizamuddin claimed bullets were fired at Muslim voters.
In an alarming escalation of Muslim disenfranchisement, similar incidents of Muslim voter suppression were reported across India during the elections last month.
Seven Christian families banned from Odisha village
Seven families who converted to Christianity were evicted from a forested village in Odisha last month. Forced out by the tribal village council, the families are now without proper food or shelter and are facing the brunt of the heavy monsoon season in India.
In June this year, villagers assaulted members of the Christian families and threw their belongings out in the rain, which destroyed them. The villagers also threatened to kill the Christians if they returned to the village.
Muslim man arrested for raising Palestine flag during religious procession
In Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi, police arrested a Muslim man, Sahil, after booking him and two others for raising the Palestinian flag during a Muslim religious procession.
With India’s Hindu right fully in support of Israel, officials have been targeting those who support and protest in favor of Palestine, subjecting them to police brutality and arrests. Meanwhile, Hindu extremists have been organizing pro-Israel rallies and religious events without facing any legal action.
Hindu extremists assault truck driver over alleged cattle transport
In Haryana, Hindu extremist cow vigilantes assaulted a truck driver over allegations of transporting cattle. In the state’s Sonipat district, cow vigilantes chased a truck transporting cattle into a trap of spike strips, resulting in an accident.
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.
Video shows Indian soldiers seemingly using Kashmiri civilians as “human shields”
A viral video circulating on social media appears to show Indian armed forces using Kashmiri civilians as “human shields.”
The video shows armed forces personnel forcing a civilian to enter a dangerous bunker and take a video of it. The personnel had dismantled a cupboard inside a house, revealing a concealed bunker where militants had reportedly taken refuge.
The scene has sparked criticism online, with netizens accusing the armed forces of using civilians as “human shields”. Criticism erupted as the video showed civilians seemingly “coerced” into risky roles, with armed personnel nearby.
Hindu militants train women to use swords, flaunt guns in public parade
In Jammu, Hindu militant group Vishwa Hindu Parishad a organized a sword training for its female members. In Nagwain, Himachal Pradesh, women from Hindu militant groups organized a military style parade and marched with guns and swords.
The growing weaponization of violent Hindu supremacists is a cause of concern for the minority Muslim community, who are being threatened with mass slaughter by Hindu extremist groups.