According to a new FactChecker.in database, between January 1, 2009, and October 29, 2018, 254 religious identity-based hate crimes were reported in India. About 90 per cent (229) of the total number of attacks, which killed 91 persons and injured 579, took place after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in May 2014.
62 per cent victims in these cases (58 of 254) were Muslims, who comprise 14 percent of India’s population. Similarly, 14 per cent of victims in these cases (35) were Christians, who constitute 2 per cent of the country’s population. Hindus, who comprise 80 per cent of the population, were victims in 10 per cent (25) of the cases. Sikhs (1.7% of population) were victims in 2% or four recorded cases.
India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, recorded the highest number of hate crimes with 57 cases. It also recorded the most fatalities (21), followed by Jharkhand (12) and Rajasthan (9).
As many as 167 cases, which is more than the half of the total number of hate crime (66 per cent) were reported from BJP-ruled states.
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Another number which can be looked upon is the number of cow-related violence in India. From 2012, a total of 94 incidents have been reported, out of which the maximum took place after 2014. Whereas one incident was reported in both 2012 and 2013, the number only increased since then. Where 3 incidents were reported in 2014, the number increased to 12 in 2015, followed by 24 in 2016 and 37 in 2017. 18 incidents have been reported so far in 2018.
According to FactChecker.in database on mob violence based on rumours of child lifting, as many as 78 incidents have been reported from 2012. While 2012 reported only one such incident, there were zero such cases from 2013-2016. 2017 reported 8 incidents and in 2018, 68 incidents have been reported so far.
The continuous rise in the number of hate crimes shows the growing animosity between religious groups and a sense of intolerance towards other religions.