New Delhi: India has witnessed an 84 percent increase in communal riots in 2024, with 59 incidents compared to 32 in the previous year, as detailed in a report titled “Hegemony and Demolitions: The Tale of Communal Riots in India in 2024.”

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the study, authored by human rights activists Irfan Engineer, Neha Dabhade, and Mithila Raut, draws on reports from leading Mumbai-based newspapers. Maharashtra reported the highest number of incidents, totaling 12, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, each with seven.

The riots have resulted in 13 fatalities, comprising 10 Muslims and three Hindus. The report notes a significant number of these incidents were linked to religious festivals and processions, with 26 out of 59 riots occurring during such events. Notably, four riots coincided with the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January 2024.

Other contributing factors included Saraswati Puja idol immersions, Ganesh festivals, and Bakri Eid, accounting for seven, four, and two riots, respectively. The study also highlights six incidents associated with contested religious sites, where Hindutva groups claimed mosques and dargahs were erected over demolished Hindu temples.

The authors critiqued the government’s approach following the riots, accusing it of disproportionately targeting Muslims by demolishing their properties, implicating victims in criminal cases, and inflicting economic damage. Until September 2024, these actions reportedly impacted 19 properties in Maharashtra, a mosque in Delhi, a madrasa in Uttarakhand, and numerous makeshift homes in Assam.

Additionally, the report documented 13 mob lynching incidents in 2024, resulting in 11 deaths, including nine Muslims, one Hindu, and one Christian. Seven of these incidents were linked to cow vigilantism, while others were related to accusations of interfaith relationships and attacks on Muslims based on their religious identity.

The study challenges the state’s narrative of maintaining communal harmony, asserting that the rise in communal riots contradicts claims of a harmonious society and suggests a deliberate use of such incidents for political gain. The authors call for accountability and decisive measures to address the escalating communal violence and ensure justice for the affected communities.