New Delhi, India is currently experiencing a troubling rise in hatred and violence against religious minorities, with Muslims, Christians, and Dalits being the primary targets. This surge has sparked widespread concern about the state of religious tolerance and communal harmony in the country.

According to Kashmir Media Service, there has been a notable increase in attacks on Muslims, particularly surrounding the recent inauguration of the disputed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Several incidents across different regions of India have highlighted the urgency of addressing these issues, which are eroding the country’s secular and democratic fabric.

The report details a series of disturbing incidents, including:

In Telangana’s Sangareddy district, a Muslim teenager was assaulted and paraded naked by a mob chanting Hindutva slogans for allegedly disrespecting a saffron flag.

In Mumbai, Hindutva mobs ransacked Muslim-owned shops and vehicles and assaulted several people in the Mira Road suburb. The police bulldozed shops in the Muslim-dominated area of Naya Nagar.

In Dehradun, a Muslim shop manager faced harassment over a poster of Hindu deity Ram, leading to a police investigation.

In Karnataka’s Mudigere Chikmagalur district, two Muslim teenagers were brutally attacked by a Hindutva group, and the incident was caught on video.

In Uttar Pradesh, multiple cases of violence and discrimination against Muslims were reported, including a fatal police encounter, non-payment issues due to religious discrimination, and attacks on religious sites.

These incidents have raised serious questions about the safety of minorities in India and the apparent impunity with which such acts of violence are being carried out. There is an increasing need for authorities and society at large to address the rising tide of religious intolerance and reaffirm the values of religious acceptance and communal harmony.