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March 2, 2026

Documenting Islamophobic and Anti-Muslim hate in India: February 2026

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Compiled Date: February 28, 2026
Documentation Period: February 1-28, 2026
Sources: The Wire, Indian Express, The Telegraph, Maktoob Media, The Observer Post, The Clarion, Alt News, The Hindu, @zoo_bear (Twitter/X), and other verified media sources

February 7-8, 2026: Assam BJP Shares AI Video Showing CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Aiming Rifle at Muslims

Date: February 7, 2026 (Video Posted); February 8, 2026 (Video Deleted After Outcry)

Location: Assam (Social Media)

Incident Details:

The official Assam BJP X (Twitter) handle posted an AI-generated video titled “Point Blank Shot” depicting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma holding a rifle and firing at AI-generated images of Muslim men wearing skullcaps and beards. One of the targets appeared to resemble Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. The video included text messages in English and Assamese stating “No Mercy,” “foreigner-free Assam,” “Why did you not go to Pakistan?,” and “There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis.” The video concluded with an image of CM Sarma dressed as a cowboy holding a gun[1][2][3].

Response:

The video received over 500,000 views before triggering severe backlash from opposition parties, civil society, and minority communities. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal called it “a call to genocide,” while Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate termed BJP leaders “mass murderers.” The Communist Party of India (Marxist) described it as “an open call for ethnic cleansing and genocide.” Following the widespread condemnation, the Assam BJP deleted the video on February 8, 2026[1][2][3].

Sources:

February 16-18, 2026: Modi Government Funded Event with Hate Speeches Against Muslims

Date: Event held December 2025; Controversy emerged February 16-18, 2026 after RTI revelations

Location: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Incident Details:

An RTI (Right to Information) query revealed that the Union Culture Ministry sanctioned Rs 63 lakh to fund the “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav” organized by Sanatan Sanstha in December 2025. At this government-funded event, multiple speakers made hate speeches calling for the deportation of 25% of India’s Muslims, establishment of a Hindu Rashtra, population caps on Muslims, and mass religious conversion[4][5][6].

Notable hate statements made at the event included:

  • “25% Muslims in India presently are infiltrators. They are Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Afghanis. Bring NRC and remove them from India.” – Suresh Chavhanke, Sudarshan TV chief
  • “There needs to be a cap on Muslim population.” – Suresh Chavhanke
  • Muslims were repeatedly described as “infiltrators” with discussions on methods of religious conversion[4][5][6]

Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shripad Yesso Naik, and Sanjay Seth, along with Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, attended the event, lending government legitimacy to the hate speeches[4][5].

Response:

Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak Basoya held a press conference on February 17, 2026, questioning why taxpayer money was used to fund an event promoting communal hostility. She noted that Sanatan Sanstha has been under investigation by the Karnataka government in connection with the murders of journalist Gauri Lankesh and scholar M.M. Kalburgi. Congress demanded accountability and preventive legislation against hate speech[4][5].

Sources:

February 19-22, 2026: Jabalpur – 49 Muslims Detained from Mosque During Taraweeh Prayers

Date: February 20, 2026 (Incident); February 21-22, 2026 (Reported)

Location: Sihora/Sirohi, Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh

Incident Details:

A communal clash erupted in the Azad Chowk area of Sihora town in Jabalpur district around 10 PM on February 20, 2026. The incident reportedly began after an altercation over damage to a temple’s safety grill during ‘aarti,’ which escalated into stone-pelting and vandalism near a Durga temple and mosque located close to each other[7][8].

Police detained 49 Muslim men from a mosque, including the imam. The local Muslim community claimed that those detained were peacefully offering Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan at the time of arrest. Videos circulated showing stones being thrown from atop a mosque. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds and deployed additional forces from outside the district[7][8][9].

Community Response:

Local corporator and Muslim leader Arshad Khan stated that 10-12 arrested individuals were innocent and had no role in the violence. He demanded the release of innocent persons and punishment for those actually involved in vandalism. Right-wing activists protested at Sihora police station demanding demolition of houses of those involved[7].

Sources:

February 24-25, 2026: Elderly Muslim Man Assaulted in Uttarakhand for Offering Namaz

Date: February 24, 2026 (Incident); February 25, 2026 (Reported)

Location: Rudrapur, Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand (Near Atriya Temple, Jagatpura area)

Incident Details:

An elderly Muslim man named Shahid, a resident of the Resham Bari area and daily wage laborer, was violently assaulted by a group of people for offering namaz during Ramadan on vacant land near the Atriya Temple in Jagatpura, Rudrapur. A viral video showed the accused thrashing Shahid with sticks and hurling abuses at him. He was forced to chant religious slogans including “Jai Shri Ram”[10][11][12].

The perpetrators included temple manager Arvind Sharma and at least one murder convict currently out on parole. Shahid stated he had been working near the temple for several days and the land where he prayed was quite far from the temple premises[10][11].

Temple manager Arvind Sharma openly stated that “activities associated with any other religion will not be tolerated on the temple land, even if a case is filed against him”[10][11].

Response:

Members of the Muslim community accompanied Shahid to the police station to file a complaint. He was sent for medical examination. Municipal Councillor Parvez Qureshi called the incident “extremely serious” and “unacceptable,” demanding impartial investigation and strict action. Congress leader Sofia Naz termed it “detrimental to social harmony” and against the spirit of the Constitution[10][11][12].

Twitter/X user Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) shared the video with caption: “How dare you offer Namaz on Brahmin’s land?” highlighting the assault on Shahid[11].

Sources:

February 26-27, 2026: “This Road is Not for Muslims” – Hate Graffiti on Delhi-Dehradun Expressway

Date: February 26, 2026 (Graffiti appeared); February 27, 2026 (Reported and FIR filed)

Location: Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, Biharigarh, Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh

Incident Details:

Hindu Raksha Dal activists spray-painted hate graffiti reading “This road is not for Muslims” (in both Hindi and English: “यह रोड मुसलमानों के लिए नहीं है” and “This road is not allowed for Muslims”) on the sound barriers of a 12-kilometer elevated stretch of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway passing through Rajaji Tiger Reserve, known as Asia’s longest wildlife corridor[13][14][15].

The graffiti was written late on the night of February 26, 2026. A video circulated on social media showed women members of Hindu Raksha Dal wearing saffron scarves painting the slogans and chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” Hindu Raksha Dal’s Uttarakhand state president Lalit Sharma and Ghaziabad-based president Pinky Chaudhary publicly claimed responsibility for the act, with Chaudhary stating “Our members were involved in painting the graffiti, and they rightly did so”[13][14][15].

Response:

Police and the Local Intelligence Unit reached the spot and painted over the slogans with black paint, though the markings remained faintly visible. An FIR was registered on February 27, 2026, after NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) employee Sunil Kumar filed a complaint at Biharigarh police station. The incident occurred amid a series of similar developments in Uttarakhand, including boards at Har Ki Pauri stating “Non-Hindus are prohibited” and restrictions announced for Char Dham Yatra barring non-Hindus from temple premises[13][14][15].

Sources:

Ongoing Throughout February 2026: Bajrang Dal Harassment of Muslim Shopkeeper and “Mohammad Deepak” Incident

Initial Date: January 26, 2026;

Continuing Impact: January 31, 2026 and throughout February 2026

Location: Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand

Incident Details:

On January 26, 2026 (Republic Day), Bajrang Dal members targeted a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper, Wakeel Ahmed, demanding he change the name of his 30-year-old shop “Baba School Dress,” claiming the word “Baba” could only be used for Hindu religious figures. When local resident Deepak Kumar Kashyap intervened to defend Ahmed, asking by what authority they demanded a name change, he was asked his name. He responded “My name is Mohammad Deepak” to express solidarity with the Muslim shopkeeper[16][17][18].

Deepak at a gym he owns in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. (Express photo by Aiswarya Raj)

The incident went viral, and on January 31, 2026, a mob of 30-40 Bajrang Dal activists staged protests against Deepak at his gym and Ahmed’s shop, blocking National Highway 119, raising communal slogans, and attempting to physically attack Deepak. Police had to intervene to control the situation[16][17][18].

Alt News Investigation:

Alt News conducted an investigation and identified at least five Bajrang Dal members involved in the January 31 harassment, including:

  1. Aman Swedia – Bajrang Dal district coordinator, Dehradun
  2. Siddhant Badoni
  3. Naresh Uniyal – Bajrang Dal Gau Raksha chief
  4. Bhupi Choudhary
  5. Sachin Choudhary

These individuals, who were listed as “unidentified” in the police FIR, were clearly identifiable from videos and social media posts[17].

Legal Action:

Three FIRs were registered: one against “Mohammad Deepak” (Deepak Kumar) and his associate Vijay Rawat by VHP and Bajrang Dal members alleging assault (which community members disputed); one by shopkeeper Wakeel Ahmed against those threatening him; and one against unidentified persons for the January 31 protest that blocked highways and disrupted public order[16][17][18].

Impact Through February:

The incident continued to generate discussions and tensions throughout February 2026, with BBC News India covering the story on February 7-8, 2026, highlighting how a man who stood against communal bullying faced legal action himself while defending an elderly Muslim shopkeeper’s right to his shop name[18].

Sources:

Systematic Patterns Observed in February 2026

1. State-Sponsored or State-Endorsed Islamophobia

  • Government funding (Rs 63 lakh) provided to event explicitly calling for Muslim deportation and Hindu Rashtra
  • Ruling party’s official social media handle sharing violent imagery targeting Muslims
  • Union and state ministers attending and legitimizing hate events
  • Chief Minister depicted in violent imagery against Muslims with official party endorsement

2. Violence and Intimidation Around Religious Practices

  • Physical assault of elderly Muslim man for offering namaz
  • Mass detention of Muslims during Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan
  • Harassment of Muslim shopkeeper over use of word “Baba”
  • Systematic targeting of visible Muslim religious practices

3. Spatial Exclusion and Segregation

  • Explicit signage and graffiti declaring spaces off-limits to Muslims
  • “Non-Hindu” restrictions at pilgrimage sites and highways
  • Mob enforcement of religious territoriality
  • State failure to protect equal access to public spaces

4. Impunity and Institutional Failure

  • Perpetrators openly claiming responsibility for hate crimes
  • Temple managers openly declaring intolerance for other religions
  • Political organizations like Hindu Raksha Dal and Bajrang Dal operating with impunity
  • Those defending Muslims facing legal action while attackers remain unpunished

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