India Sees Fewer Communal Riots in 2025 but Rise in Lynching and Targeted Violence, Report Finds

India Sees Fewer Communal Riots in 2025 but Rise in Lynching and Targeted Violence, Report Finds
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India recorded a sharp decline in communal riots in 2025, but incidents of mob lynching and broader patterns of identity-based violence and discrimination continued to raise serious concerns, according to a report by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) cited on Muslim Mirror Network.

CSSS monitoring shows that communal riots fell to 28 incidents in 2025, down from 59 in 2024—a decline of 52 percent. These riots resulted in four deaths and injuries to more than 360 people. However, mob lynching incidents rose slightly to 14 cases, claiming eight lives, all of them Muslim. Around 95 percent of lynching cases occurred in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh accounting for the highest numbers.

Despite fewer large-scale riots, CSSS noted that communal hostility has taken more systemic forms, including hate speech, institutional discrimination, and selective law enforcement. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of communal riots, followed by West Bengal and Gujarat. Nearly one-third of riots were triggered during religious processions or festivals, reflecting continued tensions around contested public spaces.

The report also highlighted a surge in violence against Christian communities. Data from the United Christian Forum documented 706 incidents nationwide in 2025, including attacks linked to allegations of forced conversions and repeated cases of denial of burial rights, particularly in Chhattisgarh.

CSSS raised concerns about the role of the state, alleging disproportionate action against Muslims following communal unrest. In several cases, authorities blamed Muslim “masterminds,” carried out mass arrests, invoked stringent laws, and demolished Muslim-owned properties after violence, actions described as collective punishment.

While courts delivered swift convictions in some cases involving Hindu victims, the report pointed to acquittals or prolonged detention without bail in cases involving Muslim victims, raising questions about equal application of justice.

Overall, CSSS concluded that although visible communal riots declined in 2025, mob lynching, targeted repression, and institutional bias continued to fuel insecurity among religious minorities.