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ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of residents in Surat&rsquo;s Muslim-majority Nasirnagar locality have been left scrambling for shelter after nearly 100 houses were demolished in what locals described as a &ldquo;ghost demolition&rdquo; carried out without clear official accountability, The Observer Post reported on Wednesday. Nasirnagar, Surat, is an area largely inhabited by working-class Muslim families. Residents told the publication that bulldozers arrived with police protection and razed dozens of homes, leaving families homeless overnight. According to local accounts, many residents claimed they were not given adequate notice before the operation. The demolition reportedly affected around 95 houses and displaced hundreds of people, including women, children and elderly residents. Several families said household belongings, documents and personal possessions were buried under the rubble. The controversy deepened after multiple government departments reportedly denied authorizing the demolition. Rights group Indian American Muslim Council flagged the incident on Thursday in a post on the social media platform X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064766219593425378&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=ed944e922fd35313ddeef5d28bdbfc89aa71021f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Residents and activists questioned how such a large-scale operation could have been conducted without a formal order from any authority. According to Indian media, officials from the Surat Municipal Corporation and other agencies distanced themselves from responsibility for the action. The lack of clarity has fuelled allegations of administrative irregularities and demands for an independent investigation. Affected families said they were struggling to find temporary accommodation and were relying on relatives, neighbors and community organizations for support. Local activists alleged that the operation disproportionately affected a Muslim-majority neighborhood and demanded transparency regarding the decision-making process. Community members also raised concerns about the absence of rehabilitation arrangements for those displaced. Residents said they had repeatedly sought answers from officials regarding who ordered the demolition and under what legal provisions it was carried out. Rights advocates called for authorities to release all relevant documents related to the operation. They also demanded compensation for families who lost homes and property during the demolition. The incident has drawn wider attention to concerns surrounding demolition drives and housing rights in several parts of India. Authorities had not publicly clarified responsibility for the operation at the time of reporting. For many displaced families in Nasirnagar, uncertainty continues as they seek accountability and answers over the destruction of their homes.

India

Nearly 100 homes in Surat’s Muslim-majority Nasirnagar demolished, hundreds of residents displaced; authorities deny ordering the operation, prompting demands for accountability, compensation and an independent investigation.

Muslim families displaced after nearly 100 houses razed in Surat, India

ISLAMABAD: Genocide Watch in a recent report warned that India was showing signs of entering the &ldquo;extermination&rdquo; stage in the organization&rsquo;s widely cited Ten Stages of Genocide framework.&nbsp; The report, titled &ldquo;Extermination in India: The Ninth Stage of Genocide,&rdquo; argues that anti-Muslim violence and dehumanizing rhetoric are intensifying across the country.&nbsp; Genocide Watch is an international organization focused on genocide prevention and mass atrocity monitoring.&nbsp; According to the report, perpetrators of genocide often stop viewing victims as fully human and portray them as threats that must be removed from society.&nbsp; Genocide mode The organization linked its warning to rising hate speech, communal violence and attacks targeting Muslims in India.&nbsp; The report referenced past episodes of mass violence, including the 2002 Gujarat riots, as examples of communal killings and impunity.&nbsp; Genocide Watch said genocides are not always sudden events and can develop gradually through stages such as discrimination, dehumanization, persecution and extermination.&nbsp; The Ten Stages of Genocide model was developed by Genocide Watch founder Gregory Stanton and is used internationally in genocide studies and early warning analysis.&nbsp; Ethnic violence in India The organization has previously issued alerts regarding communal tensions and ethnic violence in India, including in Manipur.&nbsp; Rights activists and minority groups have repeatedly expressed concern over mob lynching, anti-Muslim vigilante violence and inflammatory political rhetoric in recent years.&nbsp; The report also criticized the use of euphemisms such as &ldquo;ethnic cleansing,&rdquo; arguing that such language can minimize or obscure atrocities.&nbsp; India&rsquo;s government has previously rejected international criticism concerning minority rights and communal violence, describing some reports as biased or politically motivated. The Genocide Watch report adds to growing international debate over religious freedom, communal polarization and the protection of minority rights in India.

Genocide Watch has warned that anti-Muslim violence, hate speech and communal polarization in India are increasingly resembling the 'extermination' stage in its genocide risk framework.

International watchdog flags genocide concerns in India

ISLAMABAD: Protests and demonstrations have been lingering on in the Indian state of Bhopal, since a mob of Hindutva extremists beat a Muslim man accused of &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; so mercilessly that he was left half dead. The concept of &quot;Love Jihad&quot; is an unproven conspiracy theory alleging a systemic plot by Muslim men to convert non-Muslim women through marriage. India&#39;s Supreme Court views it as a politically motivated narrative that targets consenting interfaith couples. Bhopal police said on Monday that men accused of the torture had no formal links to the Hindutva group Bajrang Dal, further fuelling communal tensions and protests that have gripped parts of the city following the assault, despite widespread allegations and social media claims, Indian media reported. The controversy erupted after videos circulated online allegedly showing a Muslim man being brutally beaten inside a hotel in Bhopal. According to reports by Maktoob Media and Muslim Mirror, the attackers accused the youth of &ldquo;love jihad,&rdquo; a term frequently used by Hindu nationalist groups against Muslim men allegedly involved with Hindu women. The videos allegedly showed the victim being assaulted, abused and forced to chant religious slogans while surrounded by a mob. Reports also alleged that blasphemous remarks were made during the attack, deepening outrage within the Muslim community. The incident triggered large protests across Bhopal, with demonstrators demanding arrests, action against Hindutva groups and protection from mob violence.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2054528955462336782&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e5f66d26aeb0fed0cf72edf57f29b4bc69704ff4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Community members accused police of initially failing to take swift action despite videos of the assault spreading widely online. According to Muslim Mirror, tensions escalated after police allegedly used force against Muslim protesters, including baton charges and firing in some areas. Several protesters claimed authorities focused more on controlling demonstrations than addressing the alleged anti-Muslim violence that triggered the unrest.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2054528386643771672&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e5f66d26aeb0fed0cf72edf57f29b4bc69704ff4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Police denied allegations of bias and said action had been taken against those involved in violence and disturbance. On Monday, The Indian Express reported that investigators said the accused individuals were not officially connected to Bajrang Dal or any right-wing organisation. The clarification drew criticism from activists and sections of the Muslim community, who alleged that extremist groups often operate informally without official membership records. Rights advocates said the assault reflected a broader pattern of anti-Muslim vigilantism and communal intimidation in parts of India. They also alleged that accusations linked to &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; are increasingly used to justify harassment, public humiliation and violence against Muslims. Security remained tight in parts of Bhopal as authorities attempted to prevent further unrest amid continuing anger over the assault and the handling of protests.

Protesters say police played silent spectator as Bajrang Dal men beat up the man; police say the group accused of violence has no links to the beating.

'Blasphemy', Muslim youth assault spark protests in India’s Bhopal

ISLAMABAD: A US government panel heard allegations of escalating persecution of Muslims and Christians in India, with activists and experts accusing members of the ruling BJP and affiliated Hindu nationalist groups of enabling hate speech, violence and discrimination, according to Clarion India on Wednesday.&nbsp; The testimony was presented in Washington before the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan body that advises the US government on global religious freedom issues.&nbsp; Among those testifying was journalist and researcher Raqib Hameed Naik, who is the founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate and founder of India Hate Lab, which tracks hate speech and anti-minority violence in India.&nbsp; In his testimony, Naik said that &ldquo;attacks against minorities are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader climate of impunity&rdquo; adding that, &quot;hate speech targeting Muslims and Christians has become normalized in India&rsquo;s political and public discourse.&quot; According to figures cited in his testimony, 1,318 incidents of hate speech were recorded in 21 Indian states in 2025, marking what he described as a 97% rise compared with 2023. Naik reportedly called for targeted Global Magnitsky sanctions against BJP leaders and Hindu nationalist figures accused of inciting or enabling violence against minorities.&nbsp; Lamenting on the nefarious methods used by Hindutva and racist groups to target minorities, Naik said that, &quot;We have long noticed unmarked cars and suspicious figures at our protests, community gatherings, mosques, and gurdwaras.&quot; He alleged that anti-Muslim and anti-Christian hate campaigns have increasingly become normalized in political rallies, religious gatherings and online spaces.&nbsp; The hearing also focused on allegations that homes, businesses and places of worship belonging to minorities have been demolished or attacked in several Indian states.&nbsp; &ldquo;If this trend continues, India could become one of the countries with the largest internally displaced populations in the world,&rdquo; Naik told the commission. He called on the US to designate India as a &ldquo;Country of Particular Concern&rdquo; under international religious freedom provisions. Hate speech has intensified under ModiCritics at the hearing argued that hate speech against Muslims and Christians has intensified under Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s government and the BJP&rsquo;s broader Hindutva political ideology.&nbsp; According to Reuters and rights groups cited during discussions, attacks on minorities, anti-conversion laws and inflammatory rhetoric have drawn repeated international concern in recent years.&nbsp; India Hate Lab data showed a rise in anti-minority hate speech incidents, with most cases allegedly occurring in BJP-governed regions.&nbsp; Witnesses also accused social media platforms of amplifying anti-Muslim and anti-Christian narratives while failing to adequately moderate extremist content.&nbsp; &#39;Transnational repression&#39; The hearing reportedly examined what activists described as &ldquo;transnational repression,&rdquo; including intimidation and harassment faced by critics of the Indian government abroad.&nbsp; The Indian government has repeatedly rejected accusations of discrimination against minorities and has dismissed earlier USCIRF and US religious freedom reports as &ldquo;biased&rdquo; and politically motivated.&nbsp; New Delhi maintains that its policies benefit all communities equally and argues that foreign criticism often misunderstands India&rsquo;s social and constitutional framework.&nbsp; The latest hearing nevertheless adds to growing international scrutiny over religious freedom and minority rights in India, particularly as rights organizations continue documenting attacks, hate speech and communal tensions across the country.

Hears allegations of rising persecution, hate speech and violence against Muslims and Christians in India, with activists urging sanctions against alleged BJP-linked offenders.

US panel hears claims of rising persecution of Muslims, Christians in India

ISLAMABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party&rsquo;s (BJP) victory in West Bengal marked the completion of a &ldquo;ruthlessly crafted mission&rdquo; that brought down the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and pushed India closer to a unitary, majoritarian political order, The Wire reported on Friday. The Election Commission of India and the BJP acted as &ldquo;close collaborators&rdquo; in a process that weakened the TMC in one of India&rsquo;s most politically important states, TMC and other BJP opposition parties have been consistently claiming. Around 2.7 million voters were disenfranchised because &ldquo;logical discrepancies&rdquo; in voter records could not be resolved in time due to the controversial &lsquo;Special Intensive Revision&rsquo; (SIR). The episode has been described as an unprecedented breach of the constitutional requirement for free and fair elections. The vote difference between the BJP and TMC was around 3 million, making the exclusion of 2.7 million voters politically significant, especially because several seats were won or lost by margins below 5,000 votes. Some left-wing groups had openly used the slogan &ldquo;pehle Ram, phir Vaam,&rdquo; meaning first the party of Ram, i.e. the BJP, then the poltitical left. The BJP campaign played the communal card as much as possible and appealed to Bengalis as Hindus in unusually direct terms. The Election Commission and political establishment were criticized for ignoring constitutional restrictions against religious appeals during campaigns. The TMC was attacked for allegedly appeasing Muslims, while BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari reportedly said only Hindus had voted for him. The BJP also did not field a single Muslim candidate in the West Bengal elections. Bengal&rsquo;s fall to BJP advanced its alleged goal of building a one-party right-wing state that treats federalism as a threat to national unity, Indian media reported. Such a project could eventually turn India into a majoritarian theocracy, reported The Wire.

The Wire reported that BJP’s Bengal victory weakened Trinamool Congress, disenfranchised millions, intensified Hindutva politics, and pushed India closer to a unitary majoritarian state before 2029.

Articles tagged with "Hindutva State"

Muslim families displaced after nearly 100 houses razed in Surat, India

International watchdog flags genocide concerns in India

'Blasphemy', Muslim youth assault spark protests in India’s Bhopal

US panel hears claims of rising persecution of Muslims, Christians in India

BJP’s Bengal win brings India closer to unitary Hindutva state: Indian media