Attacks on Muslims, Dalits in name of cow by Hindutva extremists tactic to harass minorities
New Delhi: The recent incidents of violence against minorities, especially Muslims, using cows as a justification for violence under the Hindutva Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, have raised serious questions about the protection of religious minorities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, attacks on Muslims and Dalits in the name of cow by Hindutva extremists in India have become a systematic and terrifying tactic to harass and kill them.
According to data analytics site India Spend, 45 people were killed in 120 cases of cow-related violence reported across India between 2012 and 2018. The highest number of violent incidents were recorded in the state of Uttar Pradesh, with 19 verified incidents of cow-related violence resulting in 11 deaths.
In BJP-led India, cow vigilantism has escalated into a systemic tool of intimidation and violence against minorities, particularly Muslims and Dalits. Recent incidents expose the deep-rooted failure of the Indian state to protect vulnerable communities.
On October 18, 2025, a mob brutally beat to death a truck driver in Uttar Pradesh over a minor traffic incident, with reports linking the attack to suspicions of cattle smuggling. Despite local police filing charges against the perpetrators, activists say deliberate delays in arrests, reflecting a recurring pattern of state protection for Hindutva extremists.
The violence continues unchecked across states. On 19th October 2025, seven Muslims were injured in Haryana by Hindu extremist vigilantes for transporting cattle. Law enforcement agencies have yet to take decisive action, underscoring systemic bias.
Human Rights Watch reports that since 2010, 84 percent of cow-related mob attack victims have been Muslim, with the frequency of incidents spiking in BJP-governed states.
Despite the Indian Supreme Court’s 2018 directive urging states to curb such violence, enforcement remains weak, allowing vigilante culture to thrive.
Social media platforms, from October 18–20, amplified calls for “gau raksha” (cow protection), framing Muslims as inherent threats to society. These developments illustrate that cow vigilantism in India is not isolated but part of a broader, state-tolerated assault on minorities, eroding rule of law and communal harmony.
