2025 Report — Comprehensive Analysis of Documented Cases
Based on comprehensive analysis of documented news reports and human rights tracking data from January through September 2025, this report documents 25 confirmed cases of Muslims killed in mob violence, lynchings, and vigilante attacks across India in 2025.
These incidents collectively represent a serious crisis of communal violence targeting Muslims, often triggered by unverified allegations, religious antagonism, and perceived state support for extremist actors.
Total Incidents: 25 deaths across 11 Indian states.
Uttar Pradesh emerged as the most affected state with 7 documented incidents, followed by Bihar with 3 incidents.
Seven additional states (Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Karnataka each with 2 incidents, and Rajasthan with 2 incidents) accounted for the remaining cases.
Tripura, Telangana, and Gujarat each reported 1 incident.
The data reveals persistent patterns of mob violence across India's most populous states, with the majority of incidents occurring in rural and semi-urban areas where police response times are delayed and perpetrators often enjoy political patronage.
| State | Number of Cases |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 7 |
| Bihar | 3 |
| Haryana | 2 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 2 |
| Maharashtra | 2 |
| Jharkhand | 2 |
| Karnataka | 2 |
| Rajasthan | 2 |
| Tripura | 1 |
| Telangana | 1 |
| Gujarat | 1 |
| Total | 25 |
Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state with 230 million inhabitants, experienced the highest concentration of documented mob violence targeting Muslims in 2025.
Assaulted by villagers who allegedly caught him attempting theft. Eyewitnesses reported graphic footage showing the victim tied upside down and beaten with sticks. He died five days later during treatment, though no arrests of his assailants were reported.
Assaulted by Hindu Holi revelers after objecting to colors being thrown on him while walking to the mosque during Ramadan. Despite eyewitness accounts of severe beating, police claimed cardiac arrest with no injury marks, sparking local protests and allegations of witness intimidation.
Shot dead at his restaurant. A video circulated claiming "revenge" for the Pahalgam militant attack. Police later arrested three other individuals claiming the shooting stemmed from a business dispute.
Student beaten to death by three former students, one allegedly affiliated with the Bajrang Dal Hindu extremist group. Supporters of the accused reportedly celebrated the murder on social media.
Beaten to death by a mob of Hindu kanwariya pilgrims on suspicion of carrying cattle remains. Videos showed police officers standing nearby without intervention as the vehicle was set ablaze.
Found dead by the roadside bearing visible injuries from mob beating. Police arrested three adult men and two minors in connection with his death.
Young Muslim boy killed, with mutilated body found hanging from a gate. Police arrested a neighbor on suspicion of ritual sacrifice, shocking the community and sparking widespread outrage.
Killed by a mob of 50-60 people following allegations of cattle theft. Tied with rope and beaten with rods and sticks. His brother was critically injured. Two main accused were arrested after protests erupted.
Assaulted by approximately six men with sticks at his home over an alleged four-month-old Facebook comment. Five men were arrested, though local residents identified two assailants as close aides of a local BJP Member of Legislative Assembly.
Fruit and vegetable vendor beaten to death with a dumbbell by a mob after a dispute over a ₹5 shortfall. The accused reportedly remained absconding at the time of reporting.
Beaten to death by a mob shortly after returning home from a Muharram procession. CCTV footage captured the assault by more than a dozen individuals. Police promised swift arrests and deployed additional forces.
Farmer beaten by approximately 14-15 self-styled cow vigilantes while returning from a cattle fair with a legally purchased bull. Assailants looted ₹36,000 and demanded ₹50,000 from his family. He succumbed to injuries four days later. Five men were arrested.
Cattle rearer and dairy business operator beaten to death by members of a local cow protection group while transporting a recently purchased cow. Ten individuals were named in an FIR for murder, though no arrests were reported. Yusuf was posthumously charged under Haryana's cow protection law.
Muslim tailor fatally attacked following a dispute over his religious attire. The attacker struck him on the head after verbally mocking him. Police registered charges of culpable homicide but denied any communal motive.
Assaulted by a mob of alleged cow vigilantes while transporting cattle at night. Severe beating while filming the assault. Placed on ventilator support and succumbed to injuries on June 17. Three suspects were arrested while over 10 remained absconding.
Businessman found dead with multiple sharp weapon injuries at his workplace. While police claimed arrests, they did not disclose names or motives. Locals alleged Hindu nationalist group involvement and police shielding of perpetrators.
Telecom executive assaulted by a local journalist during a road rage incident who subjected him to religious slurs and threats. Found hanging the next day. A case of abetment to suicide was registered with no arrests reported.
Student abducted and beaten to death by a mob of approximately 15 Hindu men, including several former associates. Targeted after seeing him with a 17-year-old Hindu girl at a café. Assaulted with sticks and iron rods before being dumped at his home. At least eight men were arrested, including members of Bajrang Dal and other BJP-linked extremist groups.
Ragpicker with mental illness history lynched by a mob of 25-30 men at a local cricket match. Assault began after he drank water near players. Beaten with wooden logs and cricket bats. Died on arrival at hospital from internal bleeding and shock. At least 20 individuals, including alleged Bajrang Dal members, were arrested. Three police officers were suspended for negligence.
Mosque secretary and pickup vehicle owner killed with swords while returning after unloading sand. Companion was critically injured. Killing occurred days after a Hindu right-wing figure's murder, heightening religious tensions.
Man undergoing mental health treatment lynched by a mob after being accused of harassing a woman bathing in a local pond. Woman's cries drew villagers who tied him up and assaulted him. Declared dead on arrival at hospital. Two suspects were arrested.
Assaulted by members of the Hindu Tiger Force extremist group on July 23 and found dead in the Damodar River three days later. Bore visible signs of violence. Family denied access for two days before being told he had "fled police custody." Police suspended officers and registered murder charges against seven accused, with family alleging police collusion.
Died after being assaulted at a construction site where he was allegedly caught scaling a school boundary wall. School employees and laborers beat him severely and tied him to a tree overnight. Found unconscious and died at hospital. Six individuals including three school employees were arrested.
Schoolgirl and 10th-grade student died defending her father from assault by a group of men. Father was allegedly seen urinating near the home of two main accused. When Aliya rushed to his defense, she was hit with stones and sustained critical injuries. Died in intensive care on February 15. Two main accused were arrested.
Found charred inside a burned vehicle near the Narmada Canal. Companion was critically injured. Victims' families alleged Bajrang Dal members set the vehicle ablaze, though police claimed it was a road accident with no evidence of assault or cow vigilante involvement.
Analysis of these 25 cases reveals several consistent patterns in the violence:
The 25 victims included two minors—Aliya Begum (15) and Shahzeb Alam (7)—indicating that age provided no protection against violence. Several elderly victims, including Sheikh Wajul Haq (65) and Mohammed Mohsin (70), were also targeted.
The incidents documented in 2025 occurred predominantly in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). States including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan all had BJP governments during the documented incidents. Research organizations tracking communal violence have documented that BJP-governed states accounted for approximately 70% of mob lynching incidents in 2024, a pattern that appears to have continued into 2025. Communal violence escalated notably after the April 2025 Pahalgam militant attack in Kashmir, when the Indian government's rhetoric intensified against Muslims as "infiltrators" and "terrorists," creating a permissive environment for vigilante violence.
It is important to note that these 25 documented cases represent only those incidents that received significant media coverage and were documented by human rights organizations. The National Human Rights Commission has estimated that actual mob lynching incidents are underreported by approximately 50%, suggesting the true figure could be substantially higher. Additionally, comprehensive data for October, November, and December 2025 remains incomplete as this analysis was compiled in late December, meaning incidents from the final quarter of the year may not be fully captured in these reports.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have both raised alarm about the situation, with USCIRF recommending India's designation as a Country of Particular Concern for the sixth consecutive year.
The 25 documented cases of Muslims killed in mob violence during 2025 represent a continuation and intensification of the trend documented by multiple international human rights bodies. The pattern demonstrates systematic violence targeting Muslims, often with apparent state tolerance or complicity.
The failure to arrest perpetrators in many instances, the posthumous charging of victims, the denial of religious motives by authorities, and the evident political patronage enjoyed by perpetrators collectively illustrate a breakdown of constitutional safeguards and the normalization of communal violence in contemporary India.