APCR documents 405 hate crime and hate speech incidents in India, 54 deaths in nine months

Millat Times Desk

11 November 2026 (Publish: 09:00 AM IST)

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The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has documented 405 incidents of hate crimes and hate speech targeting religious minorities in India between January 1 and September 30, 2026, including 54 deaths, according to two reports released by the civil rights organisation.

The reports, based on APCR’s Hate Crime Tracker and Hate Speech Tracker, recorded 322 hate crimes against Muslims and Christians across 24 states and union territories, alongside 83 hate speeches delivered by 57 speakers across at least 16 states.

Of the 322 hate crimes, 119 incidents, or 37%, involved state participation, the report said. It documented 54 deaths linked to hate crimes, including 21 attributed to state authorities.

These included 12 deaths in alleged police encounters and nine deaths in custody or prison. Among the cases cited were the deaths of brothers Zeeshan and Gulfam in Ghaziabad in March and 70-year-old Zaheer Shaikh in Ahmedabad.

The tracker also recorded 15 incidents targeting Christians, most of them linked to allegations of religious conversion. One incident involved an attack on a prayer meeting attended by more than 25 people in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

The separate Hate Speech Tracker identified 83 speeches by 57 individuals. Thirty-three speeches were delivered by people holding public office, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed a gathering in Kolkata on March 14, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and four chief ministers.

Thirty-seven of the recorded speeches contained calls for violence or appeals for Hindus to arm themselves, the report said. It identified a recurring group of around 12 speakers responsible for nearly 50 speeches and video clips, with seven of them holding public office.

Despite the documented speeches, only one incident resulted in an arrest during the reporting period, according to APCR.

The reports were presented at an event in New Delhi attended by researchers, civil rights activists, journalists and public intellectuals, who discussed the findings and the role of institutions in addressing violence against religious minorities.

Fawaz Shaheen, who moderated the programme, said hate crimes were increasingly becoming part of political mobilisation and public discourse, rather than remaining isolated or planned acts of violence.

Aqsa Sayed highlighted the role of state institutions, saying their involvement included refusing to register first information reports against perpetrators or remaining present during attacks without intervening. She questioned whether such conduct reflected institutional inaction or complicity.

Civil rights activist John Dayal said hate speech should not be treated as ordinary conversation or an expression of opinion, arguing that statements encouraging targeted violence could have serious consequences.

Journalist Nidheesh Tyagi stressed the importance of remembering victims and keeping their experiences in public discussion. He said the state was either complicit in such crimes or failing to address them effectively. He also questioned the response of senior political leaders, including the prime minister.

Syeda Hameed raised concerns about harassment and intimidation faced by researchers and individuals documenting hate crimes.

APCR said the reports aimed to bring victims’ experiences, documented incidents and the role of state institutions into public debate. The organisation called for accountability, effective implementation of Supreme Court directions and protection for those documenting alleged violations of civil and constitutional rights.