By Waquar Hasan
NEW DELHI – A new report by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has recorded a sharp spike in violence and intimidation against Muslims in the period leading up to and during Bakra Eid, from 11 May to 29 May 2026.
The civil rights group has documented 46 hate crimes targeting Muslims across India over 19 days, with the majority directly linked to the Bakra Eid festival.
According to the report released on Friday, 30 out of 46 incidents were directly connected to the festival — with 22 of those occurring in just five days between 25 and 29 May, when Bakra Eid was celebrated.
Three Muslims lost their lives during this period. In Gujarat, a man died following alleged custodial torture over accusations of cow slaughter. In Assam, two men were lynched by a mob on suspicion of cattle theft — an attack that took place just one day after the state’s chief minister publicly declared “zero tolerance” towards cattle smuggling.
The report noted that the concentration of incidents around cattle transportation, animal sacrifice, and Eid prayers suggests that Bakra Eid “served as a focal point for communal polarisation in multiple states.”
It added: “The repeated involvement of organised groups, political actors, and local authorities raises concerns regarding the normalisation of restrictions and hostility directed towards Muslims during religious festivities.”
Of the 46 incidents documented, 32 were classified as intimidation or harassment, six as hate speech, three as physical assault, three as attacks on property, and two as violence causing death.
Cow-related allegations served as a recurring trigger. In Haryana, two Muslim men were assaulted and forced to drink cow urine over alleged cow smuggling. In Telangana, cow vigilantes intercepted and vandalised a truck — only to discover it was carrying plywood, not cattle.
This story was originally published in thehindustangazette.com. Read the full story here.