New Delhi, Mar. 7:
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has come forward to fill the void in data collection and accountability and planned to document hate crimes in India on monthly basis.
APCR believes there is urgent need to track and document hate crimes against minorities in India and has taken the responsibility of compiling reports to shed light on these incidents. Its first Hate Crime Tracker report for January 2024 claims there were 39 instances of hate crimes and 17 hate speeches.
“The APCR has stepped in to fill the critical gap in data collection and accountability. We recognize the urgent need to track and document hate crimes against minorities in India and have taken the responsibility of compiling reports to shed light on these incidents,” said Nadeem Khan, National Secretary of APCR.
“We aim to raise awareness, advocate policy reforms, and hold perpetrators and authorities accountable for their actions by systematically tracking hate crimes and hate speeches against Indian minorities. We seek to empower marginalised communities through our efforts and challenge systemic injustices to work for an inclusive society,” said Khan.
Key findings of January report are: 1. There were 56 instances in January 2024, 39 hate crimes and 17 incidents of hate speech. Hate crimes of various forms were recorded: mob/ communal violence (39.3%), attacks on property (23%), physical assault (21.3%), intimidation/ harassment of individuals (9.8%), sexual violence (4.9%), and violence causing death (1.6%).
Hate speech incidents involving political leaders (33.3%), religious leaders (10%), incitement of violence (30%), speeches in close proximity to violence (23.3%), and online hate speeches (3.3%).
95.5% of hate crime and hate speech victims recorded belonged to the Muslim community, remaining 4.5% are Christians.
Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest rate of hate crimes and hate speeches at 25.4% followed by UP (22.03%), Maharashtra (20.3%), Karnataka (11.86%), Gujarat (3.4%), Bihar (3.39%). Manipur, Rajasthan, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and Telangana stood at the last spot with only 1.69% incidents recorded from each state.