Mob violence in Balasore raises fresh concerns over minority safety under Modi rule
A 35-year-old Muslim man was brutally lynched in India’s eastern city of Balasore after allegedly refusing to chant the Hindu slogan “Jai Shri Ram,” triggering renewed outrage over rising mob violence and minority persecution in the country.
According to Indian media reports, the incident occurred following a minor verbal dispute that escalated into a violent mob attack. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows a group of extremist individuals armed with sticks, iron rods, and batons brutally assaulting the victim in broad daylight.
Eyewitness footage indicates that the attackers repeatedly pressured the man to chant “Jai Shri Ram.” When he refused, the mob subjected him to relentless physical violence. The victim sustained severe head injuries and excessive bleeding. Believing him to be dead, the attackers abandoned him at the scene and fled.
Local residents later rushed the severely injured man to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
In a controversial move, police initially registered a case against the deceased under India’s Cow Protection Act, sparking widespread criticism. The decision drew sharp condemnation from human rights activists, who accused authorities of shielding perpetrators and criminalizing victims.
The video of the lynching was shared internationally by Professor Ashok Swain, a Sweden-based academic known for his work on human rights issues. Professor Swain criticized Indian authorities and mainstream media for remaining largely silent despite clear visual evidence of mob brutality.
Following mounting public pressure and a formal complaint filed by the victim’s brother, police eventually registered a murder case. However, as of the latest reports, no arrests have been made, further intensifying concerns over impunity and selective law enforcement.
The incident adds to a growing list of mob lynchings in India, where religious minorities—particularly Muslims—have repeatedly been targeted over allegations linked to religious slogans, cow protection, and identity-based hostility.
Human rights groups argue that such attacks have increased in frequency and severity under the current political climate, warning that the failure to hold perpetrators accountable emboldens extremist violence.
Observers note that beyond Muslims, other marginalized communities, including Christians and Dalits, have also faced rising discrimination and violence, raising alarm over the broader state of civil liberties and minority protections in India.
