Targeted violence against Muslims in Uttarakhand has been documented in a detailed APCR report, exposing patterns of discriminatory policing, administrative excesses, and selective law enforcement.
Qalam Times News Network
New Delhi | January 22, 2026
Fact-finding study reveals discriminatory policing, Targeted violence, administrative overreach, and growing marginalisation of minority communities
Targeted violence against Muslim communities in Uttarakhand has emerged as a central concern in a fact-finding report released by the Association of Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), which documents a sustained pattern of communal attacks, police inaction, and administrative measures disproportionately affecting minorities since late 2023.
The report records incidents across multiple districts—Uttarkashi, Srinagar, Gauchar, Kashipur, Haridwar, Nainital, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Haldwani, and regions inhabited by Van Gujjar communities. According to APCR, Muslim-owned homes, shops, and religious places were repeatedly targeted through arson, vandalism, stone-pelting, and intimidation. Targeted violence, the report notes, often followed Hindutva rallies or was triggered by rumours deliberately framed around Muslim religious identity.
Investigators found that despite police deployment at several locations, authorities frequently failed to prevent attacks. In numerous cases, First Information Reports (FIRs) were either delayed, diluted, or selectively registered. Victims alleged that Muslim residents were booked under preventive sections in the name of maintaining “law and order,” while individuals delivering incendiary speeches at public gatherings faced little to no immediate legal action—even when video evidence was readily available.
The report highlights a disturbing imbalance in law enforcement practices. Data compiled by APCR show that prohibitory orders and preventive detentions were imposed overwhelmingly on Muslim residents following communal tensions. In contrast, organisers of rallies linked to Hindu right-wing groups were rarely subjected to similar restrictions, pointing to a recurring pattern of discriminatory policing.
Beyond policing, the findings draw attention to the growing use of collective punishment. Administrative notices threatening demolition, sealing of properties, or eviction were reportedly issued without prior notice or an opportunity for affected families to be heard. APCR argues that such actions bypass constitutional safeguards and deepen the marginalisation of already vulnerable communities.
The human cost of this climate has been severe. Many Muslim families temporarily fled their homes out of fear, leading to loss of livelihoods and disruption of education. Women, children, and daily-wage workers were identified as the worst affected, with several localities reporting long-term social and economic fallout.
Placing Uttarakhand within a broader national trajectory, the report warns that the state mirrors a wider trend in which the normalisation of anti-Muslim targeting is reinforced through administrative power alongside majoritarian mobilisation.
The APCR has called for independent judicial inquiries into the incidents, strict action against hate speech, and unwavering adherence to constitutional protections. Without accountability, the report cautions, the cycle of violence and exclusion is likely to intensify further.
