Hindu nationalist vigilantes attack Muslim settlement in India

On Friday, 9 August, a group of vigilantes from the Hindu nationalist organisation, Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD), led by their leader Bhupender Tomar, also known as Pinky Chaudhary, attacked a settlement in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, India.

The group claimed that the residents, who were Muslims, were illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar (Rohingyas) involved in criminal activities, according to a report by The Wire.

Footage of the attack, initially shared by the group on its own social media platforms, shows the vigilantes vandalising homes, setting belongings on fire, and assaulting residents with sticks while shouting religious slurs. This marks the second attack by this group within a week.

(Content warning: violence and strong language)

The attackers not only set fire to the shanties but also targeted and destroyed the personal belongings of the Muslim residents after confirming their identities. These incidents have coincided with a surge in social media rhetoric calling for retaliation against perceived attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Prominent figures, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, have made inflammatory statements online, further escalating tensions.

Nitish Rane, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the BJP, who represents a local constituency in the state legislature, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “If Hindus are targeted and killed in Bangladesh, why should we allow even one Bangladeshi to breathe here. We will also target and kill.” Kangana Ranaut, drawing a comparison between India's situation and that of Israel, urged her followers to "pick your swords and keep them sharp," claiming that India is surrounded by extremists.

The day before, another associate of the HRD, Daksh Chaudhary, attacked a similar settlement in Delhi, accusing the residents of being illegal immigrants. Daksh Chaudhary, who has a history of inciting violence and hate speech, has been involved in multiple incidents targeting minority communities, including a physical attack on Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar during the Lok Sabha election campaign.

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Pinky Chaudhary later circulated a video on social media endorsing the attacks and warning law enforcement against taking strict action. He insisted that any charges against the attackers be minor and bailable. He claimed these attacks were a response to violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, though no such direct connections have been substantiated.

In a video released earlier in the week, Pinky Chaudhary stated, “The way Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh, sisters and daughters are being raped, temples are being destroyed… the whole world is silent on this. No one is ready to say anything. If the atrocities do not stop, then the Bangladeshis living in India are on our radar. I know all such places. I will not leave them. I will fight till the end.”

Despite these claims, the Ghaziabad police have refuted Pinky Chaudhary's allegations, confirming that the residents of the attacked settlement are Indian citizens, originally from Shahjahanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh. A legal case has been registered following the attack.