India has decades of relations with riots in terms of protesting against anything at public will. But when these riots go against human rights by the demolition of public properties, typical people's houses, raping innocent girls, firing people's vehicles and murdering people without any cause or reason raises the question of that are we witnessing a steady erosion of humanity in the name of religion?

This is India, a secular republic enshrined with constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and human dignity but witnessing a massive surge in communal violence in the name of showing opposition to the government introducing laws, amendments and initiatives that are for the welfare of the entire general public. From West Bengal to Maharashtra, the past few months have seen riots erupt during religious processions, festivals and government-introduced laws that often lead to loss of life, destruction of property, and the deepening of communal divides.

Religious Riots as a Human Rights Issue

Religious riots in the name of protest are not merely spontaneous bursts of mob anger, but they are symbolic of systematic failures on the part of the state to handle and prevent those events. Certain governments safeguard their power and vote bank first rather than put humanity at stake. The right to life and personal liberty (Article 21), equality before the law (Article 14), and the freedom to practice religion (Article 25) were all violated during these riots.

However, no accountability was made on anyone as the state termed this as a public mob who did this. Beyond the safeguards of the Indian constitution, India is also a signatory to international treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which obligates governments to prevent discrimination and protect minorities. But when different states act differently on the same issue and public welfare at large is harmed here, the state fails to prevent targeted violence or becomes complicit through inaction, which undermines humanity at large.

Real Stories from the Ground

In the most recent case of West Bengal in April 2025, we witnessed deadly riots during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. Processions were attacked, people were murdered, and properties and shops were destroyed and looted. Girls and women were targeted, and this was done by one particular community to establish their power over that place, and this led to mass migration from that area. In these scenarios, what should people do other than save their lives and those of their families?

Similarly, in 2024, Mira Road in Maharashtra became the epicentre of communal unrest when processions were attacked throughout the locality. This event also led to mobs vandalizing shops, and reports indicated that law enforcement agencies failed to intervene effectively and protect people and humanity.

Role of the State
Protector or Perpetrator? In each such case, we have seen different approaches by different state governments, and questions have been raised about the neutrality and effectiveness of state agencies. Most of the time, police did not respond on time as they should have acted, but they were biased by acting selectively and failing to control mobs in a timely manner. Many international bodies like Human Rights Watch and the U.S. The Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly criticized India for its deteriorating record on safeguarding communal harmony in our country.

Shrinking Space for Communities and Humanity

India in 2024 saw a surge of 84% in communal violence, which shows a harrowing portrait of how deeply fractured our society has become. Where humans lost their lives not for their deeds but for their specific names, caste, faiths, and even fabricated suspicions. With 59 riots in a year, which is 39 more than the previous year, there is a sharp rise and casting a grim shadow over the ideals of unity and coexistence.

Thirteen people died, including ten Muslims, because of the ongoing violence during religious celebrations and processions. The human cost was enormous. With twelve incidents, Maharashtra was the epicentre, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, each with seven. The feeling of marginalization was exacerbated by the collective punitive use of bulldozers, which was primarily used in states where the ruling party was in power. As religious festivals became flashpoints, such as Saraswati Puja immersions, Ram Mandir ceremonies, Ganesh processions, and even Eid, it became abundantly evident that faith and political mobilization were synonymous.

These frequently brief but incredibly violent acts took place in an environment that was conducive to conflict due to hostile demonstrations and disparaging sloganeering during celebrations. Humanity is being buried beneath the debris of religious polarization, where life itself is reduced to an identity label, and minor disagreements now carry the weight of communal tension.

Supreme Court's Stand on Communal Violence and Human Rights

In the Bilkis Bano case, the Court recognized the state's failure to protect its citizens and granted compensation and rehabilitation in addition to acknowledging the brutalities of the Gujarat riots in 2002. In the same way, the Court stepped in following the 2008 Kandhamal riots in Archbishop Raphael Cheenath v. State of Orissa case, directing the reopening of cases that had been closed too quickly and placing a strong emphasis on justice for underprivileged groups.

The Supreme Court's recent suo-moto intervention in the ethnic violence in Manipur reaffirmed its ongoing responsibility to oversee relief efforts and guarantee investigations in the face of state indifference. When taken as a whole, these cases show how the Court has stood up for constitutional morality at pivotal times despite ongoing difficulties with consistent accountability and enforcement.

What is Missing?
When someone is attacked for who they are or what they believe rather than for what they have done, it indicates that prejudice and fear have been rewoven into the social fabric. Religious identities are no longer sources of spiritual development but rather instruments of segregation, and hate speech is increasingly taking over public discourse thanks to social media and political echo chambers.

The normalization of communal bias is concerning; communities are conditioned to perceive "the other" as a threat, and children learn to distrust before they learn to understand. An everyday civic consciousness that goes beyond flags and ceremonies and is rooted in the worth of every person, regardless of religion, is what is lacking.

Conclusion
In a nation as multifaceted and varied as India, communal violence destroys the unseen bonds that unite our society in addition to taking lives. The 2024 data show a concerning decline in empathy, justice, and accountability, in addition to an increase in riots and lynchings. We must consider what kind of country we are becoming when bulldozers are used for punishment rather than progress, when celebrations are transformed into battlefields, and when suffering is met with silence. Hatred and humanity are at odds, not religions.

It is time to rethink a future in which justice does not wear the colours of political allegiance, where the law protects everyone, and where being human comes before being Hindu or Muslim. Only then can India genuinely claim to be the democratic, pluralistic, and compassionate republic its founders had in mind.

End-Notes:

1. https://csss-isla.com/secular-perspective/hegemony-and-demolitions-the-tale-of-communal-riots-in-india-in-2024/
2. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=169682
3. https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/581180422713e1794798c1a1
4. https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-takes-suo-motu-cognizance-of-manipur-video-233149
5. https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/orissa-sc-ruling-on-kandhamal-riots-disappoints-archbishop-37279-2009-01-15
6. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-bilkis-bano-gangraped-2002-gujarat-riots-8093937/
7. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jan/28/india-witnessed-84-rise-in-communal-riots-in-2024-report
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_riots_in_India
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot
10. https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism_in_India
12. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/india-saw-84-percent-more-communal-riots-in-2024-csss-report
13. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-anti-waqf-violence-hindu-victim-target-riots-trinamool-congress-mamata-banerjee-response-2709212-2025-04-15
14. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/a-riot-in-nagpur-over-a-long-dead-emperors-tomb/article69359280.ece
15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votebank
16. https://knowindia.india.gov.in/profile/fundamental-rights.php
17. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights
18. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/murshidabad-violence-live-updates-west-bengal-on-edge-as-riots-shatter-peace-families-flee-in-fear/liveblog/120329310.cms