What's happened
Recent incidents in India highlight escalating violence against marginalized communities, particularly Dalits. An 18-year-old was shot by cow vigilantes in Haryana, while two Dalit teens were found dead in Uttar Pradesh, raising concerns over caste discrimination and law enforcement's role in these tragedies. The incidents have sparked public outrage and calls for justice.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The New York Times reports on the normalization of violence against Muslims, highlighting a recent incident where a 72-year-old Muslim man was beaten over suspicions of carrying beef. In contrast, The Independent details the tragic shooting of an 18-year-old by cow vigilantes, emphasizing the violent enforcement of cow protection laws. Both sources underscore the growing concerns over caste discrimination and the role of law enforcement in these incidents.
How we got here
India has a long history of caste-based discrimination, with marginalized communities often facing violence and systemic oppression. The rise of Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified these issues, leading to increased incidents of violence, particularly against Muslims and Dalits, often justified by vigilante groups enforcing cow protection laws.
More on these topics
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi.
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Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. With roughly 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world.
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Hinduism is an Indian religion and dharma, or way of life. It is the world's third-largest religion with over 1.25 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global population, known as Hindus.
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Haryana is one of the 28 states in India, located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 November 1966 on a linguistic basis.