Posted on April 21, 2025 | By Ashutosh Singh
India stands at a crossroads in 2025, grappling with escalating tensions fueled by stone pelting incidents, targeted attacks on Hindus, and a complex security landscape. From the volatile streets of West Bengal to the evolving dynamics of Jammu and Kashmir, the nation faces a pressing question: Should the Indian government expand the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to Muslim-majority areas or enact laws to protect Hindus exercising self-defense without legal repercussions? This debate is not just about policy—it’s about safeguarding lives, restoring order, and addressing the root causes of communal violence. With stone pelting incidents surging across India and targeted attacks shaking communities, the call for decisive action grows louder.
This comprehensive article dives into the heart of this controversy, exploring recent stone pelting incidents, the plight of Hindus under attack, the transformative impact of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, and the case for nationwide policy reform. Written for news readers seeking clarity, this guide blends sensational storytelling with educational insights to unravel one of India’s most pressing issues. Let’s uncover the truth and chart a path forward.
The Rising Tide of Stone Pelting in India: A National Crisis
Stone pelting, once largely confined to Jammu and Kashmir, has emerged as a disturbing trend across India, targeting security forces, civilians, and religious processions. Defined as a criminal assault involving the throwing of stones by individuals or mobs, these incidents disrupt public order, injure innocents, and inflame communal tensions. Recent events underscore the urgency of addressing this crisis with robust policy measures.
Notable Stone Pelting Incidents in 2025
- West Bengal (Murshidabad, April 2025): Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned deadly in Murshidabad, with violent riots claiming three lives—two Hindus, Chandan Das and Hargobind Das, killed in a mob attack, and one Muslim man killed in police firing. Hundreds, mostly Hindus, fled across the Bhagirathi River to Malda for safety. The Calcutta High Court ordered central forces to restore order, highlighting the severity of the unrest.
- Maharashtra (Nashik and Jalgaon, August 2024): Protests against atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh spiraled into violence, with stone pelting injuring 18 police officers in Nashik’s Bhadrakali area. In Jalgaon, similar clashes erupted during a protest march, underscoring the communal volatility of such incidents.
- Jharkhand (Lohardaga, September 2023): A Ganesh pandal in Valmiki Nagar was targeted with stones, escalating tensions during a religious procession.
- West Bengal (Howrah, 2023): Stones were allegedly pelted at a Ganesh Visarjan procession, sparking outrage and demands for stronger security measures.
- Gujarat (Vadodara, March 2022): Two Rama Navami processions organized by Hindu right-wing groups faced stone pelting, leading to arrests and heightened communal friction.
These incidents reveal a pattern: stone pelting often targets religious processions, security personnel, or public demonstrations, amplifying communal divides. In 2022 alone, the Railway Protection Force registered 1,503 cases of stone pelting on moving trains, injuring commuters and disrupting services. The question looms—how can India curb this growing menace?
Targeted Attacks on Hindus: A Disturbing Trend
Beyond stone pelting, Hindus have faced targeted violence, particularly in Muslim-majority areas, raising concerns about communal harmony. In West Bengal’s Murshidabad, the brutal killing of two Hindus during the 2025 riots shocked the nation, with reports of mobs attacking Hindu communities. Similarly, in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits have endured targeted killings, with seven such attacks in 2022, including the murder of Rahul Bhat, a government employee, sparking protests and demands for relocation.
These attacks are not isolated. Human Rights Watch notes a rise in violence against religious minorities, with BJP supporters accused of targeting Muslims and Hindus alike in politically charged contexts. The destruction of Muslim-owned properties in response to stone pelting incidents, as seen in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, further escalates tensions, creating a vicious cycle of retribution. Hindus, particularly in areas like West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir, feel increasingly vulnerable, fueling calls for protective legislation.
The Case for Expanding AFSPA: Lessons from Jammu and Kashmir
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), enacted in 1958, grants security forces extraordinary powers in “disturbed areas,” including the ability to arrest without warrants, use lethal force, and enjoy immunity from prosecution without central government approval. In Jammu and Kashmir, AFSPA has been in force since 1990 to combat insurgency and restore order. Its impact on stone pelting offers critical insights into its potential nationwide application.
How AFSPA Transformed Jammu and Kashmir
Stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir was once a hallmark of separatist unrest, with 1,412 incidents in 2017 and 1,458 in 2018. The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, coupled with AFSPA’s robust enforcement, dramatically reduced these incidents:
- Data Highlights: From 618 incidents in January-July 2019, stone pelting dropped to 222 in 2020 and just 76 in 2021. By 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared zero stone pelting incidents in the Valley.
- Injury Reduction: Civilian injuries from pellet guns and baton charges fell from 339 in 2019 to 25 in 2021. Security force injuries also plummeted from 64 to 10 in the same period.
- Terrorism Decline: Post-2019, terrorist violence dropped by 32%, security force deaths by 52%, and civilian deaths by 14%. Infiltration attempts decreased from 141 in 2019 to 48 in 2023.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief confirmed in 2022 that stone pelting was “almost nil” post-Article 370 repeal, attributing this to AFSPA’s deterrence and enhanced security measures. Tactics like deploying plainclothes policemen to infiltrate stone-pelting mobs, as seen in Srinagar in 2018, further curbed unrest.
Why AFSPA Worked
AFSPA’s success in Jammu and Kashmir stems from:
- Deterrence: The threat of lethal force and arrests without warrants discourages mob violence.
- Immunity: Security personnel operate without fear of immediate legal repercussions, enabling swift action.
- Massive Deployment: Over 43,000 central armed police personnel were deployed in 2019, overwhelming potential agitators.
- Policy Synergy: The abrogation of Article 370, combined with AFSPA, disrupted separatist networks and reduced public support for unrest.
However, AFSPA’s heavy-handed approach has critics. Amnesty International and the UN have condemned it for enabling human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and detentions without trial. In Kashmir, locals describe AFSPA as “draconian,” arguing it alienates communities and fuels resentment.
The Case for Nationwide AFSPA in Muslim-Majority Areas
Proponents argue that expanding AFSPA to Muslim-majority areas grappling with stone pelting—like parts of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, or Maharashtra—could replicate Jammu and Kashmir’s success. The rationale includes:
- Restoring Order: Stone pelting disrupts public safety and economic activity, as seen in Nashik’s bandh-related clashes. AFSPA’s powers could deter such acts.
- Protecting Minorities: Targeted attacks on Hindus, like those in Murshidabad, demand stronger security measures to prevent communal violence.
- Countering Radicalization: In areas with separatist or extremist undertones, AFSPA could disrupt networks fueling unrest, as it did in Kashmir.
- Uniform Policy: A consistent framework across volatile regions would streamline security operations, avoiding patchwork responses.
However, critics warn that blanket imposition risks:
- Communal Alienation: Labeling Muslim-majority areas as “disturbed” could deepen mistrust, as seen in Kashmir’s early AFSPA years.
- Human Rights Violations: Without stringent oversight, AFSPA’s immunity could lead to abuses, as reported in Manipur, where over 1,528 extrajudicial killings occurred between 1979 and 2012.
- Political Backlash: Opposition parties and civil society may decry AFSPA as a tool of oppression, escalating tensions.
The Case for Self-Defense Laws for Hindus
An alternative or complementary proposal is enacting laws to protect Hindus who defend themselves during communal attacks, ensuring no cases are registered against them. This idea stems from incidents where Hindus faced legal action despite acting in self-preservation.
Why Self-Defense Laws Are Needed
- Vulnerability in Communal Clashes: In Murshidabad, Hindus fled their homes after mob attacks, with little recourse for self-defense. Legal protection could empower communities to protect themselves without fear of prosecution.
- Legal Precedents: The Supreme Court has not barred FIRs against army personnel in stone pelting incidents but requires central government approval under AFSPA’s Section 6. Extending similar protections to civilians could deter attackers.
- Historical Context: The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, driven by militant violence in the 1990s, underscores the need for legal safeguards for Hindus in volatile areas.
- Public Sentiment: Social media trends show growing frustration among Hindus, with hashtags like #HindusUnderAttackInIndia gaining traction during incidents like Jahangirpuri’s clashes.
Challenges of Self-Defense Laws
- Risk of Vigilantism: Unchecked self-defense laws could embolden vigilante groups, as seen in cases of Hindu nationalist violence against Muslims.
- Communal Polarization: Such laws might be perceived as favoring one community, exacerbating tensions in already divided regions.
- Judicial Overload: Determining legitimate self-defense cases would strain India’s courts, requiring clear legal definitions.
But it’s the need of the time to forget these challenges for now and take proactive measures to save Hindus in Muslim majority areas.
A Balanced Approach
Rather than blanket immunity, a nuanced self-defense law could:
- Define Clear Criteria: Limit immunity to verifiable cases of life-threatening attacks, backed by evidence like CCTV or witness testimonies.
- Fast-Track Investigations: Establish special tribunals to expedite self-defense cases, reducing legal harassment.
- Community Training: Promote non-lethal self-defense training to minimize escalations while empowering citizens.
Recent Stone Pelting Incidents: A Closer Look
To understand the urgency of policy reform, let’s examine key incidents in detail:
West Bengal’s Murshidabad Riots (April 2025)
The Waqf (Amendment) Act protests turned Murshidabad into a battleground, with stone pelting and mob violence killing three and displacing hundreds. The Calcutta High Court’s deployment of central forces reflects the state’s failure to contain the crisis. This incident highlights the need for preemptive security measures in communally sensitive areas.
Maharashtra’s Nashik Clashes (August 2024)
A bandh called by Sakal Hindu Samaj to protest violence against Bangladeshi Hindus triggered stone pelting in Nashik, injuring 18 cops. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob, but the incident exposed vulnerabilities in crowd control. AFSPA-like powers could have enabled faster containment.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Past Unrest
While stone pelting has nearly vanished in Kashmir by 2023, earlier incidents like the 2016 Burhan Wani protests saw thousands of youths pelting stones, injuring security forces and civilians. AFSPA’s enforcement, combined with strategic policing, turned the tide, offering a model for other states.
Policy Recommendations for 2025
To address stone pelting and targeted attacks while balancing human rights, India could consider:
- Selective AFSPA Deployment: Apply AFSPA temporarily in high-risk areas like Murshidabad or Nashik during volatile periods, with mandatory reviews every six months.
- Self-Defense Legislation: Enact a “Right to Protect” law, granting conditional immunity for self-defense, subject to judicial oversight.
- Community Policing: Train local police in de-escalation and crowd control, reducing reliance on central forces.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate communities on communal harmony to prevent provocations during religious processions.
- Technology Integration: Use AI-driven surveillance and drones to monitor volatile areas, enabling rapid response to stone pelting.
FAQs About AFSPA and Self-Defense Laws
1. What is AFSPA, and why is it controversial?
AFSPA grants security forces special powers in disturbed areas, including lethal force and immunity. It’s controversial due to alleged human rights abuses, like extrajudicial killings in Manipur.
2. How has AFSPA reduced stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir?
Since 2019, AFSPA’s enforcement and Article 370’s abrogation reduced stone pelting from 618 incidents in 2019 to zero in 2023, with fewer injuries and deaths.
3. Why are Hindus targeted in stone pelting incidents?
Hindus face attacks during religious processions or in communal clashes, as seen in Murshidabad and Nashik, often tied to local tensions or external triggers like Bangladesh’s unrest.
4. Can self-defense laws prevent communal violence?
Conditional self-defense laws could empower Hindus to protect themselves, but they risk vigilantism without clear guidelines and oversight.
5. Should AFSPA be imposed nationwide?
Selective imposition in high-risk areas could curb stone pelting, but blanket application risks alienating communities and escalating tensions.
Conclusion: A Call for Bold, Balanced Action
India’s battle against stone pelting and targeted attacks demands courage, clarity, and compassion. The success of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir proves its potential to restore order, but its expansion to Muslim-majority areas must be measured to avoid alienation. Similarly, self-defense laws could empower Hindus, but only with safeguards to prevent abuse. As incidents like Murshidabad’s riots and Nashik’s clashes reveal, inaction is not an option.
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