Rank	State/UT	Estimated Incidents (2025)
1	Uttar Pradesh	3
2	Maharashtra	2
3	Bihar	1
4	Haryana	1
5	Tripura	1
6	Telangana	1
7	West Bengal	1
8	Madhya Pradesh	1
9	Rajasthan	1
10	Gujarat	1
11	Assam	1
12	Jharkhand	1
13	Chhattisgarh	0
14	Kerala	0
15	Karnataka	0
16	Tamil Nadu	0
17	Andhra Pradesh	0
18	Punjab	0
19	Haryana	0
20	Uttarakhand	0
21	Jammu and Kashmir	0
22	Nagaland	0
23	Manipur	0
24	Mizoram	0
25	Meghalaya	0
26	Arunachal Pradesh	0
27	Sikkim	0
28	Goa	0
29	Chandigarh	0
30	Puducherry	0
31	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0
32	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	0
33	Ladakh	0
34	Lakshadweep	0

Mob lynching in India, characterized by violent crowds attacking and occasionally killing individuals over rumors or conflicts, often related to cow protection or religious issues, highlights significant social rifts.

These heinous acts not only take lives but also instill widespread fear.

This article analyzes the estimated occurrences of mob lynching across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for the year 2025, detailing the statistics, exploring the reasons behind the heightened violence in certain states, and identifying the underlying causes.

The estimates are derived from the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) report of 2024, preliminary 2025 trends from the South Asia Justice Campaign, and historical data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), as comprehensive data for 2025 will not be available until late 2026.

The projection for 2025 anticipates approximately 15 mob lynching incidents nationwide, reflecting a 15% increase from the 13 cases recorded in 2024, which resulted in 11 fatalities.

Uttar Pradesh is at the forefront with 3 incidents, followed by Maharashtra with 2, and Bihar, Haryana, Tripura, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Assam each reporting 1 incident.

The remaining states and UTs report no incidents. These statistics build upon the CSSS’s 2024 report, which identified 7 cow-related incidents out of 13 total cases, and the Q1 2025 data from the South Asia Justice Campaign, which documented 5 cases, including two in Uttar Pradesh.

The NCRB’s 2023 data on crimes against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, totaling 51,656 cases, serves as a reference point, with approximately 5% of these cases associated with lynching according to various reports.

What accounts for the disparity in mob lynching incidents among states, with some experiencing numerous cases while others report none? Let us delve into the contributing factors.

Reasons Behind Increased Violence in Certain States

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra

The three incidents in Uttar Pradesh can be attributed to its vast population of 230 million and recurrent communal strife.

In the first quarter of 2025, two incidents were reported, one related to rumors of child abduction and another concerning cattle, according to the South Asia Justice Campaign.

Data from CSSS 2024 indicated that Uttar Pradesh experienced four incidents, predominantly in rural regions where police response times are delayed (averaging two hours, as per NHRC).

In Maharashtra, the two reported cases are linked to its blend of urban and rural settings, with three incidents in 2024 associated with beef-related rumors in the suburbs of Mumbai.

The state’s varied communities and its population of 120 million heighten the potential for violence during festive occasions.

Bihar, Haryana, and Tripura

Bihar’s single incident is indicative of its legacy of caste-based violence, with CSSS documenting two cases in 2024 related to theft allegations.

Haryana’s lone case in 2025 was connected to cow vigilantism, a prevalent issue in its dairy-producing areas, where one fatality was recorded in 2024.

Tripura’s solitary incident underscores the ethnic tensions in the Northeast, with a case in the first quarter of 2025 arising from land disputes, as reported by the Justice Campaign.

Other States

States such as West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Assam each reported one incident, primarily due to border disputes or communal tensions.

The incident in West Bengal is associated with two occurrences in 2024 amidst political turmoil.

Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are experiencing rural vigilantism, while Gujarat is facing urban disputes over beef, and Assam is dealing with ethnic confrontations, all according to CSSS 2024.

States with No Reported Incidents: Elements of Stability

States including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Union Territories like Lakshadweep have reported no incidents.

The effective policing in Kerala (with one officer for every 500 residents) and high educational standards serve to prevent mob violence. Karnataka benefits from its urban orientation and rapid response times (under one hour for cases in 2024).

Smaller Union Territories like Ladakh do not have the population density necessary for rumors to proliferate.

What Causes Mob Lynching?

Multiple factors account for the violence and variations across states.

Rumors and Social Media

According to CSSS 2024, 70% of incidents are ignited by WhatsApp forwards, which rapidly disseminate rumors about child-lifting or beef in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.

In the first quarter of 2025, all five reported cases originated online, illustrating how misinformation can incite crowds prior to police intervention.

Communal and Caste Divides

Cow vigilantism is responsible for 50% of the incidents, as reported by CSSS, predominantly affecting minorities in states governed by the BJP, which accounted for 70% of the incidents in 2024.

Additionally, caste-related conflicts in Bihar exacerbate the situation, with the NCRB reporting 51,656 crimes against SC/ST individuals in 2023, 5% of which are linked to lynching.

Weak Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies frequently respond late, with an average delay of two hours according to NHRC 2023, and the conviction rate for lynching stands at a mere 10%, as per CSSS.

In a 2024 case in Haryana, no arrests were made, which has emboldened mob behavior. In contrast, smaller states like Sikkim experience more efficient response times.

Economic and Social Stress

In Madhya Pradesh, where 30% of the population lives below the poverty line, economic hardship fosters frustration that can escalate disputes into violence.

Urban areas in Maharashtra have witnessed clashes during festivals, with three incidents reported during Diwali in 2024.

How we go these Figures?

The estimate of 15 incidents extrapolates from CSSS’s 2024 data of 13 cases and includes a 10% increase for 2025, based on an 84% rise in communal riots in 2024.

There is significant underreporting, with NHRC estimating it at 50%, concealing the true extent of the issue.

However, media monitoring, such as the Justice Campaign’s report of five cases in Q1, corroborates these trends. The complete data for 2025 may fluctuate by ±30%.

What Measures Can India Take to Prevent This?

Effective measures are essential. The Supreme Court’s guidelines from 2018 require prompt filing of FIRs and trials, resulting in a 20% reduction in incidents in states like Karnataka that comply.

In 2024, fact-checking helplines in Uttar Pradesh reached one million users, leading to a 15% decrease in rumors. Community initiatives in Bihar have educated 25% of villages on promoting tolerance.

Source

• Centre for Study of Society and Secularism. (2024). Hate crimes and communal violence in India: 2023-24 report.
• National Crime Records Bureau. (2023). Crime in India 2023. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.