Attacks on Hindus and Hindu Dharma, both in Bharat and overseas, are frequent and unrelenting. In many regions of the world, this persecution is like a genocide slowly unfolding before our eyes. For decades, the world has ignored the actual depth and breadth of these attacks, driven by disturbing anti-Hindu bigotry. From murders, forced conversions, land grabs, assault on festivals, desecration of temples and murtis, hate speech, and sexual violence to institutionalised & legal discrimination, Hindus are facing an increasing assault on their very existence along with an unprecedented Hindu hatred.
In this weekly summary for the period from 21 February to 28 February 2026, we hope to provide a snapshot of such crimes and hopefully awaken more people around the world to this human rights crisis:
Bharat
1) Expressing strong displeasure over the commercial use of an ancient temple structure, the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench has ordered the immediate removal of all encroachments from the ‘Kanniyambalam’ Kal Mandapam of the Arulmigu Kanyakumari Bagavathi Amman Thirukovil and directed authorities to seal the structure. A Division Bench comprising Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan came down heavily on the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, observing that the heritage structure had been exploited “for financial gain” and that debris and construction materials were being stored inside the mandapam.
3) Tension prevailed in Bagalkote town after stones and footwear were hurled at a Shivaji Jayanti procession passing through the Killa Oni locality by the radical Islamic elements on the night of February 19. The procession, organized to commemorate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was moving through the area amid celebrations when the incident occurred, triggering panic among participants and prompting immediate police intervention.
4) The News Minute recently published an opinion piece by a Binu Karunakaran on the Maha Magha festival that concluded recently. In the piece, Karunakaran calls Tirunavaya’s Maha Magha Mahotsavam a “saffron script” and “political theatre of Hindutva,” warning it will morph into a full Kumbh Mela to polarize Kerala ahead of 2028 elections. But read between the lines, this is peak pseudo-secular hypocrisy from a Left-leaning outlet that stays silent when other religions dominate public spaces with fanfare.
5) A petition has been submitted before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking intervention over alleged suppression of students’ religious freedom and discriminatory treatment at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal. According to the petition, students staying in the 1.8K Hostel at NIT Warangal had been voluntarily gathering every Tuesday evening for nearly a year to recite the Hanuman Chalisa for about fifteen minutes. The petition alleges that senior institute officials, including the director, the dean of student welfare, and the chief warden, entered the hostel premises and instructed students to disperse the gathering. Students who questioned the decision and referred to their constitutional right to religious practice were allegedly warned of strict disciplinary action, including possible rustication.
6) A minor Hindu boy was beaten to death in the Urgadur area of Karnataka’s Shivamogga district of Karnataka after he attempted to intervene in an altercation between a group of minor Islamist youths. The Hindu victim, identified as 16-year-old Sanket, reportedly lost his life while trying to protect his friend Girish, who was being assaulted by a group of minor Islamist boys.
7) Mobile shop owner Vikram Choudhary was stabbed by an Islamist youth following an argument regarding purchase of a mobile screen guard. The incident occurred near Santhe Maidan in Karnataka’s Chitradurga city.
Bangladesh
Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh are relentless and designed to cleanse the religious minority from the country gradually. According to a study by Prof. Abul Barakat of Dhaka University, no Hindus will be left in Bangladesh by 2050 due to systemic and institutionalized persecution. Temple desecration, land grabbing, mob attacks after false blasphemy charges, rape/forced conversion of women, and hate speech are tools used to intimidate and drive Hindus out.
1) A deeply disturbing incident has been reported from Barishal district, where a married Hindu woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped late last night in what local residents are describing as a brutal and targeted attack. According to preliminary reports from the area, the victim was returning home after attending a Kirtan religious program when she was allegedly intercepted by a group of assailants. The attackers reportedly abducted her and subjected her to gang rape and severe physical torture.
2) Nishanta Baidya was allegedly dragged from his home in Koligram village under Jolirpar Union of Muksudpur Upazila and brutally killed. His body was later reportedly dumped, intensifying fear within the minority community.
Most hate crimes are driven by anti-Hindu bigotry encoded in certain religious teachings and political ideologies. While the anti-Hindu hate in Islamic countries is evident, there is another subtler form of anti-Hindu sentiment within institutions and the public sphere of ostensibly secular states (like India) that provides an enabling environment for Hinduphobia and hate crimes. This subtle, everyday discrimination can be missed unless one studies prevailing laws and patterns. The gradual ban on firecrackers during Diwali is a good example – it might seem pollution-related on the surface. Still, the double standards at play become apparent when one looks at the larger picture of restrictions on Hindu festivals and the lack of sound reasoning behind the ban.
We request all readers to share other anti-Hindu hate crimes that we might have missed in this period in the comments below or by emailing [email protected]. We also solicit support in maintaining the Hindu human rights tracker database.
