South Asia Justice’s India Persecution Tracker alleged that at least 25 Muslims were killed in India between May and July this year. The report said the deaths occurred across Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Kashmir, West Bengal and Maharashtra, attributing them to alleged staged police encounters, deaths in security custody and attacks by extremist Hindus. It said an 11-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were among those killed.

According to the tracker, more than 44 Muslims were killed in alleged hate crimes during the first seven months of the year. It said 19 died at the hands of law-enforcement agencies and 25 were killed in mob lynchings. The report alleged that victims often did not receive protection after seeking help, while hundreds of Muslims were detained and homes, mosques and other religious institutions were demolished.

The report said at least 23 Muslim religious sites were demolished in six states in less than two months. It also cited 21 demolition incidents in eight states involving more than 1,000 homes, businesses and religious sites, claiming total destroyed structures this year exceeded 3,000. The tracker said anti-Muslim statements by political leaders helped create an environment for discrimination and hate crimes.