Sharif's Death: A Brutal Reminder of India's Rising Communal Violence and Government Apathy

The brutal killing of 48-year-old Sharif in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao is a stark and heart-wrenching example of the ongoing surge in communal violence in India. The fact that a man was mercilessly beaten to death simply because he resisted having colours thrown at him during Holi speaks volumes about the growing climate of intolerance, impunity, and deep-seated religious hatred that plagues this nation. To frame this incident as one of a mere "dispute over Holi celebrations" is an insult to the memory of the victim, the sentiments of the community, and to the collective conscience of a society that is increasingly fracturing along religious lines.

Sharif, a Muslim man who had returned from Saudi Arabia only two months prior, was heading to the mosque in a spirit of peace, perhaps to join his community in prayer. Instead, he found himself confronting a group of Hindu men celebrating Holi. When they threw colours on him, Sharif objected, a completely understandable reaction from anyone who doesn’t wish to be forcibly drawn into the celebration. What happened next, however, was a sharp reminder of the depths of intolerance that now define interactions in many parts of the country. His objection wasn’t met with a simple apology or an amicable resolution—it escalated quickly into a violent confrontation, with Sharif being brutally attacked by the group. This was no ordinary clash of temperaments. This was a targeted, communal attack, where the victim’s resistance to being subjected to the whims of a group of individuals was treated as a threat to their dominance.

What followed—the victim’s collapse and death after a futile attempt by bystanders to rescue him—is equally disturbing. The police, who arrived in the aftermath, claimed that the cause of death was "cardiac arrest" with "no injury marks" on the body. However, such a statement seems more like an attempt to cover up the true nature of the incident. Anyone who follows the routine of police investigations in India can easily see through this kind of narrative manipulation. It is a classic attempt to downplay a serious crime by fabricating misleading details in order to protect the perpetrators, who are likely emboldened by the current political and social climate.

The involvement of the police, who have failed to take decisive action in the immediate aftermath of such an attack, highlights the systemic failure that allows such violence to occur. The fact that tensions remain high despite assurances from local officials that arrests will be made raises serious questions about the accountability of law enforcement. For a government that prides itself on maintaining law and order, the apathy towards the minority communities’ safety is glaring. One cannot help but wonder why the central government’s heavy-handed approach to other issues, such as protests or dissidence, is not mirrored when it comes to addressing such egregious acts of communal violence. Where is the same fervor in condemning and punishing these heinous crimes?

Furthermore, this incident underscores the growing normalization of anti-Muslim sentiment that has been fostered over the years. There has been an increasing tendency in India to view Muslims as outsiders, as second-class citizens, or as threats to the "majority culture." This attack wasn’t an isolated incident of one group of people clashing during a festival. It was the culmination of years of institutionalized hatred and divisiveness. When political leaders, instead of condemning communal violence, indulge in rhetoric that glorifies religious purity and dominance, they create an environment where incidents like this one are seen as acceptable, or at the very least, excusable. This is precisely what the central government has failed to address effectively.

In fact, the rhetoric coming from the top echelons of power has emboldened those who harbor such divisive views. It is no coincidence that attacks on Muslims, Dalits, and other marginalized communities have surged during the tenure of the current government. From lynchings to street violence, the state has either been complicit or apathetic in addressing these crimes. If the central government truly cared about upholding the Constitution and the principles of justice, it would take immediate action to curtail this rising tide of hate crimes. The government would provide stronger legal protection to vulnerable groups and send a strong message that such violence will not be tolerated under any circumstance.

Instead, what we see is a culture of silence, where communal violence is treated as a mere aberration, a clash of tempers, or an unfortunate occurrence—never as the targeted violence it truly is. The response from the state is always delayed, always vague, and almost always lacks the urgency that a brutal crime demands. In cases like Sharif’s, the lives lost are not just statistics, but the tragic result of a government that refuses to stand firm against the rising tide of communal hatred. Even as local residents took to the streets to demand justice, the reluctance of the authorities to swiftly identify and arrest those responsible only serves to underline the disturbing indifference of the state toward crimes against Muslims and other minorities.

Sharif’s death is not an isolated case but part of a larger, more troubling pattern in which religious minorities are increasingly subject to violence, discrimination, and systemic marginalization. It is a reflection of the brutal polarization that has gripped the country in recent years. The central government’s failure to rein in such violence, along with its repeated failure to provide adequate protection to those in harm’s way, raises serious concerns about its commitment to upholding secularism, which is enshrined in India’s Constitution.

This tragedy could have been avoided if there had been a government in power that understood the importance of secularism and equality for all citizens. Instead, we are left with a scenario in which the minority feels increasingly alienated and unsafe, while the perpetrators of hate and violence feel emboldened and protected. The blame lies squarely with the government that has allowed such hate to fester unchecked. The government’s continued failure to condemn or punish acts of violence against Muslims only strengthens the growing perception that the lives of minorities are dispensable.

If the central government genuinely cares about fostering unity and peace in this country, it must take decisive action. It must send a clear message that violence of any kind, particularly communal violence, will be met with swift and harsh retribution. If not, India’s reputation as a secular, pluralistic nation will remain nothing more than a hollow slogan, and incidents like the brutal killing of Sharif will continue to plague this country, leaving a legacy of hatred and fear that will take generations to undo.