Lynching and Mob Violence in India
Recent and historical data on mob violence and lynching in India reveal significant insights into the prevalence and perception of such incidents across the country.
Statistics on Lynching and Mob Violence
- Between 2014 and 2023, India recorded 189 lynching cases, which is less than 1% of over 526,000 incidents of mob violence.
- As of 2025, only four states have anti-lynching laws: Manipur, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.
- Mob violence cases decreased from 66,044 in 2014 to 39,274 in 2023.
- Lynching incidents constituted 0.01-0.11% of all mob violence cases during this period.
Public and Police Perception
- A 2021 Pew Research survey indicated that 65% of Indians considered communal violence a ‘big problem’ in the country.
- The Status of Policing in India Report 2025 by the CSDS highlighted that over half of constabulary and IPS officers justify or partially justify mob violence as a form of punishment.
Lynching Hotspots
- Major lynching incidents have been reported in states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
