Hate Crimes A Rising Menace

This paper takes a subjective perspective as how to hate crimes committed against a particular group terrifies the entire community. The fact that prejudice overpowers people to carry on belligerent acts of violence poses a threat to the society. Hate crimes occur when crimes are targeted against an entire community. It involves communal violence where religion plays a key role, ethnic violence, crimes against LGBTQ community, discrimination against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, taboo violence, hate speeches etc. Hate crimes in India has risen by 41 percent, communal violence is on the rise, the hate speeches have become rampant in the name of free speech, riots and caste discrimination. An April 11 Pew Research Centre analyses of 198 countries listed India as fourth worst in the matter of religious intolerance. To avoid the same in the future and for bringing amelioration, several constitutional provisions were laid down, however, political parties in many instances, have portrayed malice, in order to gain votes from the entire community, just like in Babri Masjid case of Ayodhya. Not only have people become rigid and dogmatic with their stereotypes, they force it by violence others who they find inappropriate for the society. Physical harm is not the only threat faced but also mental assaults done as a part of hate speeches creating a sort of mindset for perpetrators affecting the victim at large and also terrifying the entire community. Creating awareness and well-versed laws is a necessary to stop such aberrant behaviour of people committing hate crimes. This research article aims to provide an overview on the different types of belligerent hate crimes is present in our society.