Caste-related violence in India has occurred and continues to occur in various forms.
According to a 2007 report by Human Rights Watch: inhuman, and degrading treatment of over 165 million people in India has been justified on the basis of caste. Caste is descent-based and hereditary in nature. It is a characteristic determined by one's birth into a particular caste, irrespective of the faith practiced by the individual. Caste denotes a traditional system of rigid social stratification into ranked groups defined by descent and occupation. Caste divisions in India dominate in housing, marriage, employment, and general social interaction-divisions that are reinforced through the practice and threat of social ostracism, economic boycotts, and physical violence.
Quoting about the atrocities committed by the land-holding communities against the 'Untouchables', author Dr. C. P. Yadav states that, "Atrocities are committed on the 'Untouchables' in the villages and small towns and the incidents of such cases are showing an upward trend. Atrocities are committed by the members of land holding Upper castes like Vanniyars and Thevars in Tamil Nadu; by Jats in Delhi NCR; by Reddys and Kammas in Andhra Pradesh; by Jats in Punjab; by Marathas and Kunbis in Maharashtra; by Jats in Haryana; by Bhumihars and Rajputs in Bihar; by Jats, Gujars, Ahir and Rajputs in Eastern Uttar Pradesh in a 2 part of Uttar Pradesh, by Jats and Gujars in Western Uttar Pradesh; by Ahir and Rajputs in Eastern Uttar Pradesh; by Jats in Rajasthan.
Scholars and human rights organizations have documented that a disproportionate share of caste-based violence is directed toward Dalit women, who face intersecting discrimination based on caste and gender. Reports note that Dalit women experience systemic stigma from birth, affecting multiple aspects of life including political participation, access to justice, and household labor. Human Rights Watch has further documented cases in which sexual violence against Dalit women has been used as a means of social control and intimidation by dominant caste groups. The 2020 Hathras gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh drew national and international attention to the persistence of such violence. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against Dalit women increased significantly in several states during the late 2010s, including a reported rise in Uttar Pradesh between 2016 and 2019.
20th century YearEventLocationDescription1948 Anti-Brahmin riotsMaharashtraAfter assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse who was a Chitpavan Brahmin, Marathi Brahmins were targeted by people from the Maratha caste. Later, Jains and Lingayats also attacked innocent Brahmins. Several incidents of burning of homes were reported.1957Ramnad riotsTamil NaduThe Ramnad riots or the Mudukulathur riots were a series of violent clashes that occurred between July and September 1957 in the Ramnad district and in southern Tamil Nadu, India. The violence was between Thevars supporting the Forward Bloc, and pro-Congress Dalit Pallars, and was triggered by a by-election held in the aftermath of the Madras Legislative Assembly elections of earlier that year. 42 Dalits were killed during the riots.1968 Kilvenmani massacreTamil NaduMassacre on 25 December 1968 in which a group of 44 Dalit village labourers who were on strike for higher wages were murdered by a gang, sent by their landlords.1978 Villupuram violenceTamil NaduThe 1978 Villupuram atrocity was an incident of caste based violence which happened in July 1978 in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. The violence resulted in 12 Dalits being killed and more than 100 Dalit houses burned down in Periyaparaichery, a Dalit settlement. The violence was caused when a group of Dalits allegedly attacked a dominant caste man after he allegedly molested a Dalit women. Later, dominant caste people attacked the settlement with rocket fireworks and indulged in arson and assault. The Dalits also retaliated by setting fire to several dominant caste houses.1980Kafalta massacreUttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand)The massacre happened on 9 May 1980 in village of Kafalta in Almora, Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh) where 14 Dalits from Shilpkar community were killed, after Dalit groom refused to dismount of a horse in his Baraat passing through an upper-caste neighbourhood. 6 of them were burnt alive while hiding in a nearby house and rest were hunted down while running to field saving their lives. In 1997, 16 accused were sentenced to life imprisonment. 1981 Behmai massacreUttar PradeshPhoolan Devi (1963 – 2001) was an Indian dacoit (bandit), who later became politician. Born into a traditional Mallaah (boatman class) family, she was kidnapped by a gang of dacoits. The Gujjar leader of the gang tried to rape her, but she was protected by the deputy leader Vikram, who belonged to her caste. Later, an upper-caste Thakur friend of Vikram killed him, abducted Phoolan, and locked her up in the Behmai village. Phoolan was raped in the village by Thakur men, until she managed to escape after three weeks.1981Dehuli massacreDehuli, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh This massacre happened on 18 November 1981 when 17 men from the Thakur caste, disguised in police uniforms, murdered at least 24 Dalits from the Jatav community. In March 2025, three of the 17 men, Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak, and Rampal Singh were sentenced to death.1985Karamchedu massacreKaramchedu, Andhra PradeshThis massacre occurred on 17 July 1985, when madiga-caste dalits were killed by the Kamma caste people in 1985. Many people lost their lives in the incident.1987 Dalelchak-Bhagaura MassacreBiharThe killing of 52 upper caste members particularly from Rajput community was organised by a Maoist Communist Centre, a far-left militia led by Yadavs and composed mostly of members of lower (scheduled) castes. Ranvir Sena took revenge of these killings by killing people of scheduled caste members.1987 Neerukonda massacreAndhra PradeshThe Neerukonda Massacre happened in Andhra Pradesh on July 15, 1987, in Neerukonda village, inside the Guntur district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. An angry mob composed of members of the Kamma caste began attacking Dalit Malas after some of them held a wedding ceremony inside the town's upper-class areas. The rioters killed five people which included four Malas. Among those people killed was a 60-year old Mala elder. Many Malas fled to nearby Mangalagiri.1991Tsundur massacreAndhra Pradesh, TsundurThe village became infamous for the killing of 8 dalits on the 6 August 1991, when a mob of over 300 people, composed of mainly Reddys and Telagas, chased down the victims along the bund of an irrigation canal. This happened after Dalits were socially boycotted by the Reddy landowners of the village. The social boycott happened because a young graduate Dalit youth was beaten as his feet had unintentionally touched a Reddy woman near a cinema hall and the Dalits of the village supported him. As a result, e. In the trial which was concluded, 21 people were sentenced to life imprisonment and 35 others to a year of rigorous imprisonment and a penalty of Rs. 2,000 each, on the 31 July 2007, by special judge established for the purpose under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.1990s Violence by Ranvir SenaBiharRanvir Sena is a militia group based in Bihar. The group is based amongst the higher-caste landlords, and carries out actions against the outlawed naxals in rural areas. It has committed violent acts against Dalits and other members of the scheduled caste community in an effort to prevent their land from going to them.1992 Bara massacreBiharOn the midnight of 12–13 February 1992, the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCC), now the Communist Party of India (Maoist), brutally killed 35 members of the Bhumihar caste at Bara Village near Gaya District of Bihar. The MCC's armed group brought the 35 men of Bara village to the bank of a nearby canal, tied their hands and slit their throats.As many as 36 people were accused of the crime, but charges were framed against only 13. The police failed to arrest the others, who had defied their summons.1996 Bathani Tola massacreBihar21 Dalits were killed by the Ranvir Sena in Bathani Tola, Bhojpur in Bihar on 11 July 1996. Among the dead were 11 women, six children and three infants. Ranvir Sena mob killed women and children in particular with the intention of deterring any future resistance which they foresaw. 1994 Chhotan Shukla murder caseBiharChhotan Shukla was a gangster of the Bhumihar community known for his tussle with Brij Bihari Prasad, a government minister who hailed from the Bania caste. During his return from an election campaign he was murdered allegedly by men operating on behalf of Prasad. In retribution, Prasad was also shot dead. Anand Mohan Singh, who was a leader of the upper-caste Rajputs, and his close companion Munna Shukla, the brother of Chhotan and himself a Bhumihar leader, were tried and given life terms in prison. The District Magistrate of Gopalganj, G. Krishnaiah, was also murdered by upper castes as he symbolised the growing power of backwards communities.1997Melavalavu massacreTamil Nadu, Madurai districtIn the village of Melavalavu, in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district, following the election of a Dalit to the village council presidency, members of caste Hindus (Kallar) group murdered of six Dalits in June 1996. Melur panchayat, which was a general constituency, was declared a reserved constituency in 1996. This had caused resentment between Scheduled Caste people and Kallar (Ambalakarar) community. In the 1996 panchayat elections, Murugesan was elected president. In June 1996, a group of persons attacked Murugesan, vice-president Mookan and others with deadly weapons, resulting in the death of six persons and injuries to many others. A total of 40 persons were cited as accused in the case. The trial court convicted Alagarsamy and 16 others and sentenced them to undergo life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court by its judgment dated April 19, 2006, confirmed the trial court's order. Alagarsamy and others filed appeals against this judgment.1997 Laxmanpur Bathe massacreBiharOn 1 December 1997, Ranvir Sena gunned down 58 Dalits at Laxmanpur Bathe, Jehanabad, in retaliation for the Bara massacre in Gaya where 37 upper castes were killed. In particular, a specific Bhumihar community was targeted in retaliation for their opposition towards handing out their land for land reform. Charges were framed in the Laxmanpur-Bathe case on 23 December 2008 against 46 Ranvir Sena members for killing Dalits, including 27 women and 10 children men. On 7 April 2010, the trial court at Patna convicted all 26 accused. 16 were sentenced to death and the other 10 were each give life imprisonment and fines of Rs. 50,000. Around 91 of 152 witnesses in the case had deposed before the court. On 9 October 2013, the Patna High Court suspended the conviction of all 26 accused, saying the prosecution had produced no evidence to guarantee any punishment at all.1997Ramabai killingsMumbaiOn 11 July 1997, a statue of B.R. Ambedkar in the Dalit colony of Ramabai was desecrated by unknown individuals. An initially peaceful protest was fired on by the police, killing ten people, including a bystander who had not been involved in the protests. Later in the day, 26 people were injured when the police carried out a lathi charge against the protesters. Commentators suggested that the arbitrarily violent response from the police had been the result of caste based prejudice, as the leader of the team stood accused in multiple cases involving caste-based discrimination.1999Senari MassacreBiharThe Maoists extremist centre dominated by Yadav and Dusadh slaughtered 34 Bhumihar in Senari village, Jehanabad district.
21st century