And Justice Rajinder Sachar, whose 404-page report on the status of Indian Muslims has been submitted to Parliament, says that the police, media as well as the society at large need to be blamed for the community's negative image.

Among the report's shocking revelations is that the mere identity of Muslims has become a headache for them in public spaces, be it a railway station, park, hospital or school.

"Being identified as a Muslim is considered to be problematic for many," says the report that has sparked many eyebrows because it has gone into great details about the pathetic socio-economic conditions of India's largest minority.

"Markers of Muslim identity-the burqa, the purdah (veil), the beard and the topi-while adding to the distinctiveness of Indian Muslims have been a cause of concern for them in the public realm," it said.

But the report admitted that sense of insecurity and discrimination, though felt widely, varied in "gravity, intensity and magnitude" from state to state. The markers have very often turned into a target of ridicule-and become a reason for being looked down upon with suspicion.

"Muslim men donning a beard and a topi are often picked up for interrogation from public spaces like parks, railway stations and markets," former chief of Delhi High Court said.

"Muslims live with an inferiority complex as 'every bearded man is a considered to be an ISI (Pakistan's spy agency) agent', 'whenever any incident occurs Muslim boys are picked up by the police' and fake encounters are common," says the report.

Musilm women complained to the committee that it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to find jobs.

They complained of impolite treatment in markets, hospitals and schools, and in accessing public facilities such as public transport, besides encountering difficulties getting a house on rent and getting their children into reputed schools.

"A large majority of Muslims would apparently prefer to send their children to regular mainstream schools," said the report.