The police action came after a complaint from human rights organisations, PUCL and APCR
PUNE — Signboards warning against the entry of non-local Muslims in some villages of Mulshi tehsil in the Maharashtra city of Pune have been taken down by the police following complaints by civil rights organisations, Pune (Rural) superintendent of police Sandeep Singh Gill has confirmed. “We have removed the objectionable boards after holding separate meetings with PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties) representatives and the gram panchayats of three villages. The issue is currently being reviewed,” Gill said on Sunday.
According to the PUCL and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Muslims running businesses or working as vendors and labourers in Paud, Pirangut, Kolvan, Suatwadi and surrounding areas of the tehsil have been facing threats, forced shutdowns, and boycott appeals after an idol was allegedly desecrated by a minor boy in May, media reports said on Monday.
In a joint complaint submitted to the state chief secretary, Pune district collector, and senior police officers, the two organisations alleged that the banners targeting Muslims who do not belong to the particular area were put up in many areas, including religious places, without any legal sanction.
They also alleged that several bakeries and scrap shops owned by Muslims had shut down due to pressure from the fringe elements, and the local police failed to take any punitive action.
The PUCL letter stated that there was a call for a complete boycott of the minority community. According to it, residents of the area and outsiders have been threatening people not to allow any Muslims to work, stay as tenants in their houses, or do business in places owned by them. Some Hindus have been allegedly threatened with dire consequences if they help the Muslims.
PUCL member Milind Champanerkar said the group had also written to Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, demanding action.
Earlier, several gram panchayats in Mulshi tehsil passed resolutions barring Muslims from outside from entering their villages to offer prayers in local mosques, especially during Fridays. The controversial action stemmed from the Pahalgam terror attack in South Kashmir on April 22.
Banners and public notices were put up in villages, including Pirangut, Ghotawade, Wadki, and Lavale, stating that only residents would be permitted to attend the prayers. Though the incident occurred more than 2,000 kilometres away, its ripple reached the dusty lanes of Mulshi’s villages.
On 1 May, the Pirangut Gram Panchayat passed a formal resolution enforcing this restriction at the Pirangut Juma Masjid, the largest mosque in the tehsil.
