Chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’ Bajrang Dal Men Vandalise Public Toilet in UP’s Saharanpur

The toilet built near a bus stand is in close vicinity of a temple

Team Clarion 

NEW DELHI — Videos have gone viral on social media on Wednesday showing supporters of Hindutva groups vandalising a public toilet in Saharanpur town of Uttar Pradesh. The toilet built near a bus stand is in close vicinity of a temple. The attackers also took aim at another toilet meant for women.

A group of young men are seen trying to demolish the toilet made of corrugated sheets using rods. In another video, a teenage boy is hitting a wall of the toilet with a hammer as others shout ‘Jai Shree Ram’, an expression meaning ‘Glory to Ram’ but has come to define politics of mob violence perpetrated by followers of Hindutva ideology.

The attackers also attempted to demolish a women’s toilet, another video clip shows.

According to tweets posted by Piyush Rai, the attack came following an ultimatum given by the Hindu right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal to Saharanpur corporation demanding the toilet be removed.

Speaking with Clarion India, Circle Officer Durga Prasad Tiwari confirmed the incident and said, the matter is being investigated and police is trying to identify the people involved. “Definitely a case will be registered,” Tiwari said.

A Bajrang Dal activist while speaking with the media before the attack had demanded that authorities should take action against officials of the corporation responsible for setting up the toilets near temple. “The toilets should be removed else Bajrang Dal will start agitation,” he said adding that the outfit had done such protests previously as well.

The viral videos have sparked reactions on social media with people seeking police action against the attackers for damaging public property.