Some people are broadcasting different videos about the incident. Due to this, misunderstanding is spreading in society, the police said in a statement.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Days after violence broke out in the Mira Road locality of Mumbai, mobs ransacked shops belonging to Muslims and assaulted several people on Tuesday.
A day before Ram Temple’s inauguration on Monday, clashes erupted between two groups from Muslims and Hindu groups after the latter insisted that their procession be allowed to pass through a Muslim neighbourhood despite police objections. Some people got injured during the clashes.
Several individuals were arrested and the authorities’ bulldozed Muslim shops on Tuesday in Naya Nagar, a Muslim-dominated area.
However, in the evening, several videos showing mobs attacking people and ransacking shops surfaced on social media platforms. One video showed a mob armed with sticks attacking the driver of a pick-up van which carried the name ‘Rashid Tempo Service’ on it.
First, the driver was mercilessly beaten up and then other occupants of the vehicle were mistreated and thrashed. According to reports, Mohammed Tariq, Mohammed Meraj and Deen Ali were seriously injured in the attack. Meraj received seven stitches on the head, reports reaching here said on Wednesday.
Abdul Haque, the owner of the vehicle, told The Quint that he won’t file any complaint as he does not want to get into legal trouble. “It happened with the police being so nearby. They (attackers) must have merely seen a vehicle with a Muslim name on it and attacked. Ours wasn’t the only vehicle attacked. Several auto rickshaws around were also ransacked with sticks at that time” Haque said.
A video of the autorickshaw being ransacked and its occupants assaulted by a mob has also gone viral. Another viral video shows the mob attacking a shop named ‘Saba Boutique’.
A video shows a dairy shop being ransacked by a mob armed with large sticks while an elderly Muslim man pleaded to the mob to let him leave the place. The mob stopped its marauding act only when the shopkeeper put the shutters down. A CCTV footage shows some miscreants attacking a shop named Haji Chicken Shop.
Local police said that some unrest took place on Tuesday but now the situation is under control. In statement issued on Wednesday, Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police warned not to share videos of the incident on social media.
“An investigation is going on in the matter and the accused are being arrested based on evidence. The atmosphere is calm in the area and some people are broadcasting different videos about the incident. Due to this, misunderstanding is spreading in society,” the police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the police have been accused of inaction and bias with regard to their approach. In a post, former IPS officer Abdur Rahman urged the Mumbai Police to conduct fair investigation and take action against the miscreants.
“Mira Road incident: First incident: On 22nd, Hindus took out a bike rally and raised agitated slogans in Naya Nagar area. Many bike rallies were taken out. Second incident: Muslims vandalised the car. Some people were beaten. Third incident: In response, Hindus brandished weapons at many places and Muslim shopkeepers were beaten up in many areas. Fourth incident: Nitish Rane and Geeta Jain gave inflammatory speeches. Of these, FIR has been registered only on the second incident and only Muslims have been arrested,” said Rahman.
He added “a case should be registered and action should be taken against the first, third and fourth incidents also. Local people have videos of all these incidents. Police should investigate impartially and restore peace. And take action against those who come from outside to spread unrest”.
