Passing through a Muslim locality, the Ganesh procession suddenly took a hostile turn. After reaching a madrasa the procession stopped abruptly never to proceed further.
Syed Ali Mujtaba
BHOPAL — Anti-Muslim violence has come to light from Udaipura town in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh during a religious procession taken out for the ritual immersion of the Ganesh idol. The incident took place on the night of September 10, 2022.
While passing through a Muslim locality, the Ganesh procession suddenly took a hostile turn as provocative songs with loud music started playing. After reaching a madrasa the procession stopped abruptly never to proceed further.
This angered the Muslim community living in the vicinity. An irate Muslim woman threw a slipper on a group of teenagers, who were part of the procession dancing in front of her home. It is also alleged that some Muslims poured hot water on the procession from the rooftop which proved a trigger.
Thereafter, the Hindu mob allegedly set on fire more than 12 vehicles belonging to Muslims. A video of the incident has gone viral showing a group of enraged men toppling vehicles. As the violence was exacerbated, a curfew was imposed in the area to maintain order.
The police lodged an FIR against four Muslims, including two women for allegedly inciting the violence. They also lodged a suo moto FIR against unidentified persons for damaging Muslim properties and vehicles.
Amrat Meena, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Raisen district, said, “All the four accused in the case have been arrested, and FIR against the unidentified person has been lodged as the accused are yet to be identified.”
A Hindu group is demanding the demolition of the properties of the four Muslims arrested in the case while conveniently glossing over the sins of the Hindu revellers who deliberately indulged in rioting in the Muslim locality and vandalising Muslim properties. The demand for the demolition of Muslim houses came in the wake of state Home Minister Narottam Mishra publically proclaiming, “Jis ghar se patthar aayenge, usi ke patthar nikale jayenge (Houses from where stones are thrown will be demolished).
In the last two years, the Madhya Pradesh government has slapped the stringent National Security Act (NSA), 1980 against those accused of stone pelting on religious processions. In the recent past, the police demolished several Muslim homes in Manawar, Dhar, Indore, Ujjain, Khargone, Barwani, and other districts of Madhya Pradesh.
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Syed Ali Mujtaba can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@kasimjaipurgmail-com
Alamy Photo used for illustrative purposes only