When Muslims sought to file a complaint with the police naming the culprits, the police refused to include their names and registered the FIR against “unknown” persons
Team Clarion
AHMEDABAD – A group of Muslim worshippers returning from a mosque in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city after attending Taraweeh (special night prayers in Ramadan) were pelted with stones, besieged, and forced to chant the Hindu slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at knifepoint.
The incident, which occurred in the Vatva area of the city on Monday, came to light on Wednesday when a Muslim youth narrated the sequence of events in a viral video.
“Some people disturbed the peace by pelting stones at Muslims when they were returning home after offering Taraweeh. Some of the victims were forced to say wrong things at knifepoint,” Sayed Mehdi is seen telling reporters in the video.
He said Muslims are offering their prayers without disturbing and harassing anyone. But some people wearing masks come to pelt stones at the worshippers. “Those wearing skull caps and coming for namaz are being attacked with stones. What action will be taken in this matter?” he asked.
When the aggrieved Muslims sought to file a complaint with the police naming the culprits, the police refused to include their names and registered the FIR against “unknown” persons.
Mehdi said such incidents happened every year during Ramadan but no one raised voices. He said the police should set up a booth in the area to maintain peace.
“People from the area including women and children should be safe even in their homes. No one should be disturbed. No scuffle should break out. There should be peace in the area,” he said.
According to reports, three people including a 17-year-old boy got injured in the stone pelting.
“There’s a pattern here. When the culprits are arrested, they are booked under Section 189 of BNS and released within half an hour. No one is ever truly held accountable,” a witness was quoted by The Observer Post.
The victims expressed their anger over the police inaction. “If the situation was reversed, we would be branded anti-nationals. Here, the accused were released almost immediately, with their faces covered, and no real action was taken,” said a victim.
A youth, who was forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, said he was asked by the police to make statements as they want. “I was asked to say that nothing happened to me as I was going through a dargah. I was asked to make this statement while talking to a reporter. I was asked to say that I was not forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram,” he said.
