Arrests have been made under relevant IPC provisions. Efforts are on to apprehend other suspects involved in the attacks.
Team Clarion
HYDERABAD – Tension flared in Nirmal District’s Bhainsa, a sensitive area of Telangana, as members of a Hindu group attacked an election rally by Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), former minister and an important leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
The situation took an ugly turn when the group, calling itself devotees of the Hindu deity Hanuman, targeted a Muslim reporter covering the election event. This led to clashes marked by stone-pelting and communal slogans, underscoring the fragility of communal harmony and the challenges of maintaining peace in the region.
Trouble ensued after the Saffronites took umbrage at the BRS corner meeting at the town’s Maulana Azad Chowk. The Hindu group vehemently opposed the gathering, alleging an affront to the sentiments of their community by KTR. Their demands for the cancellation of the meeting culminated in a large-scale protest, with participants brandishing warnings against perceived threats to Hinduism.
As tensions simmered, the situation took a violent turn when KTR’s convoy was targeted with stones and tomatoes, amidst chants of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. The presence of a Muslim reporter from a YouTube channel further exacerbated the situation, with Hanuman devotees directing their ire towards him. However, timely intervention by other reporters and law enforcement officers averted a potential escalation of hostilities.
In a separate incident, Sheikh Wajid Qureshi, a young man from the Qureshi community, was viciously attacked by Hanuman devotees while traversing between the corner meeting venue and Gandhiganj. The assailants, displaying blatant communalism, subjected Qureshi to a barrage of stones and physical assault, leaving him grievously injured and bloodied.
Bhainsa authorities swiftly responded to the unrest, deploying heavy police presence and closing down businesses to quell further violence. Bhainsa ASP Kantilal Subhash Patil and town circle inspector Raja Reddy, accompanied by municipal representatives, visited the victim at the government hospital to assure stringent action against the perpetrators.
Sheikh Ibrahim Qureshi, the father of the injured youth, lodged a formal complaint with the police, prompting the registration of multiple cases against the mischief mongers. Under the stringent provisions of the Indian Penal Code, arrests have been made, with ongoing efforts to apprehend other suspects involved in the attacks.
In the aftermath of the incident, the local Muslim community expressed dismay over the sectarianism displayed by Hanuman devotees. Despite their grievances, community members cooperated with law enforcement authorities to restore calm and preserve communal harmony in Bhainsa.
As the region grapples with the fallout of the violence, authorities remain vigilant, emphasising the imperative of upholding law and order amidst heightened tensions. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the enduring challenge of fostering inclusive and pluralistic societies, where diversity is celebrated and conflicts are resolved through dialogue and mutual respect.
