Vishal Saxena, the previous owner of the house, lodged a written complaint with the police accusing local extremists and saffron groups to incite communal hatred
Team Clarion
BAREILLY – In a troubling incident of communal harassment, a Muslim woman, Shabnam, who had recently purchased a house in Bareilly’s Punjabpura, has been compelled to sell her home to a “sanatani Hindu.” The woman took the decision out of fear in the wake of threats from local residents and members of Hindutva organisations amid sustained campaign of hate speech, social boycott.
Vishal Saxena, the previous owner of the house, lodged a written complaint with the police. Saxena, who has supported Shabnam throughout the ordeal, accused local extremists and saffron groups of spreading false propaganda and inciting communal hatred following the sale of the house to a Muslim buyer, according to reports.
In his complaint, Saxena detailed how, after finalising the sale of his house to Shabnam, he faced backlash from local residents who, in collaboration with Hindutva organisations, began spreading baseless accusations. Saxena also said in the FIR that these groups have gone as far as to threaten him, with the clear intention of stoking communal tensions in the area.
Speaking to ‘The Wire,’ Saxena expressed his frustration, saying, “Twelve to fifteen Hindus came to me to buy the house, but none could finalise the deal because of the nearby dargah and Muslim neighbors. The animosity Shabnam faced after purchasing the house is nothing more than an attempt to disrupt the city’s peace.”
Since acquiring the property, Shabnam has been subjected to an intense hate campaign, where her identity as a Muslim has been targeted. The hate-mongering has included references to Muslim dietary habits and an attempt to vilify Shabnam’s brother, Naseem, by falsely associating him with the 2010 Bareilly riots.
Unable to withstand the growing hostility and fearing for her safety, Shabnam has now offered to sell the house to a Hindu buyer, hoping that this might alleviate the yense situation.
This incident highlights the deep-seated communal divisions that continue to plague certain parts of India, where property transactions involving individuals from different religious backgrounds can spark tense social and political backlash. This unfortunate incident reflect a worrying trend of increasing intolerance and communal polarisation.
The police have not released an official statement so far regarding the complaint filed by Vishal Saxena. However, the matter has gained significant attention on social media, and activists are calling for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for Shabnam and to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The situation in Bareilly serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that minority communities face in exercising their rights, even in seemingly simple matters like purchasing a home.