Uttarakhand, India , April 20– Muslims in a Roorkee in Indian state Uttarakhand had to flee their homes after authorities moved bulldozers in their locality with a threat to raze their houses if they did not surrender before police for arrest. More than half of the Muslim population of the village has left the village due to fear and terror of the BJP RSS government, News agency reported. Those Muslims who are still left behind in the village either live alone or those whose family members have been arrested. Indian police are arresting Muslims on fake charges on BJP-RSS hindutva pressure .
Indian authorities also demolishing properties of Muslims which added problems among Muslims in Jahangirpori in New Delhi
The situation was tense on April 16 when a Hanuman Jayanti procession passed through the area amidst anti-Muslims slogans. It led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims. Subsequently, the police arrested around a dozen people.
The procession was organised by residents of three villages in collaboration with some Hindutva groups. On reaching Dada Jalalpur, reports slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” “Hindustan mein rahna hai toh Jai Shri Ram kehna hoga” were raised from the procession. Hate-filled songs directed against Muslims were also played on loudspeakers as the rally passed through the Muslim area. It is evident from the videos that surfaced on social media those songs with lewd lyrics referring to Muslims as Pakistanis were played.
Muslims appealed to the rallyists to leave the place as it was time to break their fast. But they were in no mood to relent. Soon, violence broke out with stone pelting from both sides in which and 10 people were injured. Reports said vehicles were also set ablaze.
The police were reluctant to allow the procession to route through Muslim dominated areas. But according to a NewsClick report, the police gave in to pressure from some BJP leaders and Hindu groups. “We put pressure on the police in the presence of the DM, DIG, we took out the yatra at 1 pm,” bragged Anil Saini, a local BJP leader.
The Muslims complained against the attack on their homes and vehicles. They also said that the Hindutva participants in the procession indulged in loot and plunder. “They also took away my Rs 50,000,” Mehak Ara, a local woman was quoted in a NewsClick report as saying. She also said when a mob came to her neighbour Aleem’s house; he along with his wife and children jumped off roof top. His wife hurt her leg in the process and is still in the hospital.
Hindutva goons also pelted stones on Muslims and provoked them.
The reports said that the attacks on Muslims were inspired by the recent Hinduvtva biased Bollywood movie The Kashmir Files which was made against Kashmir and Muslims.
Muslim community in the village are being targeted even police arresting them on fake chages. So far, only Muslims have been booked and arrested despite clear evidence of involvement of Hindutva groups in the violence. The Muslim community has written letters to the police administration about the attacks and burglary in their homes.
Dada Jalalpur appears to have an almost equal number of Hindus and Muslims, with a dominant Other Backward Class Hindu community, the Sainis.
There is heavy police presence as shops remain shut. Tension is evident in the region. Several Muslim residents have fled the village after Hindutva leaders warned of “action”, threatening to bulldoze their houses and host a Dharma Sansad, previous iterations of which have been calls for genocide of Muslims.
The Hindutva leaders reportedly also threatened to stage a protest on April 20 if their demands are not met and “Muslims are not put behind bars“.
In the past two days, tensions rose as a bulldozer was seen stationed outside the Muslim area. Residents were reportedly asked to “surrender themselves”.
Meanwhile, on Monday itself, yet another Hindutva leader, Dineshanand Bharti, of the outfit Kali Sena, was heard giving an ultimatum to the administration to arrest Muslims.
“They( Hindutva) threw stones at our homes, we had to lock ourselves up to protect ourselves. They broke everything,” says Razia*, the only member from her family who stayed behind in the village.
“They (Hindutva parties) tried barging into our homes, I could hear them beating sticks on the doors of my home as I ran up the terrace to protect myself and my children. We climbed on to our neighbour’s terrace and managed to hide away until it settled,” she adds.
Razia believes that Rs 50,000, that she had kept in the house, along with some silver was looted.
Razia added that the OBC, Dalit and Muslim communities in the region have lived in peace for a long time. This has come as a shock.
Her neighbour, Alim*, has a similar story, “The main door of my house – which is strong and made of iron – is damaged. You can see, it is no longer even closing. They broke through the door with sticks. My wife was hit on the head and I was hurt while trying to escape,” he said.
Alim* shows his injury.
While police arresting Muslims on order of Hindutva leaders.
Muslim families have written to the police detailing the damages they faced and the injuries they have suffered.
“My son was picked up in a brutal crackdown, I was beaten up too,” says Bano*, breaking down.
“There are young children roaming around our streets, they do not know where their fathers are, we are suffering a great injustice,” she says, referring to the arrests and her own grandson.
Bano, too, is shocked. “Our children have all grown up together. We do not know how this happened,” she says.