HIMACHAL Pradesh has always been proud of it age-old traditions of peace and communal harmony. No untoward incidents took place even during the days when fanatics were insisting to stop Hindus to perform karseva at the birthplace of Sri Ram at Ayodhya. But the patience of peace-loving Hindus was tested again by a group of Muslims when they slaughtered a cow in the far-flung area of Nerwa in Shimla district on the eve of Maha Shivratri, the biggest religious festival of this hill state.
This news sent shockwaves in the region. The very next day, thousands of local people in Nerwa gathered and the angry mob set ablaze three mosques and a madarsa. The police have arrested the mastermind of this heinous crime named Abdulla alias Abdul Rehman along with six other accused. A one-day bandh was observed in Shimla district against the killing of the cow.
The sources said it is not the first time when the cow was killed in that area. Earlier the people could not found proof of the killing. In the present case, a leg of the cow was found in the dense forest of Nerwa. When the people inquired, it was said that Abdulla and his friends were found involved in such things. The local people informed the police which immediately arrested the main accused. He confessed the killing and revealed the names of co-accused.
On the very next day, it was Maha Shivratri. The news of cow slaughter was so disturbing that the local people gathered in thousands and their patient broke down. They attacked three mosques and a madarsa and set these buildings on fire. The heavy police arrangement failed to control the angry mob. People were demanding to hand over the accused to them. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Sood Sabha and several other social religious organisations of Hindus and Buddhists condemned the cow slaughter and demanded a strict action against the culprits.
The Chief Minister Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was on a visit to United States and Costa Rica, made an appeal from there and requested the people to remain calm. He also assured the people that the guilty would be punished.
The shops remained closed in entire Shimla district on February 14 in protest against the cow slaughter. Shri Manoj Kumar, joint general secretary (organisation) of state VHP unit, has appealed to the people to be vigilant in future and report such an incident to the police so that the culprit could be booked immediately. He made it clear that the cow slaughter is not acceptable at any cost.
