Muslims threaten peace in Meerut
Dr SK Pandey from Lucknow
THE Muslim community in UP can go to any extent in disrupting peace and harmony and can even invalidate the district administration. Patronised by the likes of Mulayam and Azam they can even challenge the state’s authority. This is evident by the fact that they resorted to violence and opened firing when action was taken by the police against their community members on the charges of cow slaughter and disrupting peace in the area, during the last weekends. Several people were injured in the violence.
The supporters of the accused from Bhanwara village (district Muzaffarnagar) reached the house of complainants in Faridpur village (district Meerut) and opened fire, which resulted into injury to large number of people. Heavy police force has been deployed in the village to maintain law and order and the situation is brought under control with difficulty. Red alert was sounded in the two adjoining districts. Bhanwara village (district Muzaffarnagar) and Faridpur village (district Meerut) are on the two sides of Hindon river.
Sazid, Intezaar and Taimur of Bhanwara village were nabbed by the local people with rope, knives and cows. One Praveen Sharma of Faridpur village registered a case against them with Sardhana police station. Hindu organisations demanded stringent action and slapping NSA against the accused, referring to earlier pronouncement of the Village Panchayat regarding such offenders. However, the protesters calmed down when the police officials assured them of adequate punishment.
However, late in the night large number of Muslims from Bhanwara village surrounded Faridpur village and opened fire to intimidate the complainant and their family members. Thus the Hindus too gathered in defence and resorted to counter offensive, saving the lives of their side. The firing continued for about four hours. The DM Vikas Gothalwal, SSP K Satya Narayan, Rapid Action Force and the local MLA Sangit Singh Som reached the spot to control the situation. Stray incidents of violence were reported from Nawabgadhi, Jhitkiri, Akbarpur Sadat villages also. Local MLA Sangit Singh Som was able to control the Hindus of Faridpur and other villeges, but the Muslims of Bhanwara continued their firing and violence. This infuriated the Hindu community but they observed restraint. It has been reported that the BJP MLA even threatened to resign if the violence was not stopped. It is reported that the police had ignored the news of cow slaughter in Bhanwara village.
