Factsheet: Breaking the Spell of Tripura Incident

Numerous fake videos of other incidents of Bangladesh on Rohingya were projected as photos of Tripura incidents.

Various credible sources have busted the ulterior motives of few self-serving beings and organisations. Uncountable videos, reports and channels have surfaced which were responsible for exacerbating the situation.

Here are some major fact-checks to invalidate the myths revolving around the Tripura incident and its aftermath in Maharashtra. Fact Check of some common visuals was shared on social media as violence against Muslims in Tripura. The claims were either false or highly exaggerated. The claims of the Quran being burned and 16 to 18 mosques ransacked were false, but propaganda around it boiled the atmosphere. However, upon the background check, it was revealed that the evidence provided belonged to different incidents like the visuals of fire at a Rohingya camp and CPM headquarters.

One of the common accusations was that the rally of the 'Bhagwa' Groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad was creating a ruckus by carrying out rallies in the state and terrorising the minority. There is no veracity in the statements claimed. The reality came out to be that the visuals of the VHP rally were carried out for Ram Navmi celebrations in Kolkata, 2018. It was not linked to the Tripura incident at all.

Critiques claimed via several videos displaying Tripura police was giving protection to the criminals. After the reality check, the Tripura police themselves verified through their Cyber Police that the videos are not of Tripura. Staunch allegations by the Muslims that Hindus vandalised their properties have been debunked. Few photos were identified from Jaunapur (UP), where the old house/Mosque collapsed.

There is a considerable amount of misinformation and fake news within the Tripura violence incidents. Some videos were identified as old BBC videos on Delhi riots falsely portrayed as Tripura violence. Video of a mob killing a man falsely equating it to communal violence in Tripura was also shared on social media. Video of Karachi fuel station blast was shared as violence in Tripura. Rohingyas' refugee camps in Bangladesh have been a frequent video misused by opportunists to escalate the situation.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs and state administration have expressed their concerns and vowed to take action against the perpetrators. MHA has attempted to quash the rumours of demolishing mosques and misinterpreting the condition go women in the state amid the backdrop of the calibrated communal disharmony in Tripura. Tripura police booked several Twitter accounts under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for spreading fake news.

Spillover Effect in Maharashtra

The popular content creators in Maharashtra on social media having a huge fan following among the Muslim Community created a perception that Muslims in Tripura are under attack and need to stand with them.

Some names are as follows: Mufti Haroon Nadwi (Director-Viral News Live, JUH President-Jalgaon), Mufti Salman Azhari (Mumbai based Barelvi Scholar), Tahaffuz E Deen Media (Aurangabad based digital Media Center), et al.

Several organisations also took part in protests in Maharashtra against Tripura Violence. On 29th October 2021, Popular Front of India carried protests in over 15 places in Maharashtra. On 08th November 2021, Nationwide Protest was also carried out by Rashtriya Muslim Morcha.

What Happened on 12th November 2021

No major activists from Other Muslim Organisations like Jamat E Islami, Jamiat Ulema E Hind, Popular Front of India, AIMIM were thoroughly contributing to the protest to make it successful though they announced their support. But local Barelvi Centres made it happen. Barelvi leaders associated with Raza Academy, All India Sunni Jamiatul Ulema, TNR Board campaigned for the bandh.

Frequent incidences of Tauheen (insult to Prophet Mohd) in India, rumours of the Quran being burned, mosques being vandalised triggered them as they continuously raised the issue of Blasphemy law (Prophet Mohd Bill) to stop Tauheen. Their demands were as follows: Arrest Wasim Rizvi, Prophet Mohd Bill to stop Gustakhi of Rasool, President's Rule in Tripura. The most affected areas were Marathwada, West Vidarbha and Mumbai-Thane region.

Wasim Rizvi's new book angered Muslims. They considered it as Tauheen of Prophet Mohd. Wasim Rizvi had sent the copies of his book to all Islamic Seminaries and organisations and asked them to burst his claims about Prophet Mohd. They did not like coming together of Swami Narsimhanand and Wasim Rizvi. They accused that it was a conspiracy by RSS-BJP to insult Prophet Mohd.

On 30th October 2021, Raza Academy held a meeting to condemn the Violence in Tripura. It was attended by Patron Moin Miya and Chief Saeed Noori. Raza Academy held a meeting and decided Maharashtra Bandh against Tripura Violence on 12th November. They also wrote to the President of India to impose President Rule in Tripura. Raza Academy Chief approached Pydhonie Police station to register FIR against Wasim Rizvi. Police denied. He sat on Dharna Protest in front of the Police Station. Later the Police registered FIR against Wasim Rizvi.

Meanwhile, on 12th November 2021, a delegation of Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary Tariq Anwar, INC MLC Bhai Jagtap, INC MLA Amin Patel, held a meeting with Raza Academy Patron Moin Miya Ashrafi. A former minister and Shivsena leader participated in a rally in Jalna and instigated the crowd.

The preparation of the Maharashtra bandh was in full swing. Posters, public announcements, public meetings and support videos from the political representatives were the mediums to launch the bandh. The bandh was executed at major cities of Maharashtra like Dhule, Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Mumbra, Nashik, Latur, Deglur, Akola, Khuldabad, Parbhani, Solapur, Chikhali, Bhokar, Mantha, Gangakhed, Jintur.

Violence was reported at Nanded, Amravati, Malegaon, Pusad, Bhiwandi. Hindu shops were looted and burned down, and they were forced to shut the shops.

Some important and primary names who led the protests in Maharashtra are Moin Miya (Patron, Raza Academy). He is the chief of Jamia Qadria Ashrafia Madrassa (Mumbai) and chief of All India Sunni Jamiatul Ulema. Saeed Noori (Pydhonie, Mumbai) is the President of Raza Academy. Maulana Abdul Azeem Rizvi (Nanded), an important member of the TNR Board & Raza Academy. Sayyad Jamil Sayyad Janimiya, (Jalna) and Maulana Mufti Shafi, (Hingoli). Thus, the bubble is busted. This spillover effect witnessed in Maharashtra has a zilch link to the 'Tripura incident'. It was an appalling and malicious game played by the phoney bunch.