Screenshot from the video showing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Bowing down to Aurangzeb, Image: Organiser
On the auspicious occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, Shiekh Aftab Mannan posted a video showing Shivaji Maharaj bowing down to Aurangzeb. People from the Hindu community have registered a complaint against Aftab. The video he posted on Facebook had the caption, “Aurangzeb Hindustan ka Baap”.
Also, following the complaint by Hindus, the Muslims have also filed an FIR against two Hindus claiming they have hurt their religious sentiment. The video they referred to in the FIR had a caption “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the father of Aurangzeb.”
The incident took place on May 14 and the complaint was registered on May 15. The accused Aftab is a resident of Pusad region of the Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. Notably, following the complaint letter the police registered an FIR against him.
A First Information Report (number–200/2023) was registered at the Khandala police station of the Yavatmal district on May 14 by Hindu activist Gajanan Chavhan.
In his complaint, Chavhan informed the police about the derogatory video posted by Aftab which is hurting Hindu religious sentiment. The complaint letter stated, “We organised a procession honouring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in our city on his jayanti. Following the procession, I saw a Facebook story that was deliberately uploaded by Aftaab saying that Aurangzeb is the father of Hindustan.”
“He also posted a video showing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj bowing down before Aurangzeb. This has hurt the religious sentiments of us Hindus. This was also an attempt to incite communal violence in the city,” Chavhan added.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is like God to us. And the accused has caused insult to him,” the complainant said.
With Chavhan, other Hindu activists from the procession, Gajanan Karade, Mahesh Saroshe, Ganesh Bokshe, Prashant Pagir, Mahadev Dakhore and Khandu Shelgavkar joined him at the police station.
As per the FIR accused Aftab has been booked under IPC sections 153-A (Promoting enmity between two religious groups) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings).
Notably, the named accused in the FIR Aftab is absconding and the Khandala police is trying to track the culprit.
One of the complainants, Mahesh Saroshe talking to OpIndia journalist Siddhi Somani said, after lodging the FIR against Aftab, Chavhan has gone underground. He said, “Tensions between Hindus and Muslims here is long-standing. This time they uploaded Islamic status on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It was definitely a deliberate attempt. This has hurt our religious sentiments. Moreover, the Muslims have filed another complaint against us for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. And now the police are looking for us instead of arresting Aftaab,” Mahesh said.
It is pertinent to mention that following the complaint against Aftab, the Muslim community filed a police complaint against Hindus claiming that they have hurt their religious sentiment.
A First Information Report (number–201/2023) was registered at the Khandala police station of the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra on May 15. The complainant, Mohammed Mobin Sheikh Mujammel registered an FIR against Mahesh Saroshe and Ganesh Bokshe for posting a video quitting Aurangzeb in bad light.
As per the FIR, Mujammel said, these two men have posted a social media story praising Shivaji Maharaj where they quoted, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the father of Aurangzeb.” The video was allegedly posted in response to the video posted by Aftab.
Mahesh while speaking with OpIndia said that they cannot get out of their house following the FIR lodged by the Muslims. Instead of arresting Aftab, they detained Hindus. Mahesh said, “The police are looking for Gajanan Chavhan and also us (Mahesh and Ganesh). We are struggling to file an anticipatory bail in the case so that we are not trapped for raising our voice against the pro-Islamist activity,”
He added, the police arrested two of Atab’s brothers but later released them.
The police have booked Sheikh Aftaab Shiekh Mannan, Mahesh and Ganesh under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.
As of now no arrests have been made by the police from the Muslim side.
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