On September 29, 2023, in Pune, Maharashtra, the family members of a Bajrang Dal karyakarta were assaulted by a group of Islamists, including members of the banned organisation PFI. During the attack, the Bajrang Dal member, Suraj Chakradhar, was not at home, leaving the women in his household subjected to verbal abuse and threats of their lives. The frenzied mob accused Suraj of obstructing their Maulana’s vehicle during the Ganpati Visarjan procession and hence attacked the family.
However, Suraj possessed video evidence showing that he had, in fact, allowed the Muslim vehicle to pass. Surprisingly, the police have yet to file a First Information Report (FIR) based on Suraj’s complaint. Speaking to the media, Suraj asserted that he had become a target for fundamentalists due to his vocal stance on issues regarding cow protection and rising cases of “love jihad.”
This incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Manchar police station, in the Ambegaon district of Pune. On October 2, 2023, Suraj’s mother filed an official complaint with the police, detailing that on the night of September 29, 2023, between 10:00 and 10:30 PM, a crowd of 150 to 200 individuals identifying as Muslims had gathered outside their residence.
The frenzied mob had intentions of causing harm to Suraj, but, coincidentally, he was not at home. Unable to locate Suraj, the mob proceeded to harass the women in his house. Suraj’s mother alleged that members of the mob pelted stones at their house during the attack, damaging doors and hurling verbal abuse.
Certain individuals in the crowd inquired about Suraj’s whereabouts and whether he was affiliated with the Bajrang Dal. Suraj’s mother reported being warned, “Wherever he is found, his hands and legs will be broken.” The visuals of this violent incident have also circulated widely on social media platforms.
Mob including hundreds of Islamists led by PFI members launched an attack on the residence of Hindu activist Suraj Dharam in Manchar, Pune, Maharashtra.
Attackers have been identified as Riyaz Jamadar, Israr Pathan, Azam Momin, Qayyum Pathan among others. pic.twitter.com/Qn81NPovTS
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 3, 2023
Suraj’s mother also claimed to be able to identify some of the individuals involved in the mob. The named accused parties listed in the complaint include Riyaz Jamadar, Israr Shahbaz Khan Pathan, Azam Momin, Qayyum Pathan, Meeran Anees Inamdar, Aaqib Rehman Attar, Aman Rehman Attar, Mohammad Sartaj Ali Jamadar, Tarbez Mukhtar Qureshi, Danish Siraj Momin, Tauqeer Mohammad Matin Jamadar, Adnan Mohammad, Javed Shaikh, among others. There are also unidentified assailants.
The complaint filed by Suraj’s mother disclosed that a day prior to the attack, on September 28, at around 11:50 PM, a Ganpati immersion procession was underway in front of their residence. Members of the Muslim community allegedly attempted to disrupt the procession by driving a four-wheeler in the middle of it.
However, Hindu participants in the procession yielded to the Muslim vehicle without any altercation. Despite this, individuals from the Muslim community later gathered at the police station, lodging a complaint against those involved in the Ganesh Visarjan Yatra.
Suraj’s mother alleged that members of the Muslim community, unable to board the vehicle, congregated at the police station, where they filed a false complaint against workers of the Amar Shivrajya Ganesh Mandal and Vetaleshwar Tarun Ganesh Mitra Mandal. In the complaint, Hindus participating in the Ganesh immersion were accused of impeding Muslim vehicles and assaulting their occupants.
Upon receiving this complaint, the police took Suraj, who had participated in the immersion, into custody alongside some others. However, Suraj was released shortly thereafter.
Suraj’s mother has called for police protection, claiming that her entire family is under threat. She also expressed optimism that strict action will be taken against all the accused following an examination of CCTV footage and video evidence. Following this incident, Suraj’s brother’s blood pressure has reportedly escalated.
Despite a large crowd gathered for Eid Milad celebrations outside their residence, no FIR has been filed as of yet. Suraj explained that his residence is situated in an area predominantly populated by Muslims and stated that he has been a target for extremists due to his vocal stance on issues like “love jihad” and cow protection.
Suraj alleged that, despite multiple visits to the police station with his mother, the police have yet to file an FIR based on his complaint. According to Suraj, the response he receives from the police is, “We will work as per our own and not as per yours.”
He informed that during the attack, he had gone to procure medicine for his ailing mother. He claimed that had he been present, the mob of Muslims would have likely resorted to violence, as they were chanting slogans inciting harm. Suraj also asserted that the crowd included many outsiders.
He went on to describe the entire episode as a premeditated conspiracy. According to Suraj, after the conclusion of the Eid Milad procession, the crowd was redirected towards his residence. He also clarified that the person whom the frenzied mob identified as a Maulana is, in fact, a tailor by profession, working in a neighbouring village.
