The Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, a joyous occasion for Hindus, took a dark turn as reports of violent clashes emerged from various parts of Bharat. While the Hindu community celebrated the return of Bhagwan Ram to his home after 500 years, Islamists launched attacks on devotees in Gujarat’s Mehsana, Maharashtra’s Solapur district, and Mumbai’s Mira Road region.
In Mira Road, Mumbai, Islamists not only attacked Hindus with stones, iron rods, sticks, and bamboo, leaving over a dozen injured, but also disrespected Hindu religious sentiments by tearing flags bearing images of Hanuman Ji. The attackers reportedly vomited over the flags, causing further anguish to the devotees.
The police confirmed that around 13 persons have been arrested. The investigating officer, Dilip Rakh, however, refrained from disclosing information due to the sensitivity of the case.
According to the FIR filed by victim Vinod Jaiswal, the incident occurred on the night of January 21 around 10:30 PM. Jaiswal reported that a group of 50-60 individuals from the Muslim community threatened and attacked him while he was travelling in the Mira Road region. The assailants, after stopping the car, threatened Jaiswal, attacked his car with rods, and desecrated the Hindu flag displayed on the vehicle.
The FIR alleges that the attackers, upon seeing a poster of Hanuman Ji on the car, raised slogans of ‘Allah-hu-Akhbar,’ puked on the poster, and pelted stones at women and children accompanying Jaiswal. The complaint has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempts to murder, wrongful restraint, and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
As per a report, the FIR reads, “I was driving the car and my friends accompanied me on their bikes. We were just travelling across the city that day. As soon as we reached the Mira Road region, we got stuck in the traffic so we took a U-turn and headed towards Bhayander road. But the road was jammed so we eventually decided to go through the Shivar garden road in Nayanagar. A boy suddenly stopped the car and began threatening. ‘I’ll show you who we are now. Let us see if your Ram comes to save you, the boy said. Immediately after that around 50-60 people arrived at the spot and began attacking us with rods and sticks,”
“They raised slogans of Allah-hu-Akhbar, hit me on my head with an iron rod, and tried to kill me. They also saw a poster of Hanuman Ji on the car and puked on the poster. This has hurt our Hindu religious sentiments. They even pelted stones at women and small kids who accompanied me for a ride,” the FIR read.
Videos of the incident have surfaced on the internet, depicting Islamists shouting ‘Allah-hu-Akhbar’ while attacking cars with iron rods and sticks. Images of Hanuman Ji’s poster covered in vomit have circulated on social media, revealing the extent of the damage.
Who is responsible for what #Hindus are facing today? Heart aches to see this happening #miraroad. No courage, but sharing this only so that each #Hindu learns truth, sees how his/her faith is being treated. 13 arrested so far. Police denying to reveal further details #RamMandir pic.twitter.com/nnNUqiijQ1
— Siddhi Somani (@sidis28) January 23, 2024
In response to the attacks, enraged Hindus gathered in large numbers at Mira Road and retaliated against the stone-pelting Islamists. A video shared by political commentator Raushan Sinha shows Hindus seeking police action and justice for the attacks.
BJP leader Nitesh Rane is expected to address Hindus at Mira Road in an event organised by Sakal Hindu Samaj. According to a member of the Samaj, the Nayanagar area, where the incident occurred, is dominated by a Muslim population, and communal tension has been escalating.
Islamists raised slogans of ‘Allah-hu-Akhbar’ after cars on #miraroad attacked. They puked on Hindu flags. I have zero courage to share disheartening videos showing Hindu flags dipped in puke. It hurts to see #Hindus disrespected @NiteshNRane‘s rally is scheduled today. pic.twitter.com/am8vmVkksl
— Siddhi Somani (@sidis28) January 23, 2024
Police sources state that the case is highly sensitive, and efforts are being made to calm the situation. IO Dilip Rakh refrained from revealing details, emphasising the need to prevent any escalation of tensions. The Sakal Hindu Samaj alleges that all 13 arrested individuals belong to the Muslim community, while some Hindus were briefly detained and released.
Earlier, a video surfaced of Islamists from Naya Nagar threatening Hindus, claiming that the region is dominated by a Muslim population. High Court advocate Ashutosh Dubey shared the video and later confirmed the arrest of the person making threats.
Mira Road Traitor threatening that this is Mumbai not UP, Don’t dare to come here, If you have dare, Show us.@MumbaiPolice @Dev_Fadnavis @mieknathshinde Why such tolerance?
Where are @mnsadhikrut? pic.twitter.com/YH8Yhx8JzC
— ADV. ASHUTOSH J. DUBEY 🇮🇳 (@AdvAshutoshBJP) January 22, 2024
As tensions remain high, the Mumbai Police have deployed officers at several locations to prevent further incidents. The Sakal Hindu Samaj has organised a massive rally in response to the attacks by Islamists, highlighting the need for communal harmony in the region.
