In a disturbing incident that unfolded on the evening of July 11, 2024, tensions erupted between Dalit and Muslim communities in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk, Sakri, Dhule district. The clash, which began around 8:30 PM, escalated into violence as Muslim extremists pelted stones at a Dalit settlement, resulting in multiple injuries, including women and children.
First Information Reports (FIRs) against over 70 people have been registered by the police from both sides, highlighting the severity of the confrontation.
Notably, a First Information Report (FIR Number: 253/2024) was registered at the Sakri police station on July 12. The complainant, Ghansham Vagh, a 19-year-old resident and IT student at Sakri Taluka Education Society College, detailed the events leading to the altercation, which resulted in several injuries and property damage.
According to Ghansham’s statement to the police, tensions began on July 10, 2024, when a minor altercation occurred at his family-owned grocery shop, Raj Provision, in Ambedkar Chowk. A neighbourhood child allegedly caused a disturbance, triggering a heated exchange among local residents.
The situation escalated later that night when Ghansham’s family was reportedly verbally and physically assaulted by a group including Yusuf Khan and Mustafa Pathan.
On the evening of July 11, 2024, around 8:30 PM, Ghansham was working at the shop with his brother Raj Wagh and their cousin Vishal Rajendra Khare, engaged in collecting scrap materials.
Suddenly, a mob armed with sticks, stones, glass bottles, and other weapons gathered outside their shop. The mob, reportedly led by individuals including Mustafa Pathan and Nadeem Feroz Shah, attacked Ghansham, Raj, Vishal, and other family members.
“I was also beaten up by Namud Isma, and Mustafa Pathan stabbed me in the back with a sharp object,” Ghansham stated in his complaint.
The altercation resulted in severe injuries to Ghansham, Raj, Vishal, and young Vedika Nitin Ahire. Additionally, their cargo rickshaw (MH-18-AA-4072) sustained damage, with its front glass shattered.
Ghansham Vagh has demanded immediate legal action against the accused, particularly Namud Isma, citing the severity of the injuries sustained and the damage caused. He affirmed the accuracy and truthfulness of his statement before the police.
Local authorities have initiated an investigation following the formal complaint lodged by Ghansham Vagh.
The accused have been identified as Mustafa Pathan, Nadeem Feroz, Mustafa Sheikh, Arbaza Iqbal, Shamir Mir, Naeen Jemal, Ali Zakir Sheikh, Lucky Zakir Sheikh, Rizwan Yusuf, Waseem, Shoeb, Sultan, Raheem, Ashfaq, Asif, Zakir Guffar Sheikh, and over 25 others.
The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 109, 189(2), 189(3), 189(4), 191(2), 191(3), 190, 189(5), 115(2), 352, 351(1), 351(2), 324(2), and 324(4).
The incident reportedly originated from a love marriage between a youth from the Navbuddh community and a Muslim woman, causing anger within the Muslim community.
On the evening of July 11, a child from the Navbuddh community visited a grocery store owned by a Muslim individual. The child allegedly abused the shopkeeper, who reprimanded him, escalating into a dispute between the child’s family and neighbours and leading to a clash.
Claims are being made that AIMIM MLA Farooq Anwar Shah of Dhulia is involved in this incident.
The Sakal Hindu Samaj of Sakri has demanded that the police take action against the main accused to ensure justice for the Navbuddh community.
They stated that the main accused are still not in custody, while those who have been arrested include Jagdish Wagh, Kapil Wagh, Nikhil Gond, Uday More, Yash Pathre, and Jay More. They are calling for the immediate arrest of the masterminds, Arif Sir and Jakir Sheikh, and have requested that the police take action without favouring any religion.
They warned that failure to do so will lead to intense protests.
Organiser contacted Ghanshyam on July 15, who said that a small dispute over an argument led to the scuffle.
When this correspondent questioned him about the interfaith marriage, he talked to someone in Marathi and then dismissed the allegations in a rush.
He clarified that the marriage between the Dalit man and the woman took place legally and had nothing to do with the attack. He claimed that such incidents have become common throughout India and that this was the reason for the attack in their locality. He added that the majority of the houses in his locality belong to the Muslim community.
