A year has passed since the violent clashes in Nuh, Haryana, which erupted during a religious procession organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on July 31, 2023. The violence, which began in Mewat and subsequently spread to nearby regions such as Gurugram and Sohna, resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 200 injuries.
The annual Brajmandal Yatra is an important religious event for the Hindus and it was marred by violence when it passed through the Muslim-majority district of Nuh. The trouble began around 2 pm on July 31,2023 shortly after the VHP procession started from Edward Chowk. Reports indicate that over 200 people were in the procession when the Islamists began pelting stones at them.
The violence on July 31 was characterised by a well-organised and deliberate attack. Reports suggest that from July 21 to July 23, local Muslim community members had planned to attack the yatra. On the day of the procession, the attackers used stones, bottles, and Molotov cocktails against the participants, forcing them to seek refuge in a nearby temple. The temple then became a target, with rioters armed with guns besieging it and firing upon those inside.
The police, caught off guard by the intensity of the violence, faced significant challenges. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Duty Magistrate Abid Hussain, around 500 Muslims trapped at least 40 Hindus in the Ram Mandir in ward number 9. The police force, led by the Station House Officer (SHO), had to disperse the violent crowd and rescue the trapped Hindus. The FIR detailed how the mob attacked the police with stones and illegal arms, forcing the police to take stringent measures to control the situation.
After the clashes, the Haryana government imposed a curfew, suspended internet services, and deployed additional paramilitary troops to restore order. The streets of Nuh were deserted, and locals faced significant difficulties procuring essential items due to the curfew. The state government also decided to shift the battalion headquarters of the 2nd IRB from Bhondsi to Nuh to bolster security and maintain law and order.
It is noteworthy that while searching documents relating to the violence, Organiser accessed as many as fifteen FIRs where the victims revealed the horrors of the day. Some said attackers were chanting Pakistan Zindabad and Allah Hu Akbar slogans.
The Outsiders role
In one such FIR, Organiser found that the miscreants who opened fire at the police officials and attacked them had their number plates from Rajasthan.
Readers should know that the region of Mewat, which takes its name after the dominant Meo jati, is spread across Nuh in Haryana, and Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan, besides some parts of Uttar Pradesh such as Mathura. The Meo Jati, whose members claim Rajput ancestry, have almost been wholly Islamised. The region is a hub of crimes, the most prominent being cow slaughter, beef trade, and cyber fraud.
Apart from the preparations that were going on for days for the attack, the outsider’s role can also be tracked. The details in the statement confirm that the local Meo’s were not alone in the attack and were accompanied by people from Rajasthan.
What is Brijmandal Shobha yatra?
The Brijmandal Shobha Yatra is a religious procession that is organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad every year. It starts from Nalhar temple in Nuh and ends at Singar and passes through the Jhir temple. Braj means land of Bhagwan Krishna. The yatra is related to the religious sites that are associated with Bhagwan Krishna. A large number of sahus and religious leaders also take part in the Brijmandal Shobha Yatra.
As per the reports, the Yatra starts from Sohna where thousands of people enter Mewat. The journey begins by doing Jal Abhishek in the Nalhard temple, later they move to Jhirkeshwar Mahadev and then the devotees travel to the village Shrigar. In the village, they visit the Shrigar Radha Krishna temple and finally move to Shringeshwar Mahadev.
Since portion Mewat has remained the hotbed of Islamic conversion and gave birth to ‘Tabligi Jamaat’. Over the period, Hindus from different communities kept converting be it for a certain kind of allurement or for some other political or local pressure. Even the police were forced to work under pressure in the region.
Considering the decline in Hindus and rising Islamic radicalisation, the Vishva Hindu Parishad decided to take out a procession, the ‘Brij Mandal Shobha Yatra’ wherein they decided to visit the temples in the Mewat region that are losing significance. The Yatra started three years ago. The Yatra is also called as Mewat Darshan Yatra.
