Swayamsevaks at Sangh Shakha, a representative image
Swayamsevaks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) living in a local community gather twice a day for their shakha sessions, where they engage in various physical activities such as yog, yeshti, and lathi drills. These disciplined and organised meetings, conducted in front of a saffron dhwaj (flag), include singing prayers and exchanging ideas. Despite the peaceful nature of these gatherings, they have been targeted by attackers on multiple occasions. Recently, Islamists pelted stones at the Swayamsevaks in Uttar Pradesh.
The Shakha at the Chinhat police station area of Lucknow witnessed stones pelting on July 27. The local Muslim youths have been held responsible for the attack. The Shakha Karyawah, Yuvraj Prajapati, has filed an FIR against Saqib, and 8 to 10 unidentified individuals.
According to the FIR (First Information Report number: 355/2024), the stone-pelting incident occurred on the evening of July 27 at around six o’clock. Yuvraj Prajapati conducts the RSS shakha at the Chahariya Mata temple premises in the Chinhat area every day. However, on July 27, the ongoing shakha with a saffron dhwaj flag met with a violent attack by Islamists, who were well-equipped with stones and bricks.
The FIR states that following the stone-pelting, the accused threatened to prevent the RSS shakha from continuing in the area.
In response to the FIR, Chinhat police have launched an investigation into the matter.
A police officer from the Chinhat police station described the matter as serious. Given the gravity of the situation, the police have registered a case under sections 191(2), 352, and 232 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Measures are being taken, and peace has been restored at the incident site.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya addressed the attack, stating, “A thorough investigation will be conducted into the attack on the RSS shakha, and strict action will be taken. The decision to make laws against love jihad and paper leaks stricter should be welcomed.”
(Organiser will update this report after speaking with Yuraj, who was not available by the time this report was published.)
Similar attacks were launched in Rajasthan
This incident echoes a similar event that took place in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, in June, where dozens of youths from the Muslim community assaulted an RSS Swayamsevaks. Vijay Soni, Nagar Karywah, reported that on June 23 this year, when the shakha was being held at the park in the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital complex, Islamists launched an attack. Police promptly intervened and calmed both parties.
Speaking with the Organiser on June 26, Soni, Nagar Karywah, revealed that two boys were attacked, one of whom is a minor and the son of the Jila Karywah. The other victim, 19-year-old Parth Chouhan, the Shakha Karyawah, sustained injuries to his neck. Both victims were hospitalised for two days following the brutal attack.
Soni stated that this is not the first incident of its kind, as the Shakha has faced numerous attacks in the past.
He mentioned that over 15 such assaults have occurred at the Shakha in Gandhi Park, primarily driven by the resentment of local Islamists. According to Soni, they are agitated by the fact that Hindus gather in an area with over 40 per cent Muslim population, chant Sangathan Mantra, and discuss Dharma and Hindu values every day.
“Every time the number of Swayamsevaks in the Shakha exceeds five, they attack,” Soni explained. Despite this, the daily attendance at the Shakha currently exceeds 15 people. (Read more details here)
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