NEW DELHI: In a move that has sparked widespread debate, the Congress party has once again fielded Mamman Khan, a controversial figure and sitting MLA, for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. Khan, currently accused in the Nuh riots case, has been a polarising figure in the state’s political landscape. Despite the charges against him and the political uproar surrounding his candidature, Congress appears committed to backing him in this crucial electoral battle.
Mamman Khan’s involvement in the Nuh riots case, which witnessed communal violence in July 2023, has drawn significant attention. He faces allegations of inciting the violence, a charge that has led to legal proceedings against him.
[July 2023] Congress MLA Mamman Khan warns Hindus for consequences if they organise yatra & invite Monu Manesar. Later a riot happened & many Hindu devotees were kiIIed in it.
He was booked under UAPA for his role in #NuhViolence & jailed.He got ticket from INC again. Mohabbat… pic.twitter.com/RPAzMGRCWx
— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) September 7, 2024
The Congress party, however, has defended Khan, citing a lack of concrete evidence and portraying the case as politically motivated. Khan himself has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the charges are an attempt to malign his reputation ahead of the elections.
The decision to field Khan has been met with criticism from rival political parties, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and others questioning the Congress’s choice.
Meanwhile, it was last year that Congress MLA Mamman Khan was arrested by Haryana police in the early hours of September 15, a day after the State Government told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it had named him as an accused in an FIR in a case pertaining to the Nuh violence, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mamta Singh said. Khan, who was arrested by a special investigative team (SIT) of the Haryana police, was produced in a local district court in Nuh.
Apparently, Khan was part of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Another Product of "Mohanbat ki Dukan" Arrested!!
Congress MLA Mamman Khan has been arrested for Nuh Violence.
Police said that they have proper evidence against him and he was summoned many times but he didnt comply.
Mamman had reached to High Court but HC didnt grant any… pic.twitter.com/BFSl7sd4DT
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) September 15, 2023
The Haryana Police had invoked the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against 63 individuals, including Congress MLA Mamman Khan, for their alleged involvement in the July 2023 Nuh riots. The riots, which led to the deaths of two home guards and a devotee during a Shobha Yatra, escalated into widespread violence and arson across Nuh and adjoining areas. The accused, mostly locals from the Mewat region, are now facing serious charges under India’s anti-terrorism laws.
The police incorporated UAPA provisions into three First Information Reports (FIRs) – Nos. 253, 257, and 401 – on January 8, 2024. A week later, additional charges were added to FIR No. 149, in which Mamman Khan, the Congress MLA from Firozpur Jhirka, was named as one of the 43 key perpetrators. According to police reports, the individuals charged under UAPA were involved in orchestrating attacks on a Hindu procession, the Braj Mandal Yatra, on July 31, 2023, at Badkali Chowk, which marked the beginning of the violence in Nuh.
The Nuh Police report describes how the violence unfolded, detailing the assault on participants in the yatra and the mob attack on the Nuh cyber police station. The attackers not only targeted the procession but also resorted to arson and stone-pelting, leading to the destruction of property and vehicles. The violence, which was triggered by Islamists attacking a Hindu procession organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, claimed six lives, with several more injured.
Mamman Khan, a prominent Congress leader, has been accused of playing a crucial role in the violence. A police investigation revealed that prior to the unrest, Khan allegedly arranged for huge amount of money to be distributed to miscreants through local sarpanchs, with the intention of inciting violence. The report also mentioned that Khan’s WhatsApp groups, such as Youth Team Mamman Khan and IT Cell Mamman Khan, were used to spread incendiary messages and rumours, further fueling the tensions.
Nuh Superintendent of Police Narender Bijarniya stated, “He [Mamman Khan] played an important role in spreading rumors during the Nuh violence and was in touch with some suspects involved in pelting stones and setting vehicles on fire. He has also been accused of paying people to attack the Braj Mandal yatra and create a ruckus.”
In February 2024, the police submitted a challan to the Nuh Chief Judicial Magistrate court, naming 43 additional accused, including Khan, under UAPA. The addition of the UAPA to these cases underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the violence, as the act carries heavy penalties, including lengthy imprisonment.
