Tensions flared in Hyderabad’s Rein Bazaar area in the old city on the night of October 20, when a large Muslim mob gathered to protest against a local youth over allegations of blasphemy. The mob, angered by an Instagram post, claimed the content was offensive to Prophet Muhammad and demanded severe action. The protest, which began at midnight, continued into the early hours of the following morning, leading to unrest in the area.
According to police reports, the incident began when a 20-year-old hotel employee, residing in the jurisdiction of the Rein Bazaar police station, shared a controversial Instagram post on his timeline. The post, which allegedly contained content deemed provocative by the Muslim community, sparked outrage among local residents. Within hours, a large crowd gathered in the streets, calling for action against the youth. Among the slogans raised by the protesters were “Sar Tan Se Juda”.
Sar Tan se Juda slogans raised by an Islamist mob in Hyderabad’s #Yakutpura area near Rein Bazaar
Islamists were accusing a 20-year-old Hindu man of #blasphemy over an Instagram post pic.twitter.com/rncr03U1Ms
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) October 22, 2024
The situation escalated as reports emerged of a mob of over 60 people attacking a family near the Mahankali Pochamma Temple in Brahmanwadi, Yakutpura. The mob issued death threats to the family, creating a tense atmosphere in the temple vicinity. Despite the proximity of the disturbance to the Rein Bazaar police station, locals have expressed frustration over the perceived inaction of the police.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the police, rather than addressing the escalating tension, ordered the temple community to vacate the premises and stay silent.
The police are yet to issue an official statement on the alleged threats or clarify why they did not intervene more assertively to calm the situation.
A spate of such incidents
This is not an isolated event. In recent months, there has been a troubling rise in incidents where Muslim mobs have taken to the streets, chanting slogans calling for beheading in response to perceived insults to Islam. Between September and October 2024 alone, four such incidents have been reported, with authorities often responding to the demands of these mobs.
Recently, an Islamist mob took to the streets of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on the night of October 19, chanting the notorious slogan “Sar Tan Se Juda” (beheading) after allegations of blasphemy surfaced against a Hindu man. The accused had allegedly posted an objectionable comment about the founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, sparking outrage within the Muslim community. The mob surrounded the local police station, demanding immediate action. Responding to the complaint lodged by the Muslim side, the police arrested the accused late at night. Authorities have since reported that the situation is under control.
UP: ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ mob hits streets again! This time in #Muzaffarnagar
With allegations of blasphemy against a man who allegedly posted objectionable content about the founder of Islam, a Muslim mob surrounded the police station, chanting for his beheading. The police… pic.twitter.com/jwoVi0Pwhl
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 20, 2024
On September 16, during the Barawafat procession in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, a mob chanted “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogans near a Hindu temple. A video from the procession went viral, showing participants shouting “Gustakh-e-Nabi ki Ek Saza, Sar Tan Se Juda” (The only punishment for insulting the Prophet is beheading). The incident occurred in front of the Bharatbhari temple, prompting an immediate investigation by the Siddharthnagar Police after the video gained traction online.
Sar tan se juda slogans raised outside Shiv Mandir:
Case from Siddharth Nagar, UP where a procession was taken out on Milad-Un-Nabi. As soon as it reached Bharatbhari Shiv Mandir the Muslims began raising provocative slogans including “Sar tan se Juda”
Why? What Gustakhi did… pic.twitter.com/lTAbVPd00q
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) September 19, 2024
A similar situation unfolded in Ghaziabad on September 29, when tensions flared following remarks made by Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, the head of Dasna Temple, during a public event at Hindi Bhavan in Lohia Nagar. The mob, angered by what they considered blasphemy, raised “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogans, calling for the beheading of the pujari. A video of Yati’s speech quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), further inflaming the situation.
Friday frenzy mob hits street against Dasna mahant Yati Narsinghsnand, why?
Once again, the so-called fact-checker has shared a chopped clip of Yati, accusing him of blasphemy.
These zombies went on street with chants of ‘sar tan se juda.’ The UP Police has lodged an FIR… pic.twitter.com/CzEUvF4nW7
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 5, 2024
In early October, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, witnessed another alarming case. A heated exchange between a 14-year-old Hindu boy and a Muslim boy over the entry of burqa-clad women into temples escalated into a major incident. The Muslim boy shared a video of Salman Azhari, along with insults directed at Hindu gods and goddesses. In response, the Hindu boy engaged in a back-and-forth, and soon, screenshots of their conversation went viral, leading to accusations of blasphemy against the Hindu minor. Despite an apology video recorded at the request of Islamic religious leaders, a mob of over 1,000 gathered outside the Hindu boy’s house that same night, chanting “Sar Tan Se Juda” and demanding his beheading. The situation further escalated when the mob assaulted a police officer who had arrived to calm tensions, resulting in another FIR being filed against the 1,000-strong crowd for disrupting traffic and obstructing police duties.
‘Sar tan se Juda’ mob hits the streets again in UP’s Bahraich:
A 14-year-old Hindu boy and a Muslim boy had a heated conversation over the entry of burqa-clad women into temples. During the exchange of messages and videos, the Muslim boy sent a clip of Salman Azhari and also… pic.twitter.com/l85fIbsT5Q
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 10, 2024
The increasing frequency of such incidents has led to growing demands for stronger legal measures to curb the violent rhetoric and street demonstrations that call for beheadings. Many citizens are now calling for a dedicated law to address this rising trend, emphasising the need for stricter enforcement to prevent such mobs from taking the law into their own hands.
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