By Our Correspondent
JAIPUR – The recent communal violence at Jahazpur in Rajasthan’s Shahpura district, in which several persons were injured, was triggered by abusive slogans raised during a religious procession taken out by Hindus outside Jama Masjid. Stones were pelted during the violence and the kiosks and shops of Muslims were looted and demolished with a private bulldozer operated by the local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA.
A group of Muslim leaders from Jaipur, who visited Jahazpur this week, found a tense atmosphere prevailing in the town, as Muslim youths arrested on flimsy charges are still behind bars, while the Hindu accused persons have been released on bail. All the Muslim Municipal Councillors elected on the Congress ticket have resigned from their posts in protest against the party’s reluctance to support the community.
The incident on September 14 took place after a procession was taken out by the Hindu community on a local festival, Jal Jhulni Ekadashi. The local residents said that such processions have been taking place for years, usually involving not more than 40 people, but this time the procession had around 500 people carrying sticks and shouting objectionable slogans outside the mosque, which was never seen before. This incident seemed as if it was all planned in advance.
After a minor altercation, the situation heated up and soon stone pelting started. The crowd participating in the procession turned violent, which led to the targeting of the Muslim community with private bulldozers. About 65 shops and cabins of Muslims in the town were looted, demolished and set on fire.
BJP MLA from Jahazpur, Gopichand Meena reached the spot and called the mosque illegal, while demanding that the administration summon documents from the mosque committee. Under pressure from the Hindu community, the Jahazpur Municipality hurriedly issued a 24-hour notice to check the documents of two mosques in the town.
The residents of the area alleged that the people who instigated the violence were called from outside, due to which the poor people here had to suffer. Most of the affected shopkeepers had started their business by taking loans, and now their livelihood is finished. Apart from this, the administration acted with bias. Innocent Muslims were arrested, but no concrete action was taken against the real culprits who spread violence.
A joint delegation of various public organizations from Jaipur reached Jahazpur and met the police and administrative officials, while expressing displeasure over the one-sided action in the incident and demanded the immediate release of innocent people and strict action against the real culprits.
Shahpura Additional District Magistrate Sunil Punia said that he was not aware of the entire incident and assured that the legal action would be fair. Along with this, a team has been formed to survey the damage to the shops, and efforts will be made to provide compensation to the victims on the basis of its report.
The local traders with whom the delegation members interacted alleged that this action was not taken by the administration or the municipality, but the action of demolishing the shops of Muslims was taken with private bulldozers at the behest of MLA Gopichand Meena. The people who instigated the violence were called from outside, because of whom the poor people here had to suffer. Most of the affected shopkeepers had started their business by taking loans, and now they do not have a means of livelihood.
The administration adopted a one-sided approach in its action, where innocent Muslims were arrested, but no concrete action was taken against the real culprits who spread violence. MLA Gopichand Meena was stated to be the main person responsible for spoiling the atmosphere with bullying and inciting the mob of the Hindu community.
The delegation met the affected people to know the entire situation and demanded impartial action to provide justice to the victims and to give them compensation. The delegation members included Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Rajasthan) president Mohammed Nazimuddin, Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) Rajasthan chapter president Advocate Syed Saadat Ali, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (Rajasthan) president Hafiz Manzoor, and Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity president Sawai Singh.
After returning to Jaipur, the delegation members also met Director General of Police (DGP) Utkal Ranjan Sahoo and submitted a memorandum to him demanding a free and fair probe into the violence in Jahazpur and prompt action to arrest the culprits.
Meanwhile, all the Muslim Municipal Councillors in Jahazpur elected on the Congress ticket have tendered resignation from their posts. They said the party’s leadership did not take care to enquire about the situation in the town or extend support to the victims. The Municipal Councillors said since the Congress was reluctant to the support the community during the crisis situation, there was no justification for continuing in the office.
