Tuesday, March 19, 2024

In pictures: Victims of Islamophobic violence in Rajasthan

Usman had a tailoring shop at Boora Batasha Market at Karauli in Rajasthan. On April 2, 2022, a Hindutva mob celebrating the shobha yatra resorted to full-scale anti-Muslim riots. Usman’s shop was looted & burnt while his Hindu neighbor’s shop was left untouched. The shop was the only source of livelihood for him. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob

On 2 April, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal, took out a bike rally on Hindu New Year in Karauli, Rajasthan. When the rally passed a Muslim-dominated area, Islamophobic songs were put on high volume in the procession.

The lyrics of the song are: “Jis din jaag utha Hindut, toh ye anjaam bolega. Ki topi wala sar jhuka ke Jai Sri Ram bolega. Jis din khola khoon mera, dikha denge aukat teri. Fir toh hum nahi bolenge, bas bolegi talwaar meri.”

Dozen of Muslim traders were looted, vandalised selectively and set on fire by the local Hindutva mob after some people from the rally pelted stones at the mosque while passing it.

Najmuddin had a small shop selling dry fruits and spices at Boora Batasha Gali , Karauli, Rajasthan. It was the evening of April 2, 2022 when a Hindutva mob attacked his shop , looted some of the items and burnt the entire remaining. Najmuddin has 3 daughters and a boy, all studying at a nearby school. The family of 6 were dependent on the shop for their livelihood. With the shop gone, a part of Najmuddin’s hope seems bleak and dark. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob
Khatoon Bano and Sitara with a family of 10 & 16 members had a shop cum residence at Phootakot Bazar, Karauli, Rajasthan. The family had been running the bangle shop for some 300 years at the same place. Khatoon Bano said that its the 6th generation that is selling the bangle at the same place. During the anti Muslim violence on April 2, 2022, the entire of her shop cum residence was gutted in the fire. The family now has nowhere to stay and no source of livelihood. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob
Karauli in Rajasthan witnessed an anti Muslim riot on April 2, 2022. It all started with playing of anti Muslim provocative songs on Shobha yatra around Muslim locality that led to friction & further violence in the area. Later that evening, a hindutva mob started looting and setting Muslim shops on fire. Abdul Hameed’s shop was also set on fire by the Hindutva mob. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob
At the extreme corner In the Chaudhry Pada in Karauli , Rajasthan, Irfan had a garment shop. It was one of the biggest shop in the entire market complex that houses 10 odd shops. Irfan’s and Fakruddin’s shops were the only 2 Muslim shops in the entire complex. It had goods worth Rs.35 lakhs. The Hindutva mob looted all the goods & set the shop on fire. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob
Waheed Khan had his tailoring cum embroidery shop on rent at the Sarrafa Bazar area. The Hindutva mob not only looted all the machines but also set the whole complex on fire. The family with 12 dependent persons on the single shop had been running the shop for the past 48 years. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob
The Hindutva mob looted all the goods and set the shop of Mohd Kasim on fire during the anti-Muslim violence erupted in Rajasthan. The shop was the only source of livelihood for him. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob
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