Violence and vandalism have marred Ram Navami Processions in several states of India, targeting Muslims. Hate speech and stone-pelting against places of worship and shrines were common in all the incidents, which occurred in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, and Gujarat.
In Gujarat‘s Vadodara, anti-Muslim violence broke out after the Ram Navami procession took an unusual route from the Panjrigar area of Fatehpura Road. The procession halted near the Muslim-populated area of Ibadatgaah, where provocative slogans against the Muslim community were raised, and loud music was played. This led to stone-pelting from the procession, which resulted in damage to vehicles and mosques in the area.
“There was no crowd or mob because all Muslims were off for namaz. They didn’t even have any idea that the Shobha Yatra would take this route which in the past was never allowed in the area. It is for the first time that they are here. Stones were pelted by men in saffron from Shobha Yatra and many vehicles were vandalized but the police proactively controlled the situation. The allegations about Muslims pelting stones on Shobha Yatra are false,” said Shaukat Indori, a lawyer and leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
Videos of violence and hate speech by Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Raushan Kumar Shah have gone viral on the internet. In the speech, Shah threatened police and said that Vadodara would be burnt if any VHP members were arrested, and made derogatory comments about Muslims.
“We will repeat 2002 if any of our VHP members are arrested. The whole of Vadodara will be burnt. This is not Pakistan. This is the Bharat of Hindus. Don’t forget that you (Gujarat Police) were beaten in Karnavati. Stop eating chicken and mutton biryani from Muslims,” Shah said.
Shah has since been arrested by Gujarat police under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code.
According to local Muslim leader Zahid Babu, the procession was initially peaceful, but after the hate speech, other processions turned violent at Bhandwada Road and Champaner Gate. The Hindu mob pelted stones against Champaner Darwaza Masjid, a dargah near Adaniya Pul, and Khajuri Masjid near Nyay Mandir.
Muslim communities have suffered property damage, but fear taking any actions against the accused, said Indori.
An FIR has been registered against 45 named accused and 500-600 unknown under Section 123, 127, 148, 149, 332, 353, 324, 186, 427, 120B, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Twenty-three people, including five women, have been arrested.
City Police Station of Vadodara told Maktoob: “An FIR has been registered against 45 named accused and 500-600 unknown under Section 123, 127, 148, 149, 332, 353, 324, 186, 427, 120B, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. 23 people including 5 women have been arrested by the police.”
Advocate Shaukat Indori has alleged that all 45 accused are Muslims, and that the police have taken biased actions.
Among the 23 accused who were arrested, 5 were placed in police remand for two days while the remaining 18 were sent to judicial custody.
The reason behind the arrest of the 5 women was their resistance when the police forcibly entered their homes to apprehend the men, Indori said.
Violence also broke out in the Panjrigar area of Vadodara on Friday, resulting in the vandalization of vehicles and two Muslim shrines.
According to Liyaqat Khan Pathan, a resident in the area, the attackers were armed with naked swords and were chanting anti-Muslim slogans. Pathan said that the police initially handled the situation, but later during an iftar organized to calm tensions, the police barged in and detained many people, including women.
“They vandalized my vehicles and subverted the laris (lorry) in Bhutdizampa and other areas. They were chanting anti-Muslim slogans to instigate the community but nobody came out. It was zuhr (afternoon prayer) time so all the Muslims were off for namaz. There are two dargahs (shrines) of Kalu Shahid and Balu Shahid in the Panjrigar area. They did stone pelting on them which is very much visible in the videos,” said Pathan.
Rehan Shaikh, an advocate for the arrested accused, claimed that innocent Muslim men were detained and arrested by the police, including a mentally challenged person and a law student who was not involved in the rioting. He further stated that the police were combing houses and there was a palpable fear and anxiety among Muslims in the area.
“The thing here is that the offenders and culprits play the role of victims and the actual victims are portrayed as accused. They were celebrating and justifying the 2002 pogrom by stating returning 2002,” said Shaikh.
However, Vadodara ACP, M P Bahujani, stated that an investigation is ongoing and there is no Hindu-Muslim bias. He clarified that hate speech is objectionable, and an accused is an accused, regardless of gender. Bahujani also mentioned that the Shobha Yatra, a Hindu religious procession, had permission, and the route was predetermined.
While the police are identifying stone pelters based on CCTV footage, Pathan alleged that the police action was biased, with cameras in Muslim areas being monitored more closely. Pathan stated that the area is heavily policed, and Muslims are living under the threat of another 2002, referring to the anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat.
The situation remains tense in the area, with many Muslims afraid to speak out. The police have stated that they will arrest Hindu accused as well, and the investigation is ongoing.
Huneza Khan is an independent journalist.
