In the past few days, multiple incidents of violence against and targeting of Muslim individuals have again surfaced. These hate crimes show the targeting of Muslims over by mobs and far-right groups over issues such as moral policing, beef transportation, and cow slaughter. It is crucial to highlight here that all the incidents of hate crime that have emerged and have been reported below took place in states run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Today April 1, 2024 is also the 22nd day of the Holy Month of Ramzan, a sacred month of fasting for all Muslims.
Madhya Pradesh:
Incident 1: Assault
On March 31, the ‘X’ profile of Hate Detectors uploaded a video that showed a young man, allegedly Muslim, being beaten up by a mob. As detailed in the post, the violence incident had taken place in Chandbad area of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh at the hands of a far-right mob. The Muslim man had been targeted for going out with a Hindu woman.
In the video, a middle-aged man can be seen physically and verbally abusing the young Muslim boy. He can be heard issuing threats of causing physical harm to the young boy while slapping him and holding his collar. All the while, the Muslim boy can be seen pleading with folded hands to the mob to let him go, assuring them that nothing is going on between him and the Hindu woman.
The video can be viewed here:
In #MadhyaPradesh‘s #Bhopal, a #Muslim youth was assaulted by #Hindutva mob for going out with a #Hindu woman at #Chandbad. pic.twitter.com/ZxnVdDHMwD
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 31, 2024
Uttar Pradesh
Incident 2: Assault
A disturbing video of a group of at least eight people beating a man with sticks and rods had been uploaded by the ‘X’ profile of Hate Detectors on March 31. It has been claimed that the man being brutally assaulted in the video is Rizwan. As per the information provided, the incident took place in Kandla village of Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. In the video, a group of 8-10 men attacking Rizwan until he falls off his bike. He when he tried to run to save himself, the mb continues to beat him.
The video can be viewed here:
@PoliceShamli – कृपया आवश्यक वैधानिक कार्यवाही करें।
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) March 31, 2024
It is essential to note, that Shamli police has reacted to the aforementioned video, which had gone viral on social media. Responding to it, the state police has provided that a case has already been registered on the aforementioned incident at Kairana police station. As provided by the police, two accused involved in the fight have been arrested and the search for the others is ongoing.
The post can be viewed here:
⚠️Trigger Warning: Disturbing Visuals.
A youth named Rizwan was travelling on his bike when he was stopped, abused and attacked by a group of men in #Kandla village of #Shamli, #UttarPradesh.
The Viral Video shows the group of 8-10 men attacking him mercilessly untill he fell… pic.twitter.com/5JoV7yu9m0
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 31, 2024
Incident 3: Assault
In Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, an imam named Mohammad Kamran was subjected to a hate crime attack by a group of Hindutva people on March 26. As provided in a post uploaded by Hate Detectors on ‘X’, when the trustee and other Muslim men from the area went to help the Imam, they too were attacked and beaten with rods by the violent mob. it has also been alleged that one individual also received a severe injury on their head.
As per a report of Siasat, the attackers have allegedly filed a fake complaint with the police stating that the Muslim men were attacking the house of a woman. The report further provided that in a video interview with a local news channel, Kamran who hails from Gorakhpur, said he had been leading prayers at a mosque in Kushinagar for the last six years. “I have never encountered anything like this before. On March 28, I was having tea at a nearby stall when suddenly I was attacked.”
It is essential to note that in his interview, Kamran has also identified a few of his attackers. Kamran has stated that “Durgesh, Sunil, Pramod and a few more persons launched an attack from behind. They hit me with sticks on my shoulder, hand and head severely. After people made noise, they ran away.”
Furthermore, Kamran has accused he UP police of conducting partisan investigation in the current case. As per Kamran’s narration, the police have refused to register the complaint of the Muslim victims. Rather, on March 28, the state police booked Kamran along with 15 other Muslims, including three minors, residing near the mosque.
As per the Siasat report, two FIRs have been lodged by the state police– one against the far-right goons who attacked Kamran and others and the other one against the Muslims. As per the report, the mob has been booked under sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC. On the other hand, in the second FIR against the Muslims, apart from Sections 147, 323 and 504, sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than a grave provocation) and 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault and wrongful restraint) have been invoked.
It is being alleged that an increasing number Muslims are now fleeing from Kushinagar fearing arbitrary arrest by the State police.
The videos can be accessed here:
Mohammad Kamran, Imam of a masjid was attacked by a group of people in #UttarPradesh‘s #Kushinagar on March 28.
▪️When the trustee and other muslim men from the area went for the rescue of Imam they too were attacked and beaten with rods.
▪️One person received severe injury on… pic.twitter.com/lB7MOTfLDP
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 31, 2024
Incident 4: Cow Vigilantism
On March 29, from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, an incident of Haryana-based cow vigilante groups crossing the state border into Uttar Pradesh to seize a truck owned by Muslims that was transporting cattle was reported.
In the video that has emerged from the incident, the vow vigilante groups can be seen raising slogans of chopping the hands of those who indulge in cow slaughter. As provided by the post, it remains to be verified whether the Muslims transporting the cattle were subjected to violence or not.
The video can be accessed here:
Gujarat
Incident 5: Assault on minor
On March 31, an incident of assault of minor was report by Hate Detectors on ‘X’. as per the post, a Muslim kid aged 12 was attacked after Taraweeh prayers in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. As per the information provided, the kid had gone for a walk on the Dudheshwar riverfront while wearing a skull cap when the attack on the boy took place. It has been alleged that the perpetrators beat up the child and then fled from the scene. The minor victim had been brought to SVP Hospital pursuant to the attack. A video showing an ambulance coming to the scene of incident has been uploaded on social media.
The video can be accessed here:
This is from #Ahmedabad, #Gujarat.
After Taraweeh prayers, innocent Muslim kid Sufiyan (12) went for a walk on the #Dudheshwar riverfront wearing a skull cap when some extremist attacked the boy, beat him and fled.
The victim Sufiyan has been brought to SVP Hospital. pic.twitter.com/NSyZVGa2Aa
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 31, 2024
Chhattisgarh
Incident 6: Harassment, cow vigilantism
On March 31, a video was uploaded by Hindutva Watch which showed a Muslim labourer being asked to do sit-ups while holding his ears and apologising for transporting cattle. The said incident has been reported from Balrampur, Chhattisgarh.
The video can be viewed here:
Rajasthan
Incident 7: Cow Vigilantism, Assault
On March 31, a video was uploaded by Hindutva Watch which showed a mini truck driver being assaulted by a group of cow vigilantes for transporting cattle. The said incident took place in Machari, Rajgarh of Alwar, Rajasthan.
The video can be viewed here:
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