Introduction
In a chilling incident beneath the Ramji temple in Ochchan village, Wagra taluka, Bharuch district of Gujarat, a Hindu businessman managing a general grocery shop found himself under attack. Both the businessman and his wife sustained injuries in the assault. Shockingly, those who came to the couple's aid, including the village sarpanch, were also targeted and assaulted by the mob. The accused allegedly harbored intentions of fatally harming the victim. Presently, authorities have filed an FIR against a group of 11 individuals, including two juveniles, and are actively pursuing necessary actions in the case.
According to gathered information, the unsettling event unfolded in Ochchan village, situated within the jurisdiction of Wagra police station in Bharuch district. Near the village's Ramji temple, there are some shops. Kishan Kumat, who's from Rajasthan, owns one of these shops. He sells food there to help his family. On April 21, around 10:30 pm, two sons of Abdul Ahmad Patel, the accused, came to Kishan's shop to buy something. But things got bad. They attacked Kishan because he asked them to leave when they were speaking rudely.
According to Kishan's complaint, Abdul's sons were hanging around near the shop and using bad words. Kishan warned them because there were women customers nearby and they shouldn't speak badly. But instead of listening, they got angry and started abusing Kishan and his wife.
Soon, a group of 15 to 20 people, including Javid, Hujef, Mustaq, Riyaz, and Abdul, joined in. They surrounded Kishan and started hitting him. Kishan's FIR says that the rest of the group threw stones at another shop near the temple. At the same time, they also tried to set fire to Kishan's shop.
Police Action
In a significant development following the incident, the Wagra Police in Bharuch district have taken swift action. They have apprehended Abdul Ahmad Patel and his two children, Riyaz Mustaq Patel and Firoza Mustaq Patel, along with several others involved in the altercation. Among those arrested are Sabina Mustaq Patel, Taslima Mustaq Patel, Taslima Abdul Patel, Saeed Ahmad Patel, Mustaq Ahmad Patel, Hujaif Zakir Patel, and Javid Adam Patel. An FIR has been registered against these 11 individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 143, 147, 149, 323, 337, 436, 504, and 506 (2).
Recent Cases of Muslims Attacking Hindus
Attack on Shaurya Yatra
On September 29th, 2023, a disturbing incident unfolded during a Shaurya Yatra organized by Hindu groups in Gujarat's Narmada district. As the yatra procession passed through the Selamba area, chaos erupted when a group of individuals from the Muslim community allegedly began pelting stones and setting fire to shops. The Shaurya Jagran Yatra, led by the Bajrang Dal, started in Kuida village and was slated to conclude in Selamba. However, tensions escalated as the procession traversed through Selamba, with stones allegedly hurled at the yatra by individuals in a predominantly Muslim area.
Video footage captured the unsettling sight of a mob attacking the Shaurya Yatra, with stones allegedly thrown from the vicinity of a mosque. Prompt police intervention ensued as law enforcement teams rushed to the scene to restore order. Teargas shells were reportedly used to disperse the crowd, while authorities also grappled with the challenge of extinguishing fires that engulfed several shops during the turmoil.
Murder of Two Hindu Brothers by a Muslim Barber
Similarly, on the fateful evening of March 19, 2024, tension gripped the streets of Budaun, Uttar Pradesh as Sajid, the accused Muslim barber, reportedly entered the home of a Hindu family in Sundarnagar Baba Colony and mercilessly slit the throats of the two Hindu brothers aged six and 11 on the terrace. Miraculously, a third sibling managed to escape the brutal attack, recounting to media outlets the horrifying ordeal at the hands of Sajid. "He tried to attack me too, but I pushed away his knife, pushed him, and ran downstairs," the brave survivor revealed, bearing physical injuries as scars of the traumatic event.
11 Year Old Hindu Boy Thrashed by Muslims in Thane, Maharashtra
Another disturbing incident was caught on CCTV in Thane, Maharashtra, when a minor Hindu boy found himself at the center of an attempt to impose Islam upon him. The footage, which went viral, depicts the harrowing moment when the young boy was coerced into chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ instead of his customary 'Jai Shri Ram' by a Muslim youth. The 11-year-old had innocently greeted the individual, mistaking him for a security guard, before facing an assault for his religious expression. Sanjay Singh, the father of the victim, took swift action by lodging an FIR against five unidentified youths.
The distressing encounter unfolded on March 25, 2024, around 9:30 PM on Mumbai’s Mira Road, captured entirely by CCTV cameras in the building. As per the Complaint filed by his father, his son, after exchanging greetings with an individual, “Jai Shree Ram.”, was confronted by a group of youths who pursued him into the building and subjected him to physical assault. The complaint further reveals the distressing coercion of the minor into chanting “Allah Hu Akbar.”
Reason for Ongrowing Attacks by Radical Islamists
In the backdrop of escalating tensions, the spate of attacks on Hindus and Hindu temples by radical Islamists underscores a troubling trend rooted in the growing radicalization of Muslims in India. This phenomenon, far from clandestine, has long simmered within the social fabric of the nation. From igniting communal violence across states post-independence to the tragic Godhra incident of 2002, where 59 Hindu pilgrims perished in a fire aboard the Sabarmati Express, the specter of radicalization has cast a long shadow over India's socio-political landscape.
The manifestations of this radical ideology extend beyond isolated incidents, encompassing phenomena like Love Jihad and alarming affiliations with terrorist organizations such as SIMI and ISIS. The underlying motives often pivot around a stark agenda: the annihilation of non-believers, the establishment of Sharia Law, and the transformation of secular spaces into Islamic strongholds.
Reason for Radicalization of Muslims
In the complex tapestry of radicalization among Muslims in India, the influence of certain revered figures serves as a potent catalyst for ideological shifts and social upheaval. The fervent adulation bestowed upon individuals like Burhan Wani, a militant from Jammu and Kashmir, underscores the power of hero worship in shaping collective sentiments. Wani's funeral, marked by the presence of militants and chants of adoration, reverberated across the Kashmir Valley, with lakhs of mourners hailing him as a hero. Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, the demise of notorious gangsters like Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari elicited mass gatherings, with thousands labeling them as heroes and saviors.
This trend of lionizing controversial figures extends beyond geographical confines, finding resonance in the teachings of individuals like Zakir Naik, a figure embroiled in legal controversies and wanted by Indian authorities on charges ranging from terror financing to hate speech. Naik's influence, along with that of similar hate preachers from Pakistan and Arab countries, underscores a troubling trend wherein misguided idolization intersects with ideological indoctrination, fueling the growth of radical ideology among Muslims.
The implications of this phenomenon are far-reaching and multifaceted. Beyond the immediate threats to national security and the secular fabric of India, recent demographic data paints a stark picture of the changing social landscape. The significant increase in the Muslim population juxtaposed with a notable decline in the Hindu population between 1950 and 2015 raises concerns about the long-term repercussions of radicalization. The confluence of these factors poses a serious threat to the nation's stability and cohesion, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address radicalization and safeguard India's pluralistic ethos. As the specter of radical ideology looms large, proactive strategies that prioritize social harmony and inclusivity are paramount to navigating the complexities of religious diversity and preserving the nation's democratic values.
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