India: Muslims engage in stone-pelting, arson and violence on Hindu processions on Hindu festival of Ramanavami
The attack on Hindu religious processions by Islamists is not a new phenomenon in India. Muslims constitute 14.23% of the Indian population as per the 2011 census.
April 2022 is the season of Hindu religious processions. On Saturday, 2 April was the Hindu New Year, i.e. Gudhipadwa, while Sunday, 10 April was Ram Navami Day.
Attack on Hindus in Rajasthan on 2 April
On 2 April 2002, communal violence broke out in the Hatwara Bazaar area of Karauli in Rajasthan state (India’s biggest state in terms of area, but only 7th largest in terms of population, mainly due to the fact that a large part of the state is a desert) of India when miscreants pelted stones at a Hindu bike rally while more than a dozen shops and three bikes were set on fire. Muslims constitute 9.1% of Rajasthan’s population as per the 2011 census.
Reportedly, 43 people, including policemen, were injured in the mob attack while the rally which was celebrating ‘Nav Samvatsar’ [i.e. New Year] passed through a Muslim-dominated area. All were admitted to the district hospital. The condition of a person named Pushpendra is said to be serious. He has been referred to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan state.
Four policemen accompanying the rally were also injured in the stone-pelting on the bike rally. The reports said that there were knife marks on the body of the injured who reached the hospital. In the aftermath of the violence, Rajasthan Police imposed a curfew, and shut down the internet services.
Islamists as well as Leftists want facts damaging to Muslims to be suppressed so that Muslims may appear to be the innocent, injured party. Since the Rajasthan attacks on Hindus by Muslims is a very inconvenient narrative, Washington Post columnist Khaled Beydoun spread absolute lies on the subject, completing inverting the victims and the attackers. Khaled Beydoun posted, “40+ Muslim homes + businesses were set on fire in 24 hours’ time, during Ramadan in Rajasthan India. Hindutva is terrorism.” [We could not find his tweet later, as on 13 April 2022, though, meaning that he may have deleted it, or it may have been removed.] Pakistan’s newspaper Dawn too falsely claimed that 40 houses of Muslims were burned, although even they admitted that the Muslims began the conflict.
Attacks on Ram Navami processions by Muslims on 10 April 2022 in various states in India
Ram Navami or the birth anniversary of Lord Rama is an auspicious occasion in the Hindu calendar year. On that day, Hindus seek blessings from Lord Rama, provide food to the needy, perform rituals, take out processions and so on. However, when these processions pass through the so-called ‘Muslim dominated areas’, it often leads to stone pelting, targeted attacks, arson and vandalism.
Two incidents of stone-pelting, arson in Madhya Pradesh
In Madhya Pradesh state’s Khargone city, a Ram Navami procession was attacked with stones by a mob of Muslims on 10 April 2022. The visuals of the attack are being circulated on social media. Khargone is about 300 kilometres from state capital Bhopal. As per reports, a Ram Navami procession that began in the Talab Chowk area had to be abandoned midway after it came under a volley of stones. Several vehicles were set on fire. [This is a report of The Hindu, which is a very Leftist pro-Muslim newspaper.]
The cops resorted to firing tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. During the orgy of violence, a total of 24 people were injured (including 6 police personnel). Even the Superintendent of Police (Khargone) had sustained bullet injuries. Keeping in mind the volatile law and order situation, a curfew was imposed in the area.
The local police told the media that the police had to resort to tear gas shells to control the mob.
As per a report by NDTV [an extremely pro-Muslim, Leftist TV channel of India], the procession was “crossing through a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood when residents objected to the songs playing from loudspeakers during the procession”.
The mob didn’t stop at stone-pelting, but reportedly vandalised a temple too. Ten people were reportedly injured in the attacks.
All examinations in the city, which were to be conducted on Monday (April 11), have been postponed until further notice. DIG ( Nimar Range) Tilak Singh remarked, “The situation has been under control after 2 am today and no complaint has been received. Police patrolling is on. A search operation was carried out and more than 70 people have so far been rounded up.”
A similar stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh state where a police station in charge named Baldev Singh Mujalde and five others were injured. The situation was brought under control and the procession continued peacefully thereafter.
In a tweet, Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister said, “In Khargone today (April 10), anti-social elements tried to spoil the atmosphere of the city. I have spoken to the IG and the collector over phone and instructed them to take strict action against the miscreants. Stone pelters and culprits will not be spared. We will not spare those who take law in their hands.”
One Muslim was killed in this violence in Khargone. The first (and perhaps, only) death here was confirmed on 18 April 2022.
India Today (a very largely circulated mainstream media outlet of India) reported as late as 22 April 2022 that that one Muslim Ibrish Khan was the only fatality reported till then in the Khargone violence.
In the violence in Madhya Pradesh a 16-year old Hindu boy was critically injured, and fighting for his life. Even pro-Muslim and Leftist media outlets like The Indian Express, and NDTV (extremely pro-Muslim and Leftist news outlet, whose owners are blood relatives of Marxist political leaders, and are Marxists too) reported this.
Ram Navami procession attacked in West Bengal
Violence also erupted in West Bengal state’s Howrah. Muslims are officially 27% of the population of West Bengal as per the 2011 census, and are estimated to be much more in reality, considering the millions of illegal Bangladeshis who live in West Bengal. Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, shared visuals of violence and tweeted, “Ram Bhakts aren’t safe in WB. Howrah Police Commissionerate personnel thrashed participants of a Ram Navami procession at Shibpur. Many got injured.”
On Sunday 10 April 2022, a Ram Navami Procession in Howrah in West Bengal was attacked, and the devotees had to abandon the procession due to the attack by local Muslims. Several participants of the procession were injured in the attack including stone-pelting.
Several videos were posted on social media, showing the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra coming under attack in Howrah, the twin city of Kolkata. According to Twitter users from the city, the Muslim mob pelted stones at the procession, while the police remained mute spectators.
The procession was attacked in the midway near Fazir Bazar at PM Basti on GT Road in Shibpur, Howrah.
West Bengal BJYM Vice President Priyanka Sharma posted a video on Twitter to inform about the attack. She said that when the procession was on its way, stones were pelted at them. She further alleged that after the attack, police had lathi-charged the Hindu procession, and later arrested them, but didn’t take action against the attackers.
Gujarat witnessed stone pelting in Himmatnagar and Khambat
At least one person has died in Gujarat in similar incidents of violence that took place in “minority-populated” areas in Himmatnagar, Gandhinagar and Khambatta.
“Incidents of violence were reported after stone-pelting broke out when the Ram Navmi processions passed through Muslim-dominated areas,” Hindustan Times quoted a police officer as saying. [Hindustan Times is a very ‘secularist’, pro-Muslim newspaper.]
A Ram Navami Shobha Yatra or procession organized on April 10, 2022, at Chhaparia village in Himmatnagar of the Sabarkantha in Gujarat was targeted by some local Muslim goons and stones were pelted at it. Apart from stone-pelting, some vehicles were also vandalized in this incident.
The procession started at Ramji Mandir in Chhapariya at 4.15 pm and was to reach Tower chowk after passing through several areas of the city. However, it was attacked when the Hindu religious procession reached the ‘Muslim dominated area’. Several vehicles, which were part of the Ram Navami procession, were damaged and one open Jeep was burnt by the attackers.
A convoy of Himmatnagar police had reached the spot on being informed about the violence. The police also fired tear gas shells to control the situation. After stone-pelting and vandalism, tension and unrest prevailed in the entire area.
There was also anger among the devotees as the procession of the deity was pelted with stones. A large contingent of police personnel was deployed to control the situation and prevent any further violence.
A similar incident of stone-pelting on a Ram Navami procession was reported in Khambat town in the Anand district of Gujarat. Stones were hurled by Islamists and damage was caused to shops and vehicles. The police resorted to firing tear gas shells and also arrested 9 people (including 3 Maulvis) in connection to the case.
Reportedly, one man was killed during the attack in Khambhat. There was a confirmed death of a 65-year old man, but we could not come to know if he was a Hindu or a Muslim. [There is quite a chance that he was in fact a Hindu, since had he been a Muslim, the Leftist pro-Muslim propaganda websites would have done a story and mentioned his religion, like they did in case of one Muslim victim of Khargone in Madhya Pradesh.]
But that violence of Khambhat was totally started by Muslims, attacking Ram Navami processions. “The Hindu community takes out processions and celebrates Ram Navami. With an aim to stop these celebrations and to increase the dominance of the Muslim community in the area, the procession was attacked,” the police statement said. Anand’s Superintendent of Police Ajit Rajian remarked, “The situation in Khambhat town is under control. We have already arrested nine suspects and started further investigation.”
In Himmatnagar, Muslims had killed a young Hindu after gouging out his eyes in the 2002 post-Godhra riots (even after the Godhra massacre) as reported by India Today 15 April 2002 issue.
“….The stories only got more macabre. (In March 2002) In Himmatnagar, a young man who went to a Muslim-dominated area to do business was found dead, with his eyes gouged out…This phase, really, was one of Muslim mobs attacking Hindus.”
https://indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20020415-vajpayee-visit-to-riot-torn-gujarat-fails-to-have-a-balming-effect-795482-2002-04-15 (See paragraph 12 of this report)
Islamists target Hindus in Karnataka, put up a show later to whitewash crimes
Communal tensions prevailed in Mulbagal town of Kolar district in Karnataka after a Sri Ram Shobha Yatra was attacked using stones. The incident happened on Friday (8 April 2022) night when the Shobha Yatra was being taken out ahead of Ram Navmi on Sunday (10 April 2022).
As per reports, stones were pelted at the Sri Ram idol which was carried out in the procession. Cars and motorcycles that were part of the yatra were also attacked by the miscreants and a motorcycle was set ablaze by the stone-pelting mob. Kolar MP S Muniswamy was also reportedly a part of the procession.
The Shobha Yatra was planned as part of the four-day program at Avani Kesthra in Mulbagal from April 7 to 11. On Friday, the procession was passing through the main streets of the town when the violence broke out.
As the procession headed towards Jahangir mohalla, a mob started throwing stones at the procession leading to chaos in the area. A power cut in the area added to the confusion and police had to resort to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Police have also arrested 6 accused for their role in the violence.
Amidst the mayhem unleashed by the Islamists, attempts were being made to downplay the violence and divert public discourse to a supposed instance of communal harmony.
In one such attempt, Karnataka Congress worker Gufran Khan alleged that Muslims offered welcome drinks to Ram Navami devotees in Gulbarga while observing their fast. “This is what India is all about. BJP cannot divide us”, he had declared.
16 injured, 3 critical in attack on Ram Navami procession in Jharkhand
On Sunday (April 10) evening, a Ram Navami procession and fair came under attack in Bhokta Bagicha in Hirhi village in Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, with stone pelting done. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Sadar Police Station. [The Times of India reported this, which is also an extremely pro-Muslim, ‘secularist’ newspaper.]
Islamists pelted stones at the Hindu procession and set several vehicles, including 10 motorcycles, on fire. More than 16 people were injured during the attack. About 3 of the victims are said to be in a critical state.
“Many of the injured are residents of Hendlaso Kujra and nearby villages,” recounted an eyewitness. According to the senior surgeon (Lohardaga Sadar hospital) Dr Shamu Chaudhary, around 15-16 people were admitted to the hospital. “Three of them have cuts in their throats with sharp-edged weapons and their condition is critical,” he added.
Music Outside Mosques – Reason For Riots For Over A Century
Such violence is hardly new, and has been a feature of Hindu religious processions for at least over a century.
In his seminal book, Pakistan, or the Partition of India, Dr B R Ambedkar, a Hindu apostate and a staunch critic of Hinduism, but an equally honest scholar who studied Islam and mentioned its shortcomings, noted that the three main reasons for communal discord between Hindus and Muslims were cow slaughter, music outside mosques and religious conversions. [Ambedkar (1891-1956) who converted to Buddhism and has written a lot against Hinduism was the architect of India’s Constitution. He was a leader of the Dalits, the then so-called ‘lower caste’ Hindus who were former ‘untouchables’. To make up for this discrimination, India now gives reservation in education and jobs and many other concessions for Dalits and other so-called lower caste people.]
Ambedkar criticised the Muslims on both counts. He said that Muslims in India insist on stoppage of music outside mosques for no other reason except that the Hindus claim a right to it.
He wrote,
“…noticeable among the Muslims is the spirit of exploiting the weaknesses of the Hindus. If the Hindus object to anything, the Muslim policy seems to be to insist upon it and give it up only when the Hindus show themselves ready to offer a price for it by giving the Muslims some other concessions…
“Another illustration of this spirit of exploitation is furnished by the Muslim insistence upon cow-slaughter and the stoppage of music before mosques. Islamic law does not insist upon the slaughter of the cow for sacrificial purposes and no Musalman [Muslim], when he goes to Haj, sacrifices the cow in Mecca or Medina. But in India they will not be content with the sacrifice of any other animal. Music may be played before a mosque in all Muslim countries without any objection. Even in Afghanistan, which is not a secularized country, no objection is taken to music before a mosque. But in India the Musalmans [Muslims] must insist upon its stoppage for no other reason except that the Hindus claim a right to it.”
A correspondent of Swarajya magazine did a ground report from Uttar Pradesh state’s Balrampur district in 2019. Visuals from a village named Harkhadi had been widely circulated on social media, showing a Muslim mob pelting stones at a Durga procession.
The visit revealed that the village has a decade-old “rule” that the Durga murti cannot pass by the mosque and the DJ truck accompanying the procession must turn off the music outside the mosque.
This rule was decided by the local administration to prevent riots. Every year, a line was drawn on either side of the mosque to define the no-go area for the murti. The vehicle carrying the murti must take the diverted, much-longer route to reach the other side of the mosque.
“Idol-worship” and music are prohibited in Islam as per certain interpretations of the Quran, hence the rule.
Hindu residents said they felt insulted by the “border”.
Instead of pinning the blame on attackers, the Leftist secularists in India blame it all on “provocation”. Such rationalizations have a pattern; they cover up bigotry of Muslims.
The old strategy of Islamists is to attack others, and call any resistance as ‘Attacks, attacks’! Its like a thief shouting ‘Thief, thief’ and getting away! Muslims attacked so many Ramanavami processions, and yet Islamists were claiming on Twitter #IndianMuslimsUnderAttack amplified by world media outlets.
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