Stone pelting has become a regular business for Islamists to attack any Hindu religious procession. On October 10, 2022, the visarjan procession of Devi Durga was attacked by Islamists in UP’s (Uttar Pradesh) Sultanpur. Also, at least 20 persons reportedly suffered minor injuries in the incident. Devi’s murti was also vandalized in the attack.

The Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) has sought a report on the matter. The police have booked 55 people and arrested 30 thus far. Police have charged the accused with an attempt to murder and registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Act, 2020.

“On the basis of CCTV footage and video clips of the incident, 55 people have been identified of whom 30 have been arrested. The arrested persons include the principal and maulvi of a madrassa who had reportedly incited the mob to hurl stones at the procession”, said Sultanpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Somen Barma.

The officer added that the statements of residents present at the spot would also be recorded. Cops are also making efforts to identify the people whose vehicles got damaged during the violence and get their cases registered.

Around 6 p.m. on October 10, at least 50 people were taking out a procession for Maa Durga immersion. When the procession reached the Ibrahimpur locality, members of the Muslim community objected to the ‘loud music’ and asked the processionists to lower the volume as they were offering ‘namaz’. The Muslim side reportedly resorted to stone pelting following the argument and even hurled grenades.

“On Monday, the Maa Bhagwati immersion procession began in Para Bazar town and progressed till near the Baba Junglenath Mahadev Temple. Because the procession was so long, it made its way around a nearby mosque. Following this, members from the mosque came out and demanded the procession to stop playing the songs. Upon this, individuals from both sides confronted each other, and an altercation ensued. Hundreds of people arrived within minutes, and the disagreement escalated into stone pelting, injuring numerous individuals and torching several vehicles”, notes OpIndia.

The situation was brought under control by Deputy Inspector General of Police Amarendra Prasad Singh, DM Ravish Gupta, and SP Somen Verma who arrived on the scene. Constables Drigpal and Vishal Sonkar, Raina Jagdishpur’s Matafer, Walipur’s Dilip Kumar, Jagdishpur’s Lalu Yadav, Brijlal, Neeraj Jamuna Prasad, Shubham of Hemanpur and others were injured. Reports indicate the violence was pre-planned as hundreds gathered within minutes to disrupt the procession.

A report by Sanatan Prabhat highlights another incident from UP’s Gonda where Islamists indulged in stone pelting. The house of Hindu youth Rikki was attacked by radicals as they were against his social media post. Several Hindu houses were also attacked with stones and their glasses were smashed by the Islamists.

Islamists regularly pelt stones, indulge in violence and attack Hindu processions. In 2019, Vishnu Yadav was killed and 17 people were injured after Islamists pelted stones on a Durga Puja procession in Bihar. Arson and stone pelting during the Ganpati procession left several injured in Gujarat’s Vadodara in 2017 and this September. Similarly, in 2018, stone pelting on a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Rajasthan left 10 devotees and 6 policemen injured.

These are just some of the numerous instances of Islamist violence against Hindu religious processions. The overt and covert support of the secular state has only emboldened radical Islamists.

(With IANS inputs)