If crowds of men and children descending upon the streets with swords, blades and other shape objects, inflicting self-harm, with blood oozing out of their fresh wounds, and moving through the cities and town in full public view was not enough, there have been multiple instances of violence associated with the Muharram procession in India, making life more difficult for the “non-believers.”
Bharat’s roads are covered with stones and brickbats, Hindu temples have been vandalized, and stones have been thrown at police and civilians, leading to severe injuries; vehicles have been torched, and the traffic situation was turned into a nightmare by anti-social elements masquerading as mourners during the Islamic occasion.
Muharram procession participants gang-rape minor girl
In one of the most unfortunate cases reported from Bihar’s Araria district, two participants of the procession, Mohammad Ashraf and Mohammad Mumtaz, gang-raped a 17-year-old girl who had come to the venue to watch the Tazia procession on the night of July 28. They abducted the minor, took her to a nearby field and sexually assaulted her until she lost consciousness. The police later recovered her with no clothes on her body. She was taken to a hospital for medical attention. When she regained consciousness, she informed the police that she was gang-raped by the accused, Mohammad Mumtaz and Mohammad Ashfaq, who repeatedly raped her during the commotion of Muharram. The police have apprehended the pair, and an FIR has been lodged against them.
Violence at Bareilly Highway
The occasion of Muharram coincides with the Hindu event of the Kanwar Yatra, and Muslims often raise objections or stop the Hindu pilgrims from conducting their processions during this time. If the latter refuse to submit, violence ensues, as happened on the Bareilly Highway near Khamaria Bridge in Pilibhit. Participants of the Muharram procession asked the Hindu pilgrims to stop their music; this eventually escalated into a fierce altercation on July 29. The Muslims began throwing stones, harassing regular commuters and targeting buses from Haridwar, a significant Hindu religious site. The windows of a bus were shattered, injuring passengers. There was also a stampede that caused injuries to many. Some reports suggest that these Muslims looted Hindu businesses while throwing stones, while in some states, the Muslim side was anchored close to the Khamaria Bridge at least three to four days ago.
Temple Attacked in Kaimur, Bihar
The gang-rape of the minor discussed above wasn’t the only disturbing news from Bihar this Muharram. As per reports, some members of the Islamic processions also attacked and vandalized a Hindu temple in Bihar’s Khaimur district. There were sloganeering and offensive chants, and the matter soon escalated from vandalism of the temple to rioting against the Hindus in the area. Though the local police were successful in controlling the havoc, this was not before the Muslim mob threw stones at police vehicles and Hindu flags. Instances of stone throwing that injured police were also reported from Gaya, Bihar.
Violence in the National Capital
Some antisocial elements partaking in the Muharram procession in West Delhi started throwing stones at the police on July 30, severely injuring at least ten police officers. The unruly crowd also exploited the mayhem to tear down shops and destroy personal property in the area. As per reports, the agitation started when the police stopped the Tazia participants from taking a route different from the one the administration had already approved. These routes must be submitted and approved beforehand but police often bow down to the ad hoc demands of the marchers. In this case, Muslims were furious when the police prohibited them from de-routing their procession. The Muslims began throwing stones at the police. The agitation was, however, brought to an end when the police began using their batons.
(This is an extract from an article published on Jihadwatch.org on August 2, 2023)
