Hindu activist Jayabrata Dey was taken into custody on 10 April by the Sambalpur police in Odisha The family says Jayabrata is being deliberately targeted by the administration as he has been involved in Gauraksha.

Hanuman Jayanti’s violence hit the town leading to the loss of life and property. Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated by taking out a rally procession as is customary across Bharat. A motorbike rally on Wednesday (April 12) evening witnessed violence ahead of the Hanuman Janmotsv celebrations leaving 10 police personnel injured. The Sambalpur police arrested 32 persons in this connection on Friday (April 14).

“We have arrested two for arson, and three for stabbing. A total of 32 persons have been arrested so far for violence. 42 platoons of police force have been deployed in the city which will be led by 26 DSPs, 43 Inspectors, and 70 Sub-Inspectors. Apart from that 20 patrolling parties are deployed in several parts of the city to monitor the miscreants. The police have also identified houses where stones or lathis were seized during searches following the violence”, Sambalpur SP (Superintendent of Police) B Gangadhar informed media.

However, these ‘preventive measures’ failed to stop the recurrence of violence on Friday (April 14) as Hanuman Janmotsav processions were carried out in different parts of Sambalpur. In the fresh violence that erupted on Friday, several shops were set afire even as a heavy police deployment and Section 144 were enforced.

“In response to the violence, the state government ordered a 48-hour internet shutdown in the entire district, starting from 10 am on April 13. Thirty-two people were arrested after violence on Wednesday. In Odisha, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Maha Vishuva Sankranti, which was celebrated on Friday this year”, noted India Today.

HinduPost contacted Jayabrata’s family to learn the entire sequence of events. Shri Jayabrata was still in police custody when we contacted his family. He was the State President of BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha) and the ex-Chairman of Sambalpur Development Authority. Jayabrata has been involved in Gauraksha.

It has come to light that the Sambalpur police cited an audio clip to arrest Shri Jayabrata Dey. HinduPost accessed the audio clip where the activist is merely highlighting the history of Hanuman Janmotsav celebrations in Sambalpur and how the city has come under threat due to the change in demographics fuelled by votebank politics.

He also highlights how votebank politics is encouraging Islamists thereby putting the tolerant and peaceful Hindu community at risk of attack year after year. In the audio, Shri Jayabrata also points out the threat posed by the Christian Evangelical conversion mafia.

He also says the yatra is meant to awaken the Hindu community and pressurize the administration to act against these anti-Hindu and anti-national forces. He minces no words when he points out the nexus between these forces and some elements within the administration who afford them protection.

We further learned that Sambalpur is largely peaceful, however, the history of stone-pelting on the Hanuman Jayanti procession dates back to 1987. Islamists attacked Hanuman Bhakts, pelted stones, and broke the murti of Bhagwan Hanuman saying the procession cannot pass from their masjid.

In view of the violence, it was decided that Bhakts would take out processions from each Pada and take it along the main road. The various processions from different Padas reach Ram Mandir from where the main procession starts and moves through the main road.

Some areas through which the procession passes are communally sensitive since Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Muslim numbers have risen here in the past few years. Jayabrata’s daughter informed us that despite knowing the sensitive nature of the area, the administration was lax and didn’t take security arrangements as seriously as they should have.

The rise in Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslim populations directly contributed to the increase in the crime rate in the region. Activist Jayabrata had called for the unification of Hindus and highlighted the influx of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis on Social Media (SM) which is the main reason behind his arrest said his family. His daughter reiterated that locals want to live in harmony but separatist Islamists who have infiltrated the area are creating trouble.

The administration should be putting these infiltrators under strict surveillance which they are not doing. In fact, restrictions are being placed on Hindus with regard to the placement of saffron flags and posters/banners.

Jayabrata’s daughter further informed us that the police took him away without any warrant. The family was also not informed and the family was kept under threat the whole night by stationing special squad officials outside their home. They were not just threatened but also mentally harassed.

A bike rally is conducted prior to the Hanuman Jayanti procession in order to inform devotees of the upcoming procession. During the bike rally, stones were pelted simultaneously in 5 to 6 places. In the violence that ensued, a Hindu man lost his life and another is battling for his life.

Jayabrata’s daughter told us that though there have been some reports in the media, the entire truth has not come out. There appears to be some kind of administrative pressure on the media. However, the media is not investigating the matter deeply. The entire incident has angered Hindus. Moreover, Hindus don’t have a leader who can channelise their anger.

The Sessions court was to hear Jayabrata’s bail case today. Jayabrata is a ground-level leader who is well-coordinated with the locals. At present, he is working independently for various social causes in Sambalpur.

He has been working against Gauhatya and cattle smuggling for the last 40 years. He has been campaigning against cattle smuggling and slaughter along with local Hindu organizations. He also ensures the resettlement of saved cattle.

Jayabrata’s daughter told us that the situation in Sambalpur has deteriorated due to the mismanagement of the administration. Furthermore, the activist has been arrested because he has been exposing those involved in cattle trafficking who appear to have the backing of a section of the powerful administration. The call of violence during Hanuman Jayanti is being used by administrative officials (including some police personnel) as an excuse to exact revenge.

It is also amply clear from the audio clip that the police have grudges against Shri Jayabrata Dey as he has exposed their nexus with cattle smugglers. It must be reiterated that the audio message is merely a call for Hindu unity and reinforcing their cultural pride.

(Featured Image Source: One India)