By Abdur Rauf Sheikh,
Date: 13th April 2008. Time: Evening; people are gathering for Maghrib prayer at a mosque in Kotwal locality in Raver (Jalgaon). Timing may be a coincident or planned. A Ramnavmi procession goes past the mosque. Silently? No. The processionists raise volume of their audio system which plays slogans like ‘mandir wahin banayenge’ (we will build the temple there). Then they throw gulal (colours) incessantly and deliberately towards the mosque. This all culminated into what is everybody’s guess. A communal riot.
Some local BJP MLAs are believed to have been mastermind behind what happened that day in Raver, a small town of Maharashtra. They have given fiery and hateful speeches in the past and have always tried to disturb communal harmony in the area.
It is believed that with the blessings of these MLAs, some extremist Hindu organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal took out the Ramnavmi procession in the area. This was first time that such a procession was taken out in the area. There has been a tradition to hold local peace committee meeting before taking out any religious processions. But this time no such meeting was called. Moreover, police inspector from the local police station was also on leave.
When the procession reached the Kotwal Masjid and began throwing gulal at it, some social activists complained to the police. The police said the processionists cannot be kept from what they are doing. Muslims were informed that police will clean the mosque later. It was time for Maghrib prayer. Prayer call was about to be given. Muslims were gathering in the mosque to offer prayer. Rather than showing some sanity, the processionists raised the volume of their audio system. This led to heated argument between Muslims and some processionists. Soon the two groups began stone pelting which deteriorated the situation and a full-fledged communal riot broke out.
To disperse the mob, police fired in the air but as they were outnumbered by the processionists, the situation could not be controlled. Several houses were kept on fire. A medical store was ransacked and looted. Several Muslim houses were broken into and valuables were looted. Some Hindu houses were also burnt. But soon police forces were called in and the situation was brought under control. A businessman named Yonus Khan was brutally beaten by some Hindus. They threw acid on his body. He was rushed to hospital but after fighting for life for four days he succumbed to injuries on 17th April.
After bringing the situation under control, the police made arrests. They made several arrests from the Muslim community though some Hindu miscreants were also arrested. Whether the police will be able to bring to book the real culprits or like past communal riots this too will be forgotten and buried is yet to be seen.
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Abdul Rauf Shaikh is secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s social service department for Maharashtra.