By Aleem Faizee, Ummid.com
When Dhule was burning and when the town was ruled over by the marauders day in and day out, in Azad Nagar, the Muslims in this Muslim dominated area were assuring the Hindus of their safety. They even saved the Mandir from the rioters who according to them came from outside.
“The rioters were not from Dhule. They came from outside and tried to attack the Mandir but the Muslims in our locality thrashed them and avoided any kind of damage to the Mandir”, said the Pandit of this Mandir located in Azad Nagar area of Dhule which is dominated by the Muslims. He was speaking with ummid.com on October 10, 2008 even as the town was yet to come to normalcy after severe clashes between the two communities. “The Muslims even extended all kind of supports and provided food to us when the town was reeling under the curfew.” he said.
Dhule the town in Khandesh region of Maharashtra was on fire after the violence broke out on October 5, 2008 allegedly after some provocative posters were torn off by people belonging to a particular community. Apart from properties worth crores of rupees that were looted and set on fire, ten people have died and scores others were injured in this district place on the tribal belt.
However Azad Nagar and Shivaji Nagar, both the areas with a sizeable Muslim population remained peaceful and the Muslims in these areas made it sure that no harm is done to the Hindus. Many people in this locality ummid.com spoke to shared the views expressed by the Pandit of the Mandir. “We have not been harmed by anyone”, said Sumanbai, a resident of the area adding, “All supports were extended by the Muslim brethren to us.”
These are probably the ideal places and work as the sliver lining in the dark against the ongoing violence and atrocities in the country. When ummid.com asked the Muslims why they had not indulged in violence like others Mubeen Driver said, “They have just fulfilled their religious and moral responsibilities.”