By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Patna/New Delhi: Bihar’s East Champaran district saw fresh bout of caste violence amongst Muslims in the first week of December.
On December 7 a differentially able man, named Akbar Ali was allegedly attacked by the ‘henchmen’ of ashraf or upper caste Muslims in Rampur Bairiya village in East Champaran. Thinking him to be dead they finally left.
Akbar Ali
He has since undergone operations in his hand and under treatment in a hospital in Motihari.
Akbar, Mustafa Ansari and some other friends were coming back from wedding reception when they were attacked. Other escaped, but with one hand already disabled Akbar was caught and beaten badly.
In a statement the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz has strongly condemned the incident and added, “That people with such a mindset have presented a distorted image of the principle of equality in Islam.”
In a statement released after meeting the victims’ families, All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz leader Ali Anwar Ansari has strongly condemned the incident and demanded enquiry.
He also accused the current Mukhiya (Panchayat leader), Sarfaraz Ahmad Khan of leading and inciting violent movements against pasmanda Muslims in the Allahpur hamlet situated in Rampur Bairiya village.
Sarfaraz Khan was allegedly involved in the arson and razing of an entire locality, including the mosques meant for pasmanda Muslims on December 6, 2007. The case is still sub judice, which apparently he had did not mention in his nomination paper.
Sarfaraz Khan was hence mustering grudges against these youth as they brought the fact to the notice of the Election Commission by going to the court, allege the victims’ families.
The social strife is going on for quite some time in Allahpur. Pasmanda Muslims had stopped working in the farms of those dominant forward Muslims and to avoid any humiliation made their separate makeshift straw mosque. This mosque has allegedly damaged twice.
According to Pasmanda villagers, they are often obstructed from using the only pathway that passes from outside the homes of ashraf Muslims.
Ali Anwar Ansari, MP & President Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz
The ignite for the current round of strife was that owing to pasmanda movement, state government had agreed to start a primary school in the pasmanda locality, but the current Mukhiya used his ‘connections’ to relocate it near the existing madrasa, in the ‘forward’ locality.
Feeling betrayed and helpless some pasmanda youth, including the victims, filed a case against his nomination, the cause of Sarfaraz Khan’s ire.
No arrest has so far been made although a case has been filed.
Meanwhile, another case under arms’ act has been registered against Mustafa Ansari.
Speaking to TCN Mustafa Ansari said, “They are rich people, with high political connections. Who will arrest them?”
[Photos & video Courtesy: http://khalidanisansari.blogspot.in]