JAIPUR – The recent communal violence at Jahazpur in Rajasthan’s Shahpura district, in which several persons were injured, was triggered by abusive slogans raised during a religious procession taken out by Hindus outside Jama Masjid. Stones were pelted during the violence and the kiosks and shops of Muslims were looted and demolished with a private bulldozer operated by the local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA.
A group of Muslim leaders from Jaipur, who visited Jahazpur this week, found a tense atmosphere prevailing in the town, as Muslim youths arrested on flimsy charges are still behind bars, while the Hindu accused persons have been released on bail. All the Muslim Municipal Councillors elected on the Congress ticket have resigned from their posts in protest against the party’s reluctance to support the community.
The incident on September 14 took place after a procession was taken out by the Hindu community on a local festival, Jal Jhulni Ekadashi. The local residents said that such processions have been taking place for years, usually involving not more than 40 people, but this time the procession had around 500 people carrying sticks and shouting objectionable slogans outside the mosque, which was never seen before. This incident seemed as if it was all planned in advance.
After a minor altercation, the situation heated up and soon stone pelting started. The crowd participating in the procession turned violent, which led to the targeting of the Muslim community with private bulldozers. About 65 shops and cabins of Muslims in the town were looted, demolished and set on fire.
BJP MLA from Jahazpur, Gopichand Meena reached the spot and called the mosque illegal, while demanding that the administration summon documents from the mosque committee. Under pressure from the Hindu community, the Jahazpur Municipality hurriedly issued a 24-hour notice to check the documents of two mosques in the town.
This story was originally published in indiatomorrow.net. Read the full story here.
