Team Clarion
JAIPUR — Communal tensions have escalated in Rajasthan following the arrest of 10 Muslim youths in connection with an alleged case of blackmail and molestation of five non-Muslim girls in Vijaynagar, Bhiwaar district. Hindutva organisations have staged protests, observing a bandh in Bhiwaar, Bhilwara, and Ajmer on Monday, demanding stringent action against the accused. The protests have taken a communal turn, leading to threats of further state-wide shutdowns if their demands are not met.
Following the protests, the local administration has initiated a bulldozer action drive against the township where the accused reside. Notices for demolition have been issued to the families of the accused, including local corporator Hakeem Qureshi, who was arrested on 23rd February. Three of the 10 arrested individuals are minors. The court has sent the accused to five-day police remand.
The saffron organisations have demanded a speedy trial and capital punishment for the accused, along with the demolition of their houses. “We will not stop until the culprits are hanged and their illegal constructions are razed,” said a protester Ankur Shukla during the band.
The newly formed BJP government in Rajasthan has also taken a proactive stance, appearing to support the demands of the protesters. The Vijaynagar Municipality issued demolition notices to the families of the accused on 20th and 21st February. The notices require house owners to provide proof of ownership, warning that failure to do so will result in demolition. “If proof is not provided within the given time, the administration will initiate demolition action against illegal constructions, the cost of which will be borne by the residents,” the notice stated.
The mosque in the Rajnagar area has also come under scrutiny, with similar notices issued to the Jama Masjid officials, directing them to provide land ownership documents within three days. “The targeting of the mosque in this matter is unjustified. This is clearly an attempt to intimidate the Muslim community,” said a local resident Rahmat Ali.
Heavy police deployment was seen across Rajasthan during the bandh, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to prevent any escalation of violence. Meanwhile, human rights organisations and community leaders have expressed concerns over the communalisation of the issue and the selective use of demolition drives. “Justice must be served, but collective punishment and targeting of a particular community is against the principles of law,” said a legal expert advocate shrivastawa Teyagi.
As tensions continue to rise, the people of Rajasthan remain on edge, fearing that the situation could spiral further if a balanced approach is not adopted by the administration.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net.
