Mehsana: Belim Vas is a Muslim-majority area in Kheralu of north Gujarat’s Mehsana district. Here, locals are careful to keep their own movements limited and are watchful of police officers stationed in the area.
On January 21, Hindu residents in the area led a ‘shobha yatra’ – a rally – on the eve of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Locals’ estimates have it that at least 600-700 people participated in this rally.
The rally diverted from its set map, took a different route and reached a mosque in the area, locals say. Local Muslims urged the revellers in the procession to not play loud music and engage in bursting crackers outside the mosque. Those pleas were ignored by the revellers, they say.
A verbal spat began, which became violent. The rally participants used swords, sticks and stones, locals said. This is visible in videos of the incident seen by The Wire as well.
Muslims arrested, detained
As the violence escalated, Mehsana Police began dispelling crowds using teargas. Locals in Belim Vas claimed that the police mistreated and manhandled them.
Police has also arrested 13 men and two minors – all from Belim Vas and all Muslims.
Muslim women have alleged that police officers reportedly broke into their homes, smashed their doors and cars, in an ostensible effort to punish them.
Rubina, whose husband Mohammed Hussain, 30, has been arrested, told The Wire that he was picked up soon after the violence. She said that the police severely beat Hussain while dragging him out of their house. “They broke down our gates, doors and scattered everything around. When women protested, they threatened us with arrest too,” she said.
Rubina’s husband is lodged in Mehsana’s Vasai Jail with 12 other Muslims. Hussain is a patient of depression and currently on medication which he cannot access in jail.
Rubina’s woes echo in Mohammed Siddiq’s household. Siddiq wears a face devoid of any expressions. It has been five days now since his 16-year-old son, Rehmatullah, was picked up by Mehsana Police in connection with the violence.
“They didn’t tell any family members about where they took our arrested relatives. Today, after five days, I was informed that he has been shifted to a children’s home until the matter clears,” he said.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here .