In recent weeks, Uttarakhand has witnessed Hindutva mobs causing havoc by targeting shops owned by Muslims, leading to widespread destruction.
Muslim families, reportedly feeling threatened, have been forced to abandon their homes and flee the area.
As per Muslim Mirror, Additionally, rallies opposing “love jihadis” have been organized, adding to the tense atmosphere in the district. These distressing events have become representative of the distressing state of affairs in Uttarkashi.
In Purola town of Uttarkashi district, on 26 May, two men named Jitendra Saini and Ubaid Khan were apprehended while allegedly attempting to kidnap a minor girl. The girl was safely returned to her home, and the police arrested the two men. They have been charged under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 366A (procuration of minor girl), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
However, despite the involvement of two individuals, one of whom is a Hindu, the presence of a Muslim man sparked suspicions and rumours of ‘love jihad’ that quickly spread throughout the town.
However, as per a report in The Indian Express, an investigating officer in the case denied this having to do anything with ‘love jihad’. “The girl did not know these people… There is no love jihad angle,” the officer is quoted as saying.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Uttarakhand already has a law in place to address forceful religious conversions, often referred to as the ‘love jihad’ law. However, in this particular case, no such law has been invoked or applied.
Following the incident, tensions escalated in the area, and on 29 May, a rally was organized in Purola by right-wing groups, calling for the expulsion of Muslims from the town. Disturbing videos from the rally circulated widely, showing mobs engaging in acts of violence against shops owned by Muslims, even in the presence of the police. Despite the authorities being present, the situation spiraled out of control as the mobs targeted and attacked these establishments.
Afterwards, it was observed that posters had been prominently displayed on all Muslim-operated shops in the vicinity. These posters contained menacing messages, warning the shop owners of severe repercussions and dire consequences.
“Love jihadis are informed they must close their stores before the Mahapanchayat on June 15,” the posters warned, “If you don’t do this, it’ll be obvious when it happens (the result).”
In response to the posters threatening Muslim-owned shops, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified individuals involved in the incident. The posters were claimed to be associated with a group called the ‘Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan’.
Disturbing incidents of harassment against Muslims were not confined to Purola alone. In the neighbouring town of Barkot, shutters of shops owned by Muslims were marked with black crosses.
Images of these incidents circulated widely on social media, with many drawing comparisons to the targeted persecution of Jewish traders during the dark period of Nazi Germany.
The viral nature of these images sparked widespread outrage and concern regarding the escalating hostility faced by the Muslim community in the region.
The escalating tensions and hostility in Purola affected not only Muslim traders but also individuals associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mohammed Zahid, who served as the BJP’s minority cell chief in Uttarkashi, had to leave Purola, where he had been residing for over 25 years.
On the evening of 6 June, Zahid, who owned a local garment business, closed down his shop and departed from the town. Despite his affiliation with the BJP and his popularity in the area, Zahid felt compelled to leave due to the prevailing circumstances and the rising atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
Zahid told The Hindu that he asked his party, the BJP, to support him, but was told to remain quiet. “Jab hum safe nahi hai to bataiye kaun sa musalman safe hoga waha (If we are not safe, how will any Muslim be safe there?),” Zahid said.
In the wake of Mohammed Zahid and his family leaving Purola, reports of Muslims shutting down their homes and businesses and fleeing the area have increased. The sense of insecurity and fear among the Muslim community has intensified, leading to a growing number of overnight departures.
The town’s Muslim families have left, according to Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi. Yaduvanshi told the Quint, “We have done several flag marches and peace meetings with the communities.”
In addition to the threat of a Mahapanchayat on June 15th, which was indicated on posters displayed on Muslim-owned shops, there have been other warnings or ultimatums issued as well.
A letter addressed to the Tehri Garhwal district administration on June 5th, sent by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), stated that members of the local community had given a specific community a deadline of 10 days to vacate certain areas in Uttarakhand. The VHP further mentioned that if this demand is not met, they, along with the Hindu Yuva Vahini and Traders’ Union of Tehri Garhwal, would organize a highway blockade on June 20th as a form of protest.
The letter says that members of the mentioned community in Uttarakhand engage in activities such as waste-picking, selling fruits, and operating ice-cream vending businesses. The letter further claims that these individuals pose a threat to the women, religion, resources, and culture of Uttarakhand.