Hate crimes spike against marginalised communities during Holi celebrations Hate crimes mar Holi in UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana against Muslims, Dalits
27, Mar 2024 | CJP Team
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
A Muslim youth was stopped and threatened to say ‘Jai Sri Ram’ amidst Holi celebrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut.
“It took place around 10:45. I was coming back from the shop and there were a few people playing Holi who stopped me and asked me to say ‘Jai Sri Ram.’ I was quiet for some time as they went on shouting at me, demanding me to say it. I told them I won’t say it. Then they gave me my bike’s keys. I told them I am leaving.” After this, two ladies came by and intervened. The youth also said that the men also threatened to beat him. The CCTV camera posted on the page of Hate Detectors, an X account that compiled videos of hate crimes in the country, shows the footage of the incident.
In #UttarPradesh‘s #Meerut, a #Hindutva mob allegedly harasses a #Muslim youth named Faizan, forced him to raise slogans of #JaiShriRam. pic.twitter.com/p7UeFC88Dh
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 26, 2024
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Bharatpur, Rajasthan
According to a video posted by Dalit Times, an independent media portal, Rajasthan’s Bharatpur saw members of the Dalit community being reportedly fired upon. News has emerged that four people were shot. The police, however, denied any firing incident.
Dalit Times has posted a video where a young man be seen bleeding severely as he is helped to walk.
Gurugram, Haryana
In a similar incident, a mosque named Makkah Mosque in Gurugram, saw firing at the evening of Holi celebrations, a report by NDTV has stated.
As per a video report by Viral News, residents on ground say that some men came in a Scorpio car and came and fired at the mosque and at people standing near the mosque. The people in the car had reportedly wanted the gates of the mosque to be opened to them.
The police arrived at the scene after the incident and are reportedly making investigations.
In #Haryana‘s #Gurugram, miscreants opened fire at Makkah mosque. No one was hurt. pic.twitter.com/Fp2fo79sAa
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 26, 2024
Chengicherla, Telangana
After a conflict erupted in Chengicherla over 150 policemen from the Rachakonda police were deployed on the ground as a precautionary measure on March 25, according to The Hindu.
The issue began around 4 pm on Sunday, March 24, when villagers were celebrating Holi and installed speakers and also burnt the Holi Bhogi as the prayers in the mosque were going on, according to ANI. However, they refused to lower the volume despite several requests from those offering evening prayers at the mosque. At the time of the argument, some Hindu groups organised a protest rally and attempted to celebrate Holi near the mosque as per reports by Telangana Today. No complaint has been filed as of now.
Senior BJP members visited the site after the incident took place. The BJP Telangana President Krishan Reddy who also visited the site has shared several posts on the incident.
I strongly condemn the midnight attack by the fanatic communal mafia on Tribals including women at Changicharla village in Ghatkesar, Telangana yesterday.
Visited the village and spoke to the victims, assured my full support in immediate medical treatment and in providing food.… pic.twitter.com/RLo3xsMzLC
— G Kishan Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@kishanreddybjp) March 25, 2024
Beed, Maharashtra
Around Holi celebrations, a prominent mosque in Beed was targeted and vandalised on March 25. The incident, which occurred late in the evening, saw the slogan Jai Sri Ram written with Holi colours on the wall of the Markazi Masjid mosque in Majalgaon, as per reports.
As per a report by the Indian Express, an FIR has been registered under section 295, which is related to the intentional destruction or desecration of a place of worship. A similar incident of vandalism was seen at a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah. Some miscreants had written ‘Jai Sri Ram’ on one of the walls of the mosque in Jalesar.
Meanwhile, as Holi celebrations culminated on Monday, March 25, preventive measures were taken in certain places to protect mosques from potential incidents of vandalism. Aligarh’s Halwaaiyan mosque in the Sabzi Mandi area and another mosque at Delhi Gate were covered with plastic sheets and tarpaulins amidst rising concerns of potential religious tensions. The Circle Officer Pandey also informed the media that a flag march had been conducted in these regions and police was also deployed in the old city areas.
In 2023, Delhi’s Police Control Room had gotten more than 35,000 complaints during the Holi celebrations. This was a significant increase compared to the daily average of 24,000 complaints. Among these grievances were 211 cases of eve teasing, 40 instances of shootouts, 142 cases of stabbing, 46 incidents of road rage, 21 reports of rape, and 11 cases of murder.
Image: Representational Image
