- A ruthless Hindutva mob launched a brutal assault on Muslims, shamelessly live-streaming their horrific acts.
- Videos revealed the mob attacking and vandalizing properties owned by Muslims.
A Hindutva mob livestreams brutal acts amidst escalating violence during the Ram Temple celebrations in Mumbai’s Mira Road for the second consecutive day. A saffron-clad mob, chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” targeted Muslim-owned shops and vehicles. A video circulating on social media documents Ram devotees assaulting a Muslim auto-rickshaw driver and damaging his vehicle in Mira Road.
Right-wing accounts shared videos depicting attacks on Muslims, set to Ram devotion songs, across social media. Simultaneously, the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, with no prior notice, employed bulldozers to demolish approximately 15 structures owned by Muslims in the predominantly Muslim Haidary Chowk area in Mira Road. Shop owners contend that they possessed legal documents, and no demolition notices were served.
“We have documents to prove the structures are legal. No notices were served. There may be issues with construction outside shops for which the corporation does not give permission. But there are thousands such in and around Mira Road. There are illegal buildings right next to our structure — they were left untouched. What message is the state trying to send by targeting shops owned by Muslims,” Azam Khan, a caretaker of one of the plots where structures were partially demolished, was quoted by the Indian Express.
This comes after two days of tumultuous celebrations of Ayodhya’s Ram temple consecration in Maharashtra’s Mira Road. On Tuesday, the police apprehended 15 more individuals, supplementing the 13 detained the previous day—nine of whom were adults, and four were minors—all reportedly Muslims. Police sources indicate that approximately 13 FIRs have been filed, with at least four originating from the Muslim community. Additional Commissioner of Police Shrikant Pathak mentioned that the FIRs from the Muslim side allege assault and property damage by an unidentified mob, yet no arrests have been made in connection with these four FIRs, as reported by the Indian Express. After the Hindutva celebrations on Sunday, BJP leader Nitesh Rane conveyed a message on Monday morning, stating, “Mira Road madde je kaal ratri jhala.. ek yaad rakhna… Chun chun ke marenge !!! Jai Shri Ram (What happened in Mira Road yesterday.. remember one thing… will hit every person involved).” On Monday night, he said, “We will meet tomorrow in Mira Road.”
Anti-Muslim slogans echoed, and confrontations ensued in various regions of the state, encompassing Mira Road and Panvel areas adjacent to Mumbai on January 21 and 22. The initial outbreak of violence occurred around 11 pm on Sunday when the police allegedly attempted to prevent a Hindu rally from entering a Muslim locality in Mira Road. This sparked tensions and clashes between both groups, with Hindutva supporters in the Hindu rally vocalizing genocidal and provocative slogans.
