Mumbai Imam alleges mob attack, lynching attempt during Garba festivities despite police escort
Mumbai: Mohd Sharafat Khan, the Imam of the Masjid Islamiya in the Trombay area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, has alleged that he was abused, chased, and almost lynched by an enraged Hindu mob during the 'Garba' festivities on October 22.
Garba is a devotional dance performed by followers of the Hindu religion during Navaratri to honor Goddess Durga. Khan faced this violent attack despite having two constables escorting him through the area.
According to Khan, the incident occurred while he was trying to pick up his wife and daughter from the bus stop after their medical diagnosis. He waited until the Garba festivities ended but had to leave due to the late hour. As he attempted to pass through the area, he was confronted by a mob that blocked his way and began hurling Islamophobic slurs. The mob, which included members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), raised slogans such as "Kato Mullo ko, Mulley Katey jayenge" and "Jai Shree Ram."
Despite the presence of police constables, the mob grew more aggressive, and Khan was left to fend for himself. He managed to find refuge in the Vivekanand School after being chased by the mob even in the presence of police.
Khan, along with his family, later approached the Trombay Police Station to file a complaint against the attackers. In the complaint, Khan named several individuals, including Avinash Gharat, Laxmi Gharat, Sai Gharat, Babu Gharat, Rekha Gharat, Bhavna, Nitin Mahtre, and 20 others, accusing them of attempting to lynch him.
Despite Khan's formal complaint, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered, and no action has been taken by the authorities. Khan also alleged that local politicians pressured him to settle the issue without filing a formal complaint, fearing that it could escalate into a riot.
Khan, the Imam of Masjid Islamiya, has been residing in the area for the last 50 years, running and heading the Madrasa, Darul Uloom Faizan e Raza, which has been registered and recognized by the Maharashtra Government for the past 14 years. He emphasized that the hostile situation arose only recently, with attempts by certain individuals to shut down the Madrasa.
Khan has demanded legal action against the attackers under sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 298A, 505(1), and 505(2). He asserted that individuals like those involved in the attack aim to create divisions between communities in the name of religion. He called for a thorough investigation and appropriate legal consequences for the attackers.
Asalamualikum mei mumbai pailipada ki sunni masjid ka imam hu yeh ghatna mere saath huwi hai aap logo se darkhwas hai ki humari madad kariye humare sath mob lynching ho sakti thi aur yeh log humari jaan k piche pade hai plz help @MumbaiPolice @razaacademyho @Advsaifalam pic.twitter.com/DiK3RIppeT
— mdsharafat khan (@MdsharafatK) October 23, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
ALSO READ:In open letter, RJD MP appeals to parliamentarians to oppose VB-G RAM G Bill
"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
