Mob that attacked shops on Mira road, identified it as Muslim shops before vandalizing it: Victims
Sudhir Chaudhary misreported Mira Road violence, says local journalist from Mira Road
Mumbai: In an incident that unfolded in the aftermath of the Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya, a 22-year-old commerce student named Mohammad Tariq and two accompanying workers were brutally assaulted by a mob in Mira Road, a neighborhood situated in the far north of Mumbai.
The unfortunate episode occurred on Tuesday around 7 pm as Tariq, filling in for the regular driver who was absent, was driving a tempo truck through the Shanti Nagar neighborhood. The vehicle, prominently marked with "Rashid Tempo Service" and adorned with a sticker featuring the moon and stars, inadvertently revealed the Muslim identity of its occupants.
Abdul Chaudhary, Tariq's father and the owner of the tempo transport service, recounted the horrifying details. Tariq, seated in the driver's position, was the primary target of the mob's aggression. He disclosed to his father that he was initially slapped by the assailants before being dragged out of the vehicle. Subsequently, he endured a vicious assault involving kicks, beatings with sticks, and a belt, resulting in bloodied injuries on his head, back, and hands.
The two workers accompanying Tariq, identified as Mehraj Shah (21) and Deen Ali Shaikh (45), were also subjected to head injuries during the attack. Shockingly, Shah informed Chaudhary that the mob, prior to unleashing violence, demanded that they chant "Jai Shri Ram," illustrating the communal nature of the assault.
The name of the tempo service and the visible Muslim identity became triggers for the aggression, underscoring the heightened communal tension in the area following the Ayodhya temple inauguration. Mira Road, part of the Mira-Bhayandar municipal corporation area, has a substantial Muslim population, and the recent events have brought to light the underlying communal discord.
The escalation began with the targeted demolition of Muslim shops, a form of 'bulldozer justice' previously unseen in Maharashtra.
Describing the horrific incident involving Tariq, Chaudhary emphasized that the attackers had an array of weapons, including swords, sticks, cycle chains, and sharp objects tied to belts. He asserted that the assault was premeditated, with the mob having a clear plan. A video capturing the assault has gone viral on social media platforms.
Following the attack, Tariq, Shah, and Shaikh managed to escape, leaving the tempo behind. They sought medical attention, receiving stitches from a local doctor and undergoing CT scans.
Former NDTV Journalist Sohit Mishra also spoke to the victims on his YouTube channel. The victims shared their ordeals with Mishra suggesting the violent Hindutva mob attacked them particularly for being Muslims.
One of the victims on Mishra's video alleged that their shops were targeted after identifying it as Muslim shop after reading the name boards. He also alleged that the mob which was part of the rally, was carrying stones in bags which they used for the attack.
The victim also said that the locals gathered and saved him when he was being targeted and attacked by the Hindutva mob. Interestingly he added that he was attacked by unidentified people who were not from the same area and Hindus from his area came to his rescue when he was being attacked.
Sohit also showed videos of the assault that was captured on mobile phones, wherein mob can be seen pelting stones at the shop and damaging the properties belonging to Muslims after identifying it.
The owner of the shop, Shamsher Alam also stated that ever since the attack, he has kept his shop closed and that he had only opened it to clean it and estimate the losses due to the attack.
Mishra questioned the inability of the police against the mob even as their identities can be seen clearly in the CCTV footages and in the videos that are doing rounds across social media platforms.
In another video, Mishra in conversation with Aftab Khan, a local journalist from Mira Road called out Aaj Tak anchor Sudhir Chaudhary and other mainstream media channels for spreading false news and misreporting on the issue of violence on Mira Road. Khan, also stated that Chaudhary misreported the incident and blew it out of proportion while also targeting minorities as instigators of violence in the area.
Watch full video of Sohit Sharma below. Subscribe to his channel for more such ground reports.
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'I am diehard secular, patriotic Indian': Bengal minister Firhad Hakim after row over comments
Kolkata, Dec 15: Under attack from the BJP, Congress and a section of Hindu monks for his purported remarks about "low percentage of Muslims in West Bengal and India", senior state minister and TMC leader Firhad Hakim on Sunday asserted his strong belief in secular and patriotic values.
Addressing minority students at an event here on Friday, the state Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister had purportedly said, "In West Bengal, we (Muslims) are 33 per cent and nationwide, we are 17 per cent."
Advocating that minorities should strive for reaching a position where they can assert themselves more forcefully and their call for justice is acknowledged, Hakim had said, "We may be minorities numerically, but by Allah's grace, we can become so powerful that we will not need to hold candlelight rallies for justice. We will be in a position where we will become the majority in the true sense of empowerment."
Asked about the row triggered by his comments, Hakim told reporters on Sunday on the sidelines of a programme, "I am a diehard secular and patriotic Indian. No one can question my secular values and love for my country. Period."
Senior monk of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), Kartik Maharaj, alleged that instead of laying emphasis on education and economic uplift of Muslims, Hakim spoke about increasing their numbers, "which will aid and abet infiltration in the state".
"We would not have minded had Firhad Hakim solely talked about undertaking economic development measures for Muslims. But analyse why he referred to the percentage of Muslims in our population. Does he wish to turn West Bengal into another Bangladesh?" Maharaj said at a religious event 'Lakh kanthe Gita paath' (chanting Gita in one lakh voices) at Siliguri on Sunday.
Former BJP MP Dilip Ghosh said Hakim's comments "reveal the gameplan of communal elements in TMC to turn West Bengal into Bangladesh, and secede it from India".
Former Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Choudhury said, "Both BJP and TMC are playing the dangerous game of religion-based politics. While the BJP is encouraging Hindu fundamentalists to consolidate its position among the majority vote bank, the TMC is cosying up with both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists for narrow political gains."
"The comments of Firhad Hakim reveal the sinister gameplan to indulge Muslim fundamentalist elements," the former PCC president said.
Hakim, in his speech, had purportedly stressed Muslims' need to work towards a position where their "voices are automatically heard". He also highlighted the under-representation of Muslims in the judiciary. Hakim suggested that through empowerment and hard work, this gap could be bridged.
A video of Hakim's speech went viral on social media, but its authenticity could not be independently verified by PTI.
Defending Hakim, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the minister's comments were deliberately misinterpreted and twisted.
"What he meant was the uplift of a large number of minority community members so that they can join mainstream society and contribute to nation-building. Certain elements are trying to give a different spin to his views," Ghosh said.
He further asserted that Hakim's secular and liberal values are well-known, and that he actively participates in various religious festivals while promoting communal harmony.
BJP's IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya criticised Hakim's statement, accusing him of suggesting that West Bengal and India will soon have a Muslim majority.
He claimed Hakim's vision hinted at Muslims taking justice into their own hands, potentially signalling support for Sharia law.
"Kolkata's Mayor Firhad Hakim previously revealed his true intentions by describing non-Muslims as 'unfortunate' and endorsing Dawat-e-Islam's efforts to convert Hindus to Islam. He has now claimed that West Bengal, along with the rest of India, will soon have a Muslim majority," Malviya posted on X.
"Hakim envisions a future where Muslims will no longer rely on peaceful protests or marches but will take justice into their own hands, potentially hinting at Sharia law," he added.
