Muslim families forced to flee Pune villages amid Hindutva threats, economic boycott
Pune: Several Muslim families have fled Paud and Pirangut villages in Mulshi taluk, Pune district, following threats and an economic boycott allegedly orchestrated by Hindutva groups. Fact-finding teams from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), which visited the villages on July 2, reported a climate of fear, shuttered Muslim-owned businesses, and displaced families.
The unrest began after an alleged desecration of an Annapurna Devi idol in Paud on May 2. This was followed by a rally led by BJP and right-wing groups on May 5, during which open threats were reportedly issued against Muslim residents. Posters calling for a boycott of “non-native Muslims” appeared across the villages shortly after, according to the PUCL. These posters have since been removed following orders from Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill, but the situation remains tense.
Local businesses, including Roshan Bakery, New Sangam Bakery, and New Bharat Bakery, remain shut. “Our family has lived here for 40 years, yet we’re labelled outsiders,” said the owner of Roshan Bakery, alleging that police have failed to provide any protection. The closures have affected around 400 workers, including several Hindu vendors who relied on these businesses for their livelihood.
In addition to threats and intimidation, incidents of violence have also been reported. A Muslim scrap shop owner, whose business was torched in June, claimed a loss of ₹20 lakh and said he had to move his family to Kamshet for safety.
PUCL also reported intimidation by Hindu Rashtra Sena leader Dhananjay Desai, who is accused of orchestrating threats from a farmhouse near Vitthalwadi village. Desai, previously tried and acquitted in the 2014 Mohsin Shaikh murder case, is currently absconding in a separate matter involving illegal seizure of property, according to police.
Mosques in the area have also been targeted, with posters restricting entry for non-local Muslims, leading to a drop in attendance even after the posters were removed. Many families have since fled to their ancestral homes in Uttar Pradesh or relocated to Kamshet. Children’s education has been disrupted as families were forced to leave abruptly.
A local resident alleged that Muslims were being monitored through a WhatsApp group with 400 members tracking their movements. “When I went to buy medicine for my son, my photo was immediately shared in the group,” he said.
Ashok Matre, former Congress taluk president in Pirangut, said the region was once known for communal harmony. “Muslims used to take part in Harinaam Saptah. Now that harmony is broken,” he remarked, blaming organisations like RSS, Shiv Pratishthan, and Hindu Rashtra Sena.
PUCL condemned the economic boycott as unconstitutional, stating that the right to conduct business anywhere in the country is guaranteed by the Constitution. Civil rights groups are preparing to take legal action in response to the ongoing violations.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
