In Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, the months-long campaign by the Hindu right-wing outfits to free the historic Vishalgad fort of “encroachment” turned violent on Sunday as a Hindutva mob vandalised a mosque, houses, and shops belonging to Muslims.
Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, former Rajya Sabha MP and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, marched to the fort with thousands of supporters who unleashed the violence against Muslims.
Ahead of Sambhajiraje’s arrival at the fort around 9:40 am, the supporters started stone-pelting on the mosque and attacking local Muslim residents in the vicinity.
The mosque was on the way to Vishalgad but 6 km away from the fort, and the claims of its location on fort land are bizarre and fake, locals alleged. The attack against Muslims occurred in police presence, videos showed. The videos emerged showing a few police personnel deployed to guard the place despite claims of huge deployment to stop the Hindutva mob.
Later in the afternoon, the Hindutva mob continued attacks on houses of Muslims in Gajapur. A house was torched and several vehicles were damaged. Locals alleged that no cops were present there. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured the Hindutva groups that they will demolish the structures on Monday, reports say. Last year, the district administration carried out a survey of the fort and claimed that they found 160 buildings, including a mosque, houses, and shops, constructed illegally.
As of now, no cases have been registered against the assailants. At least 40 Muslims, including children, were attacked in the incident.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi MP attacked the Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra and asked them to take action against the culprits. He also said that the incident is similar to the Babri Masjid demolition which occurred on December 6, 1992.
Owaisi shared the video on his official account and said, “6 December continues” @mieknathshinde @Dev_Fadnavis under your government a Masjid is attacked by a Mob, this is an attack on Rule of Law but your government is not concerned.”
He further said, “Muslims of Maharashtra must reply through Ballot by ensuring your party MIM candidates win the forthcoming elections to stop the Mobs and the political leaders & parties who give them patronage and support and remember the Silence of parties who are claiming they won ‘Moral victory’.”