Hindutva rioters, on March 31, in Bihar Sharif, eastern India, vandalized and destroyed the 110-year-old Madrasa Azizia, which contained 4,500 books of Islamic literature. The Hindu festival in India turned bloody for Muslims after the Hindutva mob burnt centennial mosque and library and set the shops on fire.
Bibi Soghra established the prestigious Madrasa Aziza in 1896 as a tribute to her late husband, Moulvi Abdul Aziz. At Bihar Sharif, Bibi Soghra was a well-known philanthropist. After losing her husband and children, she committed her life and riches to charitable causes. She founded the Soghra Waqf Estate in 1896, a foundation that is still in use today that manages her assets and provides funding for charitable and educational organizations. Sadly, the Hindutva mob burnt this Centennial Mosque which is a historic religious site
Some 20 members of an armed mob damaged the historic building and tossed petrol bombs at it during the Hindu holiday of Ram Navami. Authorities reported that at least one person, a teenager, had been killed by gunfire and that 77 of those responsible for the violence had been detained.
Also, read India: Violence Against Women on Holi Reeks of Communal and Racial Tensions
Government Sends Riot Police and Shuts Off Mobile Internet Services
After violence broke out during a Hindu religious event in multiple states, the government sent in hundreds of riot police and shut off mobile internet access in some areas of eastern India. Throughout the region, prohibition orders have been issued in accordance with Section 144 of the CrPC. The district has banned internet connectivity, and it is anticipated that this prohibition will last for the ensuing 48 hours. According to the authorities, there was new violence on Saturday night that claimed one life.
“So far, 77 people have been arrested and 12 FIRs lodged. A flag march was conducted to maintain peace in the area. Adequate paramilitary personnel have been deployed to control the situation,” said Nalanda Superintendent of Police Ashok Mishra.
According to the police, Gulshan Kumar died from bullet wounds, while a second critically injured person is receiving medical attention in Patna, the state capital. The authorities have strictly suggested that people stay inside after Hindutva mob burnt the Centennial Mosque.
Read here, India’s Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi Disqualified
BJP Union Minister Amit Shah to Send Additional Forces
“The Home Minister spoke to the Bihar governor and took stock of the situation. The Home Minister expressed his concern over the violence in the State,” news sources said.
On April 2, 2023, sources claim that Union Home Ministry voiced concerns over occurrences of communal unrest in Bihar and called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to assess the situation. To help the state administration deal with the aftermath of the violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decided to send more paramilitary soldiers to Bihar.
Also, read Dehumanizing Representation of Tribals and Muslims in the Oscar fame RRR
Historic Property and Holy Books Burnt in the Attack by Hindutva Mob
Sarfaraz Mallik, an advocate at Bihar Sharif Court who resides close to the madrasa said “It is unfortunate that rare books were burnt in the attack, which was carried out with the intention of hampering the education of children”.
Mohan Bahadur, a guard at the madrasa, recalling how he fled when the mob attacked him said “They were armed with swords and rods, and were chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. I ran away from the spot, but they took ₹3,500 from my room.”
“We had just finished Friday prayers when violence erupted at Gagan Diwan locality near Hotel City Palace. A mob then entered the madrasa and started hurling stones. A member of the mosque’s peace committee was threatened to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They threw petrol bombs into the mosque and the library, and set vehicles parked on the premises on fire,” Mr. Siyabuddin said.
“Two children were trapped in a room filled with smoke. If I had not reached there on time, we would have lost them,” Mr. Siyabuddin said. The police did not reach the spot till 11 p.m. even though the attack took place in the afternoon, he added.
According to another witness, the Friday Ram Navami procession from Shram Kalyan Maidan to Mani Ram Akhada was marred by violence. Also, the mob allegedly burnt a number of local businesses after flying saffron flags over them.
A resident of Bihar Sharif named Shatrughan Prasad claimed that since communal disturbances there claimed the lives of 45 people in 1981, the region has not seen such violence.
Read here, Demolition Drives in Kashmir- Is India following the Israeli Model in Kashmir?
Similar Communal Outbursts in Other Indian States
Similar communal outbursts were reported in two other cities of Bihar, where authorities restricted public movement and suspended mobile internet connection in some locations.
Rohtas was another district hot by violence where six people were hurt in an explosion inside a home where two men were apparently building a bomb inside a house.
According to a tweet from the Bihar Police, the explosion did not initially seem to be connected to the ongoing turmoil since local mining operations sometimes use homemade explosives.
During the Hindu festival, violence also affected at least seven other Indian states, leaving dozens injured and hundreds detained in at least 13 towns and cities. This included West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. Last Thursday, rioters rampaged across the Howrah area of Karnataka and set fire to numerous cars and stores.
Also, read Pro-Khalistan Activist Amritpal Singh declared fugitive- What is happening in “India’s Bread Basket” Punjab?
A Pattern of Communal Violence Against Muslims During Hindu Festivals by Hindutva Mob
A pattern of communal violence against Muslims during Hindu festivals in India has been seen over the years. Last year in April on the occasion of Ram Navami there were reports of violence, stone-throwing, and burning in various Indian states. Khargone and Barwani in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Goa, Bombay, and even Jawahar Lal Nehru University in Delhi, where numerous students were hurt, all reported cases of disturbance and violence. Moreover, two persons died in these clashes in Gujarat and Jharkhand.
Read here, India: School Principal Booked After Students Recite Iqbal’s Poem- What Makes Muhammad Iqbal a Contentious Figure in India?
