NEW DELHI: At least three people were killed, including two Home Guards and 20 others were injured during a religious procession organized by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Nuh, Haryana.
The event took a violent turn, leading to a tense situation in the district. In response, the Haryana government has taken measures to control the escalating communal tension.
Indian media reported that the Haryana government decided to suspend internet services in the district until the following day, Wednesday, to prevent the spread of misinformation and curb the unrest. Additionally, prohibitory orders have been enforced, including a ban on assembly of people, in an effort to restore calm, according to Kashmir Media Service.
According to Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, approximately “3,000-4,000 persons were held hostage in a temple” during the clashes. To address the situation, the state government has already requested additional forces from the Union government.
The violence not only affected Nuh but also spread to Sohna Chowk near Gurugram, where some vehicles were set on fire.
The trigger for the clashes is believed to be an objectionable video posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal activist in Ballabhgarh. There are also reports indicating that Monu Manesar, a cow vigilante wanted for the murder of two Muslim men in Rajasthan, was supposed to join the procession.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s ‘Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra,’ which was flagged off in the morning from Gurugram’s Civil Lines, was supposed to pass through Nuh and reach Ferozepur Jhirka. However, violence erupted around 1:30 pm when the Yatra reached Nuh. The authorities had granted permission for the Yatra, and approximately 1,000 policemen were deployed along the route.
The situation turned volatile when a group of young men near Khedla Mod in Nuh halted the Yatra and began pelting stones at the procession, resulting in the burning of four cars that were part of the procession. Some police vehicles were also damaged in the clashes, as the people in the procession retaliated by throwing stones back at the youths.
Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed from the Congress party blamed the district administration for the escalation of clashes. He expressed concern over the circulation of provocative and hateful videos targeting the people of Nuh in the days leading up to the event.
A social organization named Mewat Vikas Sabha claimed that the “Shobha Yatra” organized by Hindutva groups was a premeditated attempt to engineer communal violence in the Muslim-majority Nuh. They alleged that several provocative videos against Muslims in Mewat were circulated before the Yatra took place, and despite this, the administration allowed the Yatra to enter the region.
As the situation remained tense, the district magistrate, Nishant Kumar Yadav, imposed Section 144, prohibiting the assembly of more than five persons in light of the violence.
The incident has raised concerns about communal harmony in the region and highlights the need for better administration and communication to prevent such clashes in the future. Authorities are now working towards restoring peace and ensuring the safety of the affected communities.
