Much like December 9, 1992, many pre-planned attacks and “clashes” took place in different parts of India on the night of January 22, the day chosen to inaugurate Ram temple in Ayodhya on the same place that Babri Masjid was demolished. The past few days saw the colours of every city changing to saffron, with roads, public transport and automobiles bearing the saffron flag with the slogan ‘Jai Shree Ram’ on it. The eve of January 22 took an even more sinister turn as unruly mobs created chaos and violence, by targeting religious minorities, while “celebrating” the impending ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya.
As per multiple reports, Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar area of Maharashtra saw some clashes between groups belonging to different faiths during a religious procession that was being taken out in Naya Nagar. The report of Times Now provided that the incident took place around 10.30 on January 21. As per the Free Press Journal, owing to the timely intervention of police, a minor scuffle having the potential to escalate communal tensions that erupted between two groups was diffused. As per the report, the said scuffle had reportedly been triggered by sloganeering near a religious institution.
As per a post of Hate Detectors on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), DCP (Zone I) Jayant Bajbal provided that the verbal arguments had arisen from what he described as “nothing but a scuffle over a petty matter.” Viewing the tensions prevailing in the area, DCP Bajbal also urged citizens to not succumb to rumours and also reassured the public that no communal flare had been reported in connection with the incident. It has also been reported that a substantial deployment of police personnel has been stationed in the area to prevent any untoward incidents, particularly due to the presence of rumour mongers in the area. A flag march was conducted in the area and the situation remained peaceful on the morning of January 22.
As per a report of the Hindustan Times, five arrests have been made from the area in connection to the said incident. As per the Times Now report, section 307 (attempt to murder) has been invoked by the police against the attackers as the riders were assaulted during the incident. The said report also provided that the slogan which raised the argument and led to chaos had been raised by people from the Hindu community present in three to four vehicles.
Ironically, even though the police had cautioned people from spreading any rumours that might worsen the already sensitive situation, one sided narratives and videos related to the Mira Bhayandar incident went viral on social media, wherein the cars donning the saffron flag were shown as being attacked. The said videos gave many far-right trolls and extremists the opportunity to target the Muslim community.
Nayanagar isn’t called Mira Road’s Pakistan for nothing. This is what they’re made of. pic.twitter.com/09FsRjE5UD
— Amit Schandillia (@Schandillia) January 22, 2024
Another incident of communal “clash” was reported from the Mehsana district of Gujarat while a religious procession named ‘Shobha Yatra’ was being taken out on the eve of the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. As per a social media post of Hate Detectors on X, police stated that stone pelting was report when the said procession was passing through Hatadiya area in Belim Vas of Kheralu. According to the police, the stone pelting was triggered by the loud music that was being played from the DJ alongside the procession and bursting of firecrackers in the locality. The clash was dealt with by the police officials by firing at least three rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd from both the communities involved in stone pelting.
Referring to the video clips being circulated on social media showed stones being thrown from the rooftops, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gandhinagar Range, Virendra Yadav had stated that “The situation is under control as a police team was escorting the procession. We are in the process of registering an offence.”
A separate shameful and shocking incident was reported from Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh, where far-right extremist’s goons put up a saffron flag on top of a Church while raising the chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ in full day light. A video showing the act went viral on social media. The said video had surfaced by the afternoon of January 21. No reports can be found whether any action was taken by the police against the men indulging in the sad illegal act, the faces of whose are evidently visible.