Why Hindu Outfits Are Staging Protest In Northeast Delhi

Northeast Delhi, which saw communal riots for three consecutive days in 2020 resulting in the death of at least 50 people, is again witnessing communal strife.

On Sunday (9 October), a protest was organised in the area by several Hindu rights organisations including Vishwa Hindu Parishad against the murder of a Hindu man by a group of Muslim men.

Some participants in the rally, including speakers associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, gave calls for economic boycott of “jihadis”.

After the videos circulated on social media and triggered outrage over anti-Muslim sentiment, the protest has been termed controversial.

BJP MP Parvesh Verma and BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gujjar, in the videos circulated, can be seen asking for “total boycott” of “these people” (no community was mentioned) and “killing jihadis”.

Later, in their defence, they told the media that they targetted only the “jihadi elements”.

Following outrage, the police filed an FIR against organisers of the event including the VHP under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) for “not taking permission from police”.

However, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal called the police statement “laughable”, saying due permission had been taken and police personnel could be seen present throughout the event.

“Let alone permission, we fixed the venue at the Ramlila Ground in Dilshad Garden after suggestions and recommendations from senior police officers. We had earlier planned to organise the gathering near Manish's [the man killed in northeast Delhi] house but on the request of the police, changed the venue to the Ramlila Maidan," Bansal told the media.

The VHP also posted a statement on their Twitter account.

Amid the ongoing row, the police have dismissed communal motives in the murder of the victim, calling it fallout of an “old rivalry”.

The Murder Of Manish

Manish, 21, is a resident of Sundar Nagri colony. Last June, he was accosted by two men named Mohammed Mohsin and Mohammed Shakir, who tried to snatch Manish’s mobile phone. When he resisted, the duo stabbed Manish in the neck and abdomen.

Manish sustained injuries but survived the attack. On his statement, the police booked Shakir and Mohsin for attempt to murder and sent them to jail.

Manish’s mother Mithilesh told Indian Express recently that the accused were “hooligans” and their friends began to harass Manish over the police case.

On 1 October this year, around 7.40pm, Manish was attacked again, this time by three men named Mohammed Faizan, Mohammed Bilal and Mohammed Aalam. The attack was brutal and he died. He was reportedly stabbed over 20 times.

The police told the media that the jailed duo contacted a man named Mohammed Sajid, who then contacted Faizan, Bilal and Aalam, asking to execute the attack.

The men reported waylaid Manish in the last week of September, asking him to withdraw the police case. Manish refused, as per police.

Footage of the attack on 1 October was captured on camera. It shows a man being mercilessly stabbed by a group of men. As per Manish’s sister Malti, the attackers shouted, “Keep the body and don’t mess with us”.

Manish was taken to a hospital but was declared “brought dead”.

The victim’s family told the media that they had no issues with what the speakers said at the Sunday event, in which they too participated.

“We didn’t know what the speakers were going to say, but I have no issues with it. I have lost my son and I want justice. If they help us, we would be thankful… We have three children and need the money. Manish had dreams; they are all gone,” Manish’s mother Mithilesh said.