Bihar: Attempt By Muslims To Install Islamic Flag Near Durga Mandir Triggers Clashes In Darbhanga

An attempt by a mob of Muslims to install an Islamic flag in front of a Durga Mandir, in Bihar’s Darbhanga city Saturday (22 July) evening led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims late Sunday (23 July) morning. 

According to reports, a large group of young Muslim men wanted to install a Muharram flag in front of a Durga Mandir at the Shivdhara Bazar Samiti Chowk, in the Sadar police station area of the city Saturday evening. 

Locals, including traders of the area, objected and that led to heated arguments. The Muslim men, who were heavily outnumbered, beat a retreat. 

The local administration convened a meeting of leaders from both the communities to resolve the issue Sunday (23 July) morning. 

It is learnt that Muslim community leaders accepted the contention of Hindus that installing Islamic flags near any Mandir is not a convention and, hence, no attempt would be made to do so. 

But a section of Muslims who were hell-bent on installing the flag got wind of their community elders agreeing to honour the sentiments of the Hindus. 

This enraged them and they congregated near the Durga mandir and started pelting stones at nearby shops. The Muslim mob also targeted vehicles and two-wheelers parked in the area. 

The Hindus resisted and a clash broke out between the two communities. A few policemen who went to the area sustained injuries. Some passers-by were also injured. 

Police reinforcements were rushed to the area and the situation was brought under control. But tension continues to prevail in Darbhanga. 

It is learnt that a section of Muslims continue to insist that the Muharram flag be installed near the Durga Mandir, that falls on the route of a Muharram procession in the city.

Muslims generally install Muharram flags in areas where they are in a majority and on mosques and other religious sites. Muharram started on 19 July and will be marked with processions on 29 July. 

Hindu community leaders told Swarajya over phone from Darbhanga, that the attempt to install a Muharram flag amounted to muscle-flexing by a section of radicalised Muslims of the city.  

Muslims form about 23 per cent of the population of Darbhanga and, since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ditched the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in August last year, communal tensions in the state have increased. 

It is learnt that some Muslim politicians belonging to the RJD are instigating radicals in their community to challenge Hindus and assert themselves. 

Muscle-flexing by Muslims in Bihar, often at the behest or at the encouragement of RJD politicians, has increased since late last year. 

Ram Navami processions were attacked by Muslims in Nalanda, Bihar Sharif and Rohtas districts in March this year. 

What has encouraged Islamists to flex their muscles and provoke Hindus is the alleged partisan attitude of the state machinery.

An example of this was seen in Darbhanga with the police’s alleged attempts to whitewash the entire incident.

After having said that the communal clash broke out over installation of a flag outside the Durga Mandir, the police backtracked and said that no flag had been installed and Muslims did not pelt stones. 

This backtracking is supposed to have happened at the behest of powerful RJD leaders who depend on the minority community's vote banks.