Fresh Communal Clash In Bhainsa, Telangana: Nizamabad MP Alleges AIMIM Behind Riots To Cause Hindu Exodus

Four people were injured as two groups clashed at the Zulfiqur mosque at Bhainsa in Telangana’s Nirmal district on Sunday evening (7 March). The unrecognised miscreants also reportedly caused some arson, burnt three houses, four two-wheelers and damaged paan shops and other small shops at around 8.45 pm.

Extra police personnel were stationed in the town to bring the situation under control. Apparently, a tense argument between a biker and people from another community caused the violence in the communally sensitive town, the Hindu reports.

Telangana Police reportedly imposed a curfew in Bhainsa area today (8 March) and took nearly 100 people into custody for questioning after the late-night clashes.

Bhainsa falls under Nirmal district of Telangana and is a sensitive area. Demography wise, the population of Bhainsa is almost equally divided between two major communities - Hindus and Muslims.

Bhainsa has a history of communal tension. Last year itself witnessed two major communal incidents, one in January and another in May. Over 40 people sustained injuries and several properties were damaged.

Arvind Dharmapauri, BJP MP from Nizamabad said that the responsibility of the riots lay on the AIMIM municipal dispensation that wants to drive away the members of Hindu community from the area, and the TRS government at the state-level playing appeasement politics.

Dharmapuri said, “The ruling Municipal MIM dispensation in Bhainsa is behind these communal clashes. They want to drive away Hindus from Bhainsa and TRS regime is being a puppet and a mute spectator of this horrific incidents.”

“I am asking Mr Mahesh Bhagavath, what is your department doing other than sharing warnings to Social media and WhatsApp users? Had you put those goons behind bars when the previous riots surfaced, these array of riots would have not happened,” he added.

The media coverage of the riots also remains muted due to political pressure. Last year, a Hyderabad-based journalist was booked by Telangana police on charges of spreading religious hatred for his report on Bhainsa riots.

“The media here doesn’t dare to go against the ruling government. The MIM [All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen] also holds immense clout, and pressures the media into silence.. many journalists have sent me messages that they support me and agree with my reportage, but none of them have spoken out for me in public,” he had said.

Also read: A Month After Communal Fire Destroyed Everything They Owned, Bhainsa Victims Struggle To Rebuild Lives, Allege Government Apathy