Madhya Pradesh: Hindutva Supporters Resort to Violence, Force Muslims to Shut Shops

New Delhi, 27 Sep 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: Hindutva supporters held a rally on the streets of Khargone in Madhya Pradesh warning Muslims to shut down their businesses.

Local reports said that the rally was organised after there were rumours that some Muslims had allegedly sold “cow meat”.

The mob forced Muslim shopkeepers to shut their shops. In the process they resorted to violence, ransacking shops and even assaulting some people.

A video that has surfaced on social media shows the mob yelling slogans: “Goli maaro saalon ko” (Shoot the rascals) and “Band karo, Band karo”.

The video which was originally shared by Kashif Kavik, a journalist associated with the Newsclick, shared a video on Twitter showing a Muslim auto driver asking helplessly. “Main ne kya Gunah kiya tha? (What sin did I do).” He points to his auto which he alleges was damaged by the mob.

The video shows men with bruises and blood on their faces.

Police are seen resorting to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Reports said that police have filed an FIR and are looking into the matter.

Attacks on Muslims by mobs have risen in past few weeks with Hindutva supporters accusing them of “economy jihad”, a newly-coined term to claim that Muslims are doing business in Hindu areas as a ploy to undermine Hindus.