Sanatan Prabhat > Location > Asia > India > Maharashtra > Stone pelting on Hindu youth after the Maha Aarti on second consecutive day in Chikalthana

Stone pelting on Hindu youth after the Maha Aarti on second consecutive day in Chikalthana

Three injured; ruckus by the radicals continues despite change in prayer timings of both communities

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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra – On the night of 12th March, a mob of religious fanatics caused chaos and beat up two Hindu individuals for performing Aarti at the Hanuman Temple in Kamgar Colony of Chikalthana. Then, on the night of 13th March, these religious fanatics again hurled stones at Hindus after the Maha Aarti organised in the same Hanuman Temple by the entire Hindu community. This escalated tensions in the area. Three Hindu youths sustained injuries during the stone pelting and are currently receiving treatment at Ghati Hospital

1. In case of the riots that took place on 12th March, charges have been brought against 40 individuals at the MIDC Police station.

2. Despite Police intervention to adjust prayer times for both communities, on 13th March, following the Aarti ceremony, religious fanatics once again hurled stones at the Hindus.

3.  The Maha Aarti was led by Rajendra Janjal, District President, Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction). The event was attended by over 1,500 Hindus.

The situation remained under control due to deployment of large Police force.

The Hanuman Temple is accessible via two roads, one from Pushpa Garden to Madina mosque, and another from Ambedkar Chowk.

More than 1,500 Hindus attended Maha Aarti at the Hanuman Temple. After the Maha Aarti, attendees started chanting slogans in presence of Mr Rajendra Janjal.

4. After the Maha Aarti, the Police dispersed the sloganeering crowd. However, later on, a group of 40 to 50 Hindu youths riding motorbikes were targeted with stones by religious fanatics while passing through this road. Among the injured were Shubham Rathod (18), Avinash Bondre (19), and Sagar Banjare (24) from Mukundnagar.

5. Arjun Raut, Sub-Inspector at the MIDC CIDCO Police Station, attempted to calm the crowd and reassured them of action regarding the riots that occurred on 12th March.

6. Sanjay Chaudhary, former Corporator of Chikalthana area and Sohail Shaikh, former Corporator of Pushpa Garden area, appealed to the people to remain calm. They emphasised the importance of maintaining harmony between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the village and coexisting peacefully. In their statement, they highlighted that the tension in Chikalthana was fuelled by outsiders.

Editorial Perspective

How do the radicals pelt stones on Hindus despite change in prayer timings. One wonders if the radicals have vowed to deliberately trouble Hindus. Imagine if Hindus had pelted stones on the radicals instead, the Police would have arrested several Hindus by now. Now will the Police dare to arrest these radicals ?

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