Residents of Punjab Pura in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district protested after a Muslim woman bought a house in the area.
On Monday, Aug 19, residents gathered and chanted slogans carrying placards threatening Vishal Saxena, the owner who sold his land to Shabnam.
In a video, the tenants are heard saying, “Vishal Saxena Murdabad.” They alleged that the consumption of meat, celebration of various festivals and evil spirit of ‘love jihad’ is unacceptable to them.
Threatening for a ‘mass exodus’ if the demands are not met, residents put up posters that read “Samuhik Palayan”( mass exodus) on doors of their houses.
Speaking to the media, Nasim Bashiri, the brother of Shabnam said, “ Hindu Muslim unity has been seen here since ages. It’s not new. If they didn’t like my sister buying a house here, they could have approached us. We would simply agree with them. There was no need to protest and create chaos like that.”
I spoke to the owner and told him that I do not intend to create problems, if living here is a problem to them, we will not stay here.” “I have handed the keys back to him,” he added.
A Hindu resident, Arvind Srivastav who is a former president of Bareilly Bar Association said, “They should have asked for permission among other residents, since everybody here is educated, if there is a huge difference in status, there will be no peace.”
“What kind of people will come here, if a flower seller starts living here”? he questioned.
“Cases of ‘love jihad’ may increase here, who will be responsible for it”? Srivastav alleged.
According to Nasim, some residents asked for help from organizations to disturb the communal harmony. “We live with Hindus, We don’t have a problem living around them,” he asserted.
“Another resident said, “It’s a mistake on the owner’s and buyer’s side, if they don’t ask other residents for approval.”
Speaking to a local media channel, a woman said, “ We sit here upto late 1am but since Muslims have come, they talk on phones and stay outside making it difficult for us to stay outside.”
We have been living here since childhood. “If Muslims start coming here, the future of our children will be at risk,” another woman added, insinuating at the idea that Muslims interfere in religious practices.
The Bareilly Police has confirmed that they are having discussions with all stakeholders to resolve the problem at hand.
Earlier, Salman Mia, another Muslim man had bought a house in the area and residents had reacted in a similar way.
