A wave of tension has gripped a slum in Sector 69, Gurugram, as posters surfaced, warning Muslim residents to leave the area by Monday or face dire consequences.
The appearance of these posters, just ahead of a scheduled ‘Shobha yatra’ by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-led groups, has raised concerns about potential clashes. The communal clashes in July had previously disrupted the Brij Mandal Shobha Yatra in Nuh, adding to the unease.
The provocative posters, attributed to the VHP and Bajrang Dal, carried explicit threats aimed at the slum’s residents, the majority of whom had migrated from West Bengal.
The notices, primarily written in Hindi, reportedly contained warnings of violence, arson, and rape. While the local migrant labourers were unable to comprehend the content, their employers conveyed the alarming nature of the messages.
Mojed, a resident native to West Bengal, discovered one such poster plastered on the wall of his tea shop on Sunday morning. The poster purportedly named the VHP and Bajrang Dal, and demanded that all Muslims vacate the area by Monday or face grave consequences, even hinting at the potential for loss of life. The graphic threats within the poster have fueled tensions within the community.
In response to the situation, an FIR (First Information Report) has been lodged against the unidentified culprits under multiple sections of the law, including 294 (abusing), 188 (disobedience of a public servant’s order), 295A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation). To maintain calm and prevent any untoward incidents, the police have reinforced their presence in the area.
VHP representatives denied any involvement in the creation or dissemination of the threatening posters. They distanced themselves from the messages and called for action against those attempting to defame the organization.
In the complaint filed by Mojed, he alleged that Asif, a local scrap shop owner, was suspected of being connected to the pamphlet featuring the names of the VHP and Bajrang Dal.
“Around three to four days ago, Asif, who operates a scrap store in Sector 69, issued threats towards me and directed caste-based derogatory language at me,” he said in the complaint.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Charan Singh, the officer in charge of the investigation, revealed that they are probing the involvement of the accused, Asif.
Singh said that necessary action will be taken, including the potential arrest of Asif, as the authorities work to untangle the complexity of the situation.
(with PTI inputs)
