Featured Image Credits: Falana Dikhana
The Delhi High Court on 23 March granted police protection to the Muslim-Hindu couple after a violent Muslim mob attacked the Hindu colony in which the couple lived.
The attack came as a response to the marriage of a 22-year-old Hindu man and a 19-year-old Muslim woman. The woman had willingly converted to the Hindu religion and married the man from the Valmiki community.
On the night of 20 March, the Muslim mob attacked Hindu houses in the Muslim-dominated Sarai Kale Khan area of Delhi.
According to the victim’s sister and other women of the neighbourhood, the Muslim men tried to enter the houses inhabited by Hindu families and tried to molest the women and the girls. “If a Hindu takes one of our girls, we will carry away all the girls from you”, the Muslim men had allegedly shouted.
Hindus threatened with ‘khoon ki holi’
A single-judge Bench of Justice Anu Malhotra sought a status report from the Delhi Police in the matter.
Fearing another violent attack in the near future which could lead to disturbance of public peace, the couple and the boy’s family members had moved the High Court for appropriate directions.
On the intervening night of March 20-21, a Muslim mob attacked the boy’s home, hurled casteist remarks and even threatened to kill them all.
“..CCTV footage of the area shows mob entering the narrow lanes and breaking pots and coolers, pelting stones and banging on doors to threaten the Petitioner No. 2 (boy), his family and neighbours..a woman named Sabina had threatened local Hindus with ‘khoon ki holi’ remarks in the morning of 2.03.2021 and came with a full group of Muslim men later in the night,” the petition filed by the couple said.
The petitioners also informed the Court that they had demanded police action against Sabina. However, no arrest was made.
The petitioners have inter alia sought a court-monitored investigation into the incident, under the provisions of the SC/ST Act.
Delhi Police informed the Court that provision for offences under the SC/ST Act have been added to the FIR and adequate protection would be provided to the couple. It was added that two platoons of police force and two pickets have been posted outside the house of couple.
Advocate Monika Arora with advocates Manish Kumar, Riddhima Gaur, Akash Vajpai and Manish Kumar appeared for the petitioners. Additional Standing Counsel Nandita Rao appeared for State.
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