Featured Image Credits: Falana Dikhana
In the Muslim-dominated area of Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi, a Muslim mob on Saturday (20 March) night attacked a Dalit colony in the area after news emerged of a Hindu man marrying his Muslim girlfriend.
Last month, Bajrang Dal member Rinku Sharma had been stabbed to death in his house by a Muslim mob in the Mangolpuri area in Delhi.
Videos of Muslim men rampaging through the by-lanes of the Hindu Dalit locality in Sarai Kale Khan went viral on social media, after being widely shared on the internet.
Video: Muslim mob attacking Dalit colony in Delhi's Sarai Kaale Khan area after a Dalit boy married a Muslim girl.pic.twitter.com/8EmhEQkk59
— Divya Kumar Soti (@DivyaSoti) March 21, 2021
After the attack, which was intended to cause harm to the family members of the boy who married his Muslim girlfriend, the family ran away to their relatives’ place in Ghaziabad.
A mob of more than 50 Muslims, armed with rods, sticks and swords attacked suddenly Saturday night. As per the locals in that area, the attackers wanted revenge for the marriage and attacked Hindu women and children.
So far, four men ― identified as Farman, Shahrukh, Hasan Ali and Raza Ahmed ― have been arrested.
“Sumit married Khushi Ahmed on March 14. Khushi’s brother, Farman & others raided Sumit’s house and went on a rampage on Saturday”, tweeted Raj Shekhar Jha, a journalist with Times of India.
Four men – Farman, Shahrukh, Hasan Ali and Raza Ahmed — have been arrested in case of attack on a family in the aftermath of an interfaith marriage. Sumit married Khushi Ahmed on March 14. Khushi's brother, Farman & others raided Sumit's house and went on a rampage last night. pic.twitter.com/03pchuOOBr
— Raj Shekhar Jha (@rajshekharTOI) March 21, 2021
According to the victim’s sister and women from the neighbourhood, the Muslim men tried to enter houses of Hindus and tried to molest girls.
In a video shared on Twitter by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hari Manjhi, women from the neighbourhood quoted the Muslim men as saying, “If a Hindu takes one of our girls, we will carry away all the girls from you”.
दिल्ली के सराय काले खां की हरिजन बस्ती में मुस्लिमों द्वारा चाकू, तलवार व तेज धार हथियारों से हमला किया गया. महिलाओं के कपड़े भी फाड़े गए. मुस्लिम लड़की से शादी करने पर किया हंगामा. हमलावरो ने कहा हिन्दुओं के साथ खून की होली खेलेंगे. कहाँ है उदितवा अबमुँह नहीं खोलेगा pic.twitter.com/hRDIe0cs0c
— हरि मांझी (@HariManjhi) March 21, 2021
Locals were also angry that it took the police more than an hour to reach the area. The mob also turned their ire on the vehicles parked outside and caused damage to property. When the police reached the spot, the damage was already done. Later, the paramilitary force had to be deployed in the area to control the situation.
What residents of Sarai Kale Khan told me: Demography-wise, a little more than 50% is Muslim. Hindus mostly Dalits. Land owned primarily by Gujjars, who have built buildings with large number of small one-room sets. 75% of Muslim residents are tenants living in these buildings
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) March 21, 2021
Sarai Kale Khan violence: Valmiki man and Muslim woman married in temple on 17. Yesterday, the woman gave statement of consent first in court then in police station. The couple left for another city late evening for safety. Within an hour, a mob attacked entire Harijan basti
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) March 21, 2021
It is clear that the marriage between the Dalit man his Muslim girlfriend was consensual and the girl has given a statement in the police station saying that she was not coerced to marry the man.
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