250 Muslim families evicted from Bishnah, Akhnoor

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250 Muslim families evicted from Bishnah, Akhnoor



Mir Imran/Rising KashmirInam ul Rehman
Srinagar, Aug 21: At least 250 Muslim Gujjar families were forcibly evicted by the Hindu rioters from Akhnoor and Bishnah areas in Jammu province.
The rightwing Hindu activists attacked the Gujjar Muslims at Akhnoor and Bishnah during the preceding night, setting dozens of hutments on fire and abusing the womenfolk.
Lal Hussain, head of the Gujjar Muslims in Bishnah told Rising Kashmir, “On Thursday evening, 1000 Hindu rioters carrying swords, tridents (trishuls) and other sharp edged weapons entered Bishnah, (20 kms from Jammu). Raising provocative and religious slogans, the rioters forced us to recite “Bam Bam Bole” and looted our belongings. They set afire six houses and left the place”.

After an hour, he said, the rioters returned and begin harassing women folk. “When the males of the community resented, the rioters attacked them. They were beaten, kicked and abused,” he said, adding, “The rioters asked us to leave the place or be ready to face consequences”.
Police and army personnel posted in the area did not intervene to prevent the rioters from attacking the Muslims. “They watched as mute spectators,” he said
With police and army personnel backing the rioters, Hussain said, “We had no alternative but to flee from the place. In the midnight I asked the community members to move out. We are presently putting up at Sujma, Narwal, which falls in Batindi, where other Muslim refuges are taking shelter”.
Around 150 Gujjar families moved out from the area during the intervening night of Wedensday/Thursday.
The Hindu rioters also attacked the Muslim Gujjars in Akhnoor. At least 100 families have migrated from the area after being assaulted by the rightwing Hindu activists.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, a local Mir Muhammad Akram said, “The rioters shouting ‘Bam Bam Bole’ and ‘Jai Mata di’ and carrying long knives and tridents attacked us in the dead of the night. They beat the male population and abused the women folk”.
He said, “The army and police personnel were informed and they did too little to safeguard our lives”.
Another Gujjar Khalid Bashir said that Hindu rioters asked them to join the procession and raise Hindu religious slogans. “When we refused, they threatened to take away our womenfolk,” Bashir said, adding, “We had no option but to migrate from the area to ensure safety of our womenfolk.”
Akram further said, “Some policemen in uniform also accompanied the rioters. They spoke on behalf of rioters and asked us to leave the place or we will be thrown out.”
“Before leaving the place, the rioters set 25 hutments on fire,” he added.
Akram along with nearly 100 families left the place at midnight and moved towards Sujma.
A top Gujjar leader, pleading anonymity told Rising Kashmir that Hindus want to build colonies in the area. “The Gujjars have huge chunk of land in the area and Hindus want to build colonies on their land. For this reason, they have been selectively targetting them.”
Muslims Front Jammu (MFJ) chairman Prof Zahir-ud-din expressed shock over the lackadaisical approach of the administration and said rioters should be defeated with tough stand. “Administration is afraid to take any action against the Hindu rioters,” said Zahir.
Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation national secretary Dr Javaid Rahi said that such incidents are bad for the communal harmony of the State. “Muslim Gujjars should not leave their ancestral villages and instead should live with the neighbours of majority community,” Rahi said.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Mandeep K Bandari denied that Muslim Gujjars have migrated from Bishnah, Akhnoor and other places in Jammu province.
Bandari claimed that 70 Muslim families of Jammu, Sambh and Kathu are demanding security cover. “They fear attacks by rioters and we will provide them extra security,” Bandari said.
He claimed that all the Muslim families demanding security will be provided accommodation in nearby police pickets.

Assaults on Muslims increase in Rajouri, Poonch
Son of former MLA among 13 injured

With Amarnath Yatra Sangarh Samiti (AYSS) intensifying its stir in Jammu, the Hindu rioters have increased attacks on Muslims in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. At least 13 Muslims including son of former National Conference MLA were injured in the fresh attacks.
The Hindu rioters, according to reports, have increased their activities in Jammu-Poonch highway. The rioters have carried out at least seven attacks on the Muslim on the Highway during past three days.
The Hindu rioters attacked a tempo traveller carrying three Thana Mandi residents on the highway. The trio identified as Mohammad Sadiq, Mohammad Sultan and Saleem Farooq were stopped by rioters at Hasyote Morh and attacked with sharp edged weapons.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Mohammad Sadiq said that the rioters beat them up mercilessly. “All of us suffered injuries. The Hindu rioters asked us to stop travelling on the Poonch-Jammu Highway. They threatened us of dire consequences if we continue to use the highway,” he said.
In a related incident, the rioters intercepted the son of former National Conference MLA, Aijaz Jan at Bagnoti, Nowshera. Aijaz, who is NC’s youth wing’s provincial secretary was travelling from Jammu to Poonch when the rioters attacked his vehicle. Aijaz, his wife and driver were manhandled by the rioters amidst “Bam Bam Bole” slogans.
When contacted, Aijaz told Rising Kashmir that dozen of rioters intercepted his vehicle at Bagnoti and thrashed him and his driver. “They did not spare my wife also and beat her too. The vehicle was also damaged”, he said.
In another incident, the rioters attacked Haji Mohammad Aslam, who had returned from Saudi Arabia and was on way to his home town in Thanamandi. He was asked to alight from a vehicle at Siot Morh and beaten mercilessly in front of the Hindu travellers. The rioters snatched cash and costly garments from him and let him go only after a Hindu lecturer intervened and them to spare him.
The rioters, according to the local residents, damaged a Tata Sumo, a Tempo traveller and two buses in the same area.
The rightwing Hindu activists attacked a school bus of Himalayan Education Mission in Dhangri area of Rajouri and damaged it completely. A Tempo traveller, carrying supplies to Jammu from Poonch was intercepted in Muradpur area by the rioters. They unloaded the supplies and then took the vehicle into their custody.
When contacted, Station House Officer Police Station Nowshera Mohammad Aslam said that an FIR no 139 under section 392, 134, 427 and 336 has been registered in Police Station Nowshera. “Two rioters Ranjeet Singh son of Surinder Singh and Surinder Kumar son of Dev Raj were arrested by police. Another six rioters involved in harassing Muslims in the area are absconding and police have launched manhunt to track them down,” he said.
The police officer further said that police personnel have been deployed on Poonch-Jammu highway from Siot Morh to Nowshera bridge to ensure safety of people.
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) chairman Ghulam Ahmed Mir has taken strong note of the growing attacks on Muslims in Rajouri and Poonch.
To protest against the attacks, the organisation gave a call for "Jammu Chaloo" after Friday prayers. “We will march towards Jammu against assault on Muslim, their property and vehicles by the Hindu rioters,” he said, adding, “The rioters are forcing them to retaliate”.