Muslim organisations have called for an immediate halt to anti-Muslim violence in Tripura after multiple reports of masajid being burnt and vandalism of Muslim houses and property came to light.
Several mosques, houses and shops belonging to Muslims were vandalised by Hindutva groups RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal across Tripura during protests against Bangladesh violence during the last few days. Photos and videos show violent right-wing mobs carrying swords and raising anti-Muslim slogans during protests organised by Viswa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Jagran Manch, Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
There have been anti-Muslim violence in Unakoti, West Tripura, Sepahijala and Gomati Tripura districts including incidents of vandalisation of mosques, stone-pelting and ransacking of homes and forcing hawkers to leave.
“The situation in Tripura is deteriorating fast. It seems the VHP crowds that were protesting against anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh are turning to violence against Muslims in Tripura,” said SIO National President Mohammad Salman Ahmad.
A delegation of SIO and Association of Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) submitted a memorandum to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Magistrate (DM) of Unakoti district and discussed details about attacks on Muslims establishment across Tripura. The delegation appealed for peace and the arrest of miscreants.
“The chief minister and state administration seem to be completely ignoring this outbreak, even as they appease the Hindutva forces with incendiary statements. We demand immediate state action to halt the violence and swift action against the perpetrators”, said Salman Ahmad in a statement.
The Tripura State Jamaat Ulama (Hind) has submitted a petition to the chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb appealing to the government to act firmly against the trouble-makers and not let extremists fan passions against Muslims in the state.
The memorandum added, “Some Muslims in remote areas have had to leave their homes for this reason.”
Popular Front of India, North-East region President Mohammed Arif Khan condemned the attacks against Muslims and said “it is not right to decry about mistreating minorities in the neighbouring country and at the same time be silent about the acts of violence against minorities in one’s own country. The civil society in Tripura should come forward and condemn the attacks on Muslims in Tripura.”
“The right-wing groups like RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal are notorious for concocting issues to persecute the Muslim minority in the northeast region by branding them as Bangladeshi infiltrants. They are now doing it in the garb of protests against anti-minority violence in Bangladesh,” he added.
Khan has called upon the government to ensure law and order in the state by ensuring immediate actions against the perpetrators. “We demand a fair investigation into the incident so that the real masterminds and instigators behind the violence are brought to justice,” he said.
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