09-25-2010, 01:00 AM
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It all started on the night of September 3, the third Friday in the month of Ramazan.
Here's what happened, verified from multiple sources, which both communities and the police do not dispute:
1. After evening prayers, Muslims noticed some cow dung splattered on the walls of the Danipura mosque.
2. Youngsters took up the issue with the Gujjar community (Milk is their main business) that lives alongside the mosque. (A few days ago a Gujjar resident had called the police station complaining about loud noise from the mosque.)
3. The issue was sorted between the two communities with the help of the police around 9:30 pm.
4. But half an hour later, some youngsters started gathering in groups and a small police party including Superintendent of Police, Mayank Jain, District Magistrate Rajendra Sharma, with a couple of armed escorts reached the spot.
5. As the Muslims began advancing towards the small police party, the officers fended off the mob and called for reinforcements.
6. The mob torched about 40 vehicles, including those of the police and presspersons. A small temple was also set on fire.
7. A small Hindu mob also armed with swords and firearms had also formed by then, and started targeting and damaging Muslim property.
8. As extra forces arrived, they first cordoned off the area. This took some time, and around 2 am, September 4, when the forces began a search operation in the neighbourhood to apprehend the miscreants, they entered a mosque in Sheranipura, one of the bigger mosques in the locality.
Following this, there was an announcement from the mosque: 'Muslims, come out, with scarves tied around your head. Islam is in danger.'
9. This led to a few thousand Muslims assembling, some brandishing swords and others carrying firearms. (The police videographed the mob) As the police fired in the air, the mob retaliated.
10. The forces then push back the mob, and started making arrests.
11. The search operation lasted the whole of next day, when more arrests were made.
Prev Next
It all started on the night of September 3, the third Friday in the month of Ramazan.
Here's what happened, verified from multiple sources, which both communities and the police do not dispute:
1. After evening prayers, Muslims noticed some cow dung splattered on the walls of the Danipura mosque.
2. Youngsters took up the issue with the Gujjar community (Milk is their main business) that lives alongside the mosque. (A few days ago a Gujjar resident had called the police station complaining about loud noise from the mosque.)
3. The issue was sorted between the two communities with the help of the police around 9:30 pm.
4. But half an hour later, some youngsters started gathering in groups and a small police party including Superintendent of Police, Mayank Jain, District Magistrate Rajendra Sharma, with a couple of armed escorts reached the spot.
5. As the Muslims began advancing towards the small police party, the officers fended off the mob and called for reinforcements.
6. The mob torched about 40 vehicles, including those of the police and presspersons. A small temple was also set on fire.
7. A small Hindu mob also armed with swords and firearms had also formed by then, and started targeting and damaging Muslim property.
8. As extra forces arrived, they first cordoned off the area. This took some time, and around 2 am, September 4, when the forces began a search operation in the neighbourhood to apprehend the miscreants, they entered a mosque in Sheranipura, one of the bigger mosques in the locality.
Following this, there was an announcement from the mosque: 'Muslims, come out, with scarves tied around your head. Islam is in danger.'
9. This led to a few thousand Muslims assembling, some brandishing swords and others carrying firearms. (The police videographed the mob) As the police fired in the air, the mob retaliated.
10. The forces then push back the mob, and started making arrests.
11. The search operation lasted the whole of next day, when more arrests were made.