‘Everyone knew the violence was coming…There were many triggers… last year they pulled down a mazaar’: Nuh MLA

It was about 1.30 pm (on July 31). I was in Delhi for a party event. The first phone call that I got was from the SP (of Palwal). He had the additional charge of Nuh that day. He told me that a few people had gathered in Shaheedi Park and that the situation was becoming tense. After that, I started receiving calls from other people, including a few from the district administration. They informed me that a large crowd had gathered, including teenagers and small children.

About an hour later, the news of violence started coming in. At about 3.30-4 pm, I got a call from DGP P K Agrawal. He told me the situation had gone out of hand and that there was immense violence. I was at a bank in Gurgaon at this point and I rushed to Nuh.

I saw stones being pelted everywhere and vehicles ablaze. It was chaos. For hours, I kept appealing to the people to stay calm. I spoke to the DGP multiple times. Additional DGP Mamta Singh was there on the ground with us.

It has been four days now. Peace is being restored in the area. Except for an incident in Taoru, where two mosques were vandalised by miscreants a couple of days ago, no major incident of violence has come to light.

Has Nuh seen such incidents of violence before? 

This is the first one. People here are known for peace, communal harmony and brotherhood. But, this was coming. Everybody knew it. The first trigger was the brutal murder of Asif, a resident of Khera Khalilpur. His killing was recorded on camera and circulated. The police registered a case against the culprits and took legal action. Yet their (accused’s) supporters held a panchayat in which they kept threatening us (the Muslim community). (On May 16, 2021, Asif Khan, a resident of Khera Khalilpur village in Nuh, was allegedly murdered by a group of men while on his way home. Few arrests have been made in the case. The trial is still going on.)

Our community did not react. We wanted to ensure the strictest possible punishment for the culprits, as per the law. We kept calm. Later, another person said there were love jihad incidents in our area.

We went to court to file a criminal case against him for attempting to destroy the social fabric of our area. No action was taken. These so-called gau rakshaks then started uploading provocative videos on social media.

We three (Ahmed, Firozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan, and Punhana MLA Mohd Ilyas) showed several posts, in which weapons were being openly brandished, uploaded by these people (cow vigilantes and members of the Bajrang Dal).

No action was taken by the police. (Then) Junaid and Nasir’s killings happened. These provocative incidents have been happening for the last three-four years.

Did you raise your apprehensions with the district administration before the July 31 yatra?

One day before this yatra, we alerted the police about this person (Monu Manesar) and informed them about the provocative videos he was posting. Yet, no proper arrangements were made to avoid this kind of a clash and no action was taken against him.

The participants of the yatra were said to have been carrying weapons. The yatra started three-four years ago. Was it always the case?

This has been happening since the yatra began. They carry weapons, wave them at the crowd and shout provocative slogans. The speeches are broadcast through huge speakers. In 2021, members of the yatra had demolished a mazaar in Nuh. The issue was raised with the district administration. A lunch was organised for members of both the communities and the matter was amicably resolved. We all got together and the mazaar was rebuilt.

How has the violence impacted Nuh?

A large number of daily wage labourers and roadside vendors have started migrating out of Nuh. There is a sense of fear among our people across communities. Muslims from 30-40 villages have been forced to migrate. The state government should take measures so that they are not deprived of their livelihood. The police have also picked up many people as part of their combing operations.

In rural areas, people have locked their homes and vanished into nearby jungles because of fear.

Home Minister Anil Vij has said 80 people have been detained. What is your information regarding those detained?

That could be their figure, but I have learnt that over 2,300 persons have been picked up by the police in the last three days. I have records. Even employees and government servants have been picked up by the police. They are being made to sit in police stations for hours. A few have been released.