On a Sunday preceding the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, Mumbai’s Mira Road found itself gripped by heightened communal tension. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as residents navigated the delicate interplay of religious sentiments and communal harmony. The city, anticipating a ceremony, experienced intensified emotions, revealing intricate dynamics of religious events and their impact on local communities.
Vehicles bearing saffron flag with “Jai Shree Ram” reportedly attacked
On January 21, there was a clash in Naya Nagar between two communities. According to the reports, Incident occurred Sunday, around 10:30 pm, as a vehicle rally of 10-12 people, three cars, and motorcycles chanted Lord Ram’s praises before Monday’s Pran-Pratishtha. The people involved in the rally burst crackers too. The slogans and the firecrackers triggered the local people and they then tried to damage the vehicles bearing saffron flags with “Jai Shree Ram” written on it.
The Government announced “zero tolerance”
The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, held an early morning meeting with the police commissioner, asking him to take immediate and strict action. He even stated that there would be “zero tolerance” against the people who would try to violate the law and order of the state.
Strict action was taken against the ones involved
Madhukar Pandey, Commissioner of Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar (MBVV) stated that the officials arrested five people on the same day while the others were identified and arrested on Monday. The police officials filed charges against the ones who tried to promote enmity between two different communities on the basis of rioting and religion.
So far 13 people have been arrested and more suspects are being identified with the help of collected CCTV footage, who were in connection with the violence. Prior to this, the police took five people into custody and filed a charge against them. According to the police, an individual suffered serious injuries in the violence that took place. The others involved got some minor injuries in Naya Nagar, Mira Road attack.
A victim’s statement
Vinod Jaiswal, a shopkeeper from Bhayander disclosed how he and few other vehicles bearing saffron flags were attacked. The 43-year-old shopkeeper, who was hit by a knife complained about the entire clash. He sustained marks of knife injury on his cheeks and was admitted to Bhimsen Joshi Hospital in Bhayander. He stated that it was around 10 pm when he went out of his house in his car and he noticed some vehicles following him.
When he reached the Naya Nagar Lodha Road, the mob following him, attacked him and pulled down the flag. The men broke the window with stones and iron rods. The people of other community claimed that this situation arose because a mob stopped near a mosque and tried to burst crackers.
The police officials reassured the citizens and told them not to believe rumors
Few videos of the violence that were shared widely across social media, triggered other people. Unknown and disconnected people were found tearing down vehicles with flags. They were seen damaging vehicles with stones and rods. Violence escalated as mobs, unable to control rage, were observed assaulting individuals inside vehicles in several areas during the incident. Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police urged residents to disregard hateful videos, appealing for calm and discouraging belief in misinformation.
Situation under control
The officials from the Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar (MBVV) handled the entire situation and conducted a peace march that brought the riot-like situation under control.
Amidst everything, Lord Ram’s Pran-pratishtha successfully took place with all the rituals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, graced the event and addressed all the guests present at Ayodhya Ram Mandir today.
