Call for Justice Against Perpetrators Who Targeted Mosque and Homes in Planned Attack
By Abdul Mujeeb
In recent years, there have been concerted efforts by certain malicious elements to undermine the rich cultural tapestry known as the “Idea of India.” This diverse and harmonious cultural blend has faced repeated attempts at disruption. A recent instance occurred in Gazapur, a village near Vishalgad in Kolhapur, where communal rioters targeted the honor, faith, freedom, homes, and livelihoods of some local residents. The assault also specifically damaged a mosque in the village.
To assess the situation on the ground, a team from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra visited the devastated Muslim settlement of Gazapur on July 21. Gazapur is a village located on either side of the road leading to Vishalgad, comprising 11 distinct settlements from different communities such as Kunbi, Charmakar, Vani (Baniya), Maratha, Dalit, and Dhangar. The last settlement before reaching Vishalgad, approximately three kilometers away, is the Muslim settlement.
The Muslim settlement in Gazapur includes about 110 houses, 10 shops, and one mosque. On July 14, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a former Rajya Sabha MP, rallied a crowd at Vishalgad with the slogan of removing encroachments. According to eyewitnesses, when the police dispersed the crowd with a baton charge, around 10,000 to 12,000 rioters diverted and attacked Gazapur. The rioters specifically targeted Muslim homes, shops, hotels, a mosque, four-wheelers and two-wheelers.
The attack resulted in significant damage to the mosque, including the destruction of the pulpit, doors, windows, electrical fittings, lights, mats, cupboards, and other furnishings. The washroom and plumbing fixtures were completely destroyed, and the mosque’s minarets were damaged. The rioters then vandalized approximately 40 homes, breaking doors, windows, and parts of roofs or walls. In one instance, an LPG cylinder was used to set a house on fire, causing total destruction.
The attackers also looted and destroyed about 10 shops, including chicken shops and small grocery stores attached to homes. A larger hotel in the village was ransacked, with all items broken and cash stolen. Vehicles parked outside homes, including 8 to 10 cars and around 50 motorcycles and scooters, were also damaged with iron pipes, hammers, and stones. No motorcycle in the village was spared.
Residents of Gazapur reported that the police were aware of the potential for an attack but did not provide adequate security or inform the villagers in advance. The Muslim settlement was specifically targeted, while nearby homes, shops, and vehicles belonging to Hindu residents were left untouched. Eyewitnesses described scenes of violence where attackers broke into homes, forcing families to flee to the jungle with their children to save their lives.
The affected residents of Gazapur are traumatized. Initial impressions suggest that the primary aim of the violence was to terrorize the Muslim residents to force them out for economic gains.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra, along with a fact-finding team comprising Abdul Mujeeb, Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra; Aslam Ghazi, President of APCR, Maharashtra; Mazhar Farooq, Secretary of Ideal Relief Committee Trust; Irfan Engineer; Ismail, District Organizer of Kolhapur; Akbar Inamdar, Local Leader; Ashfaq Ahmed, Secretary of SIO Maharashtra; and Nihal Ahmed of Youth Movement Maharashtra, visited the affected area.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra has initiated a rehabilitation plan and started relief work to help the victims.
