Pune: In a disturbing instance of targeted communal intimidation, several Muslim families have been compelled to leave their homes and shut down their businesses in Paud and Pirangut villages of Mulshi taluka, Pune district. The trigger for this mass displacement appears to be a sustained campaign of threats, hate posters, and economic boycotts carried out by right-wing Hindutva groups following an alleged incident involving the desecration of an idol, reported the Wire.
A joint fact-finding team from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) visited the villages on July 2 and reported a “climate of fear,” shuttered shops, and displaced families—some of whom had lived in these areas for more than two decades.
The situation escalated after posters calling for a boycott of “non-native Muslims” were plastered across the villages. These appeared shortly after an alleged desecration of an Annapurna Devi idol on May 2, followed by a protest march led by the BJP and other right-wing groups on May 5. During the rally, open threats were reportedly issued to Muslim residents.
Despite the police removing the posters on the orders of Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, Muslim-owned establishments—such as bakeries, salons, and chicken and scrap shops—have remained shut. “We’ve filed multiple complaints, but no one is helping us reopen,” said the owner of Roshan Bakery in Paud during a PUCL press conference held in Pune on July 4.
Roshan Bakery, which employed both Muslims and Hindus, has been locked up, along with New Sangam and New Bharat bakeries. Together, these closures have deprived nearly 400 workers of their livelihoods. “This is not just about religion. It’s about our survival being taken away,” said the owner of Bharat Bakery, in operation for over 32 years.
Inspector Santosh Girigosavi of Paud Police Station confirmed the removal of hate posters but acknowledged the situation remains volatile. Some Hindutva activists, residents say, have pressured Muslim shopkeepers to vacate or lease their properties.
Among the accused is Hindu Rashtra Sena leader Dhananjay Desai, previously arrested and acquitted in the 2014 murder of IT professional Mohsin Shaikh. Police have now filed a case against him in connection with the illegal occupation of a farmhouse and say he is currently absconding.
One local scrap dealer shared his harrowing experience—his shop was set ablaze in early June, causing a loss of Rs 20 lakh. He has since moved his family to Kamshet and is awaiting police action and compensation.
Even mosques were not spared. Posters appeared restricting namaz to “local Muslims,” deterring worshippers from nearby villages. Though removed, residents say the fear remains, and mosques are now largely deserted.
Many affected families have fled to nearby towns or returned to ancestral villages in Uttar Pradesh. Children’s education has suffered, with several students forced to drop out amid the unrest.
In an alarming revelation, a local resident spoke of a 400-member WhatsApp group allegedly created to monitor Muslim movements in the village. “When I went to buy medicine for my child, my photo was circulated immediately,” he said.
Ashok Matre, former Congress taluka president in Pirangut, decried the collapse of Mulshi’s communal harmony. “Muslims used to participate in our Harinaam Saptah festival wearing traditional attire. Now, RSS, Shiv Pratishthan, and Hindu Rashtra Sena have sowed hatred.”
PUCL has condemned the economic boycott as unconstitutional and a violation of fundamental rights. Civil rights groups are now preparing to pursue legal remedies.
