– Raheem Khan
Barmer: Muslims organized a mass protest at the district headquarters here Thursday, demanding immediate arrest of an individual accused of making derogatory remarks against Muslim religious leaders. The protest saw widespread participation from Barmer and Balotra residents, including leaders from other communities.
Protesters say the accused has been consistently posting inflammatory content on social media, which has caused widespread anger. Despite registering a complaint, the police have yet to apprehend the accused, leading to growing frustration. The protest was supported by notable leaders, including MP Umedaram Beniwal, Baytu MLA Harish Chaudhary, and Shiv MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati, with Gagaria town observing a complete shutdown in solidarity.
After nearly four hours of peaceful demonstration, the protestors submitted a memorandum to District Collector Tina Dabi, voicing their concerns. Superintendent of Police Bhajanlal Sharma assured them that the accused had been traced and would be arrested soon.
The controversy centres around a youth named KD Don from Barmer, who allegedly posted offensive remarks against Muslim leaders on social media. Despite multiple memorandums submitted by Muslims calling for his arrest, no action has been taken yet. This inaction prompted the community to stage a sit-in outside the district collectorate, demanding swift justice and respect for their religious leaders.
The protest grew tense as crowds surrounded the collectorate, but community elders intervened to maintain calm. The protesters issued a 12-hour ultimatum for the police to act, warning that failure to arrest the accused would lead to escalation of protests.
Gagaria town, in particular, came to a standstill, with markets and businesses closed as a mark of protest. Public representatives, including MPs, MLAs, and former officials, expressed their full support for the Muslims’ demand for swift action against those spreading hate on social media.
Barmer police have announced via social media that a case has been registered against KD Don at Gidda Police Station in Balotra for making inflammatory remarks. Teams from Barmer and Balotra have been formed to apprehend the accused.
Within hours of the huge protests, Balotra police arrested Kaisa alias Kishan alias KD Don, who was making objectionable comments on social media, from Rewari, Haryana.
