What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
ASIND (RAJASTHAN): Everyone in Asind, in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, is now aware of his name – the man who got death threats on Facebook.
Narayan Singh Gurjar posted a video supporting Bhagwa, a pious colour for Hindus, on his Facebook account. The video drew unwarranted criticism with an unknown person giving him death threats in comments.
“I didn’t post anything derogatory to any religion or community. It was just a post supporting my religion and a man named Mahfuz Mansuri commented ‘one is beheaded, still you cannot keep quiet’. In another comment, he posted a picture of the killers of Kanhaiya Lal. I was shocked,” Narayan told The New Indian.
Son of a farmer, youngest amongst five siblings, Narayan’s mother couldn’t sleep as the horrific images of Udaipur murder still haunts her.
“I couldn’t stay normal thinking if any such incident ever happens with my son. We cannot take this risk and decided to register an FIR on July 16,” said Devki.
Being a hotbed of communal clashes, the entire Bhilwara district was put on high alert following the incident.
Asind municipal council has 25 wards. Out of them, six are Muslim dominated and the rest are Hindu majority. After Narayan received threats, police officials were seen everywhere in the village, especially at the entrance of Muslim majority wards.
Police, already on alert mode after the killing of Kanhaiya Lal, are not taking any chances as they gave protection to Narayan. They are also taking help from their cyber cell to trace Mahfuz Mansuri.
SHO of Asind police station Narayan Lal Gurjar said that the Facebook ID from which the comment was made is now deactivated but they are looking into this matter. Narayan’s family is under police protection 24×7, he added.
“Media is taking my interview, neighbours are asking me about the problems I am facing right now. Everyone in the town now knows our house address and that is worrisome. I don’t want to end up like Kanhaiya Lal and I want some peace of mind as my REET examination date is near for which I cannot concentrate,” the 23-year-old said.
Cutting across the caste lines, villagers have shown solidarity with Narayan in this situation. But to prevent further de-escalation of the situation, police officials are guarding the entrance of ward 4 (Muslim majority ward) and a few officials were seen guarding the Jama Masjid in the ward.
“We don’t know, such are the orders, so we are sitting here. Bhilwara has always been sensitive between two communities. If anything happens, the police are deployed. Although no one has lost his or her life in any clashes, things get serious because people from both sides are notorious and are always looking for a chance to create a nuisance,” said a police officer who does not wish to be named.
In the Masjid mohalla (ward 4) people are discussing the matter. Ramzan Khan, a resident of the mohalla, said, “I don’t support anyone who is violating the law but no one should paint the entire Muslim community in bad colour. There are good and bad people everywhere.”
A few days back, four people on motorcycles came in front of the village mosque and chanted the ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogan before being dispersed by the police officials.
Asind has been a BJP-dominated seat. Hindus usually vote for BJP while Muslims have been Congress voters. Many Hindus in the town have agricultural land but Muslims are general labourers or daily wagers.
Yakub Mohamad, secretary of the Sheikh Samaj, Asind while talking to The New Indian explained, “We will never support a criminal but don’t malign the image of Muslims. If there is any problem, the administration should call both sides and talk to us. It is not fair to incite communal tension between the two communities. Keep politics out of people’s lives as we have to earn our wages.”
The market was shut down by the villagers after the threats given to Narayan Gurjar. Villagers are demanding strict action and proper police protection for the boy and his family. But Narayan is worried about the future.
