‘Love Jehad’ allegations force Muslims to flee their shops, homes from Chauras area of Tehri Garhwal
Listen to this article‘Love Jehad’ allegations force Muslims to flee their shops, homes from Chauras area of Tehri Garhwal
S.M.A.KAZMI
Dehradun , Aug 12
After the much publicised Purola ‘Love Jehad’ in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand failed in a court of law recently, seven Muslim shopkeepers of Chauras area of Kirtinagar block of Tehri district have been forced to close down their businesses and run away from their homes by ‘Hindutva’ elements on the alleged trump up charges of “Love Jehad’. The Muslim shopkeepers have been forced to sign up documents stating that they are vacating their shops as per their own sweet will in the police station. The shops owned by Muslims are closed since August 7, 2024.
Interestingly, none has raised voice against this discrimination including the main opposition Congress party except young Indresh Maikhuri, state secretary of CPI (ML) wrote to Uttarakhand Director General of Police and district police chief of Tehri district against the role of the local police in acting against the Muslims. The police has yet to respond to his missive while the mainstream media as always decided to ignore such a news item.
The problem for the miniscule Muslim shopkeeper started on July 31, 2024 when Ali Jafri, son of Shamsher Ali who runs hair cutting saloon in Chauras area across the river opposite Srinagar Garhwal, was talking to his girl classmate on the road near the police station . Ali Jafri, a 12th class student of local Vidyamandir school is a good student who has done well in his previous board examinations. Little did he anticipate that he was being watched and later ‘caught’ by Hindutva moral police. Both the students were taken to the original police post at Chauras where, the parents of the both the students were called. The girl was let off and her parents did not lodge any formal complaint against the boy.
However, the Hindutva moral police force led by local Bajrang Dal and RSS members attacked the hair cutting shop of Shamsher Ali, the father of the boy and beat him up. They allegedly smashed the shop and threw away the belongings outside. “ I had been running the hair cutting shop for the past 26 years and had an unblemished record. Two of my older children also studied from local Vidyamandir school like Ali Jafri and did well but Bajrang Dal people led by Badrish Godiyal threatened us to leave within seven days,” Shamsher told this correspondent on phone from Najibabad his native place in Uttar Pradesh. Ali Jafri had stood first in his school and was also part of the government sponsored “Bharat Darshan” tour last year.
The letter which was forcibly signed by Bajrang dal activist from Gulsher Ali to vacate his shop from Chauras area of Kirtinagar block of Tehri garhwal district of Uttarakhand.
“Later, a group of Bajrang Dal activists attacked our rented place but it was the courage of our landlord that no harm came to our family but we were forced to flee,” said Shamsher.
One of his younger brother Gulsher Ali who was also running a welding shop was also forced to vacate the shop. “ The Bajrang Dal activists came with a letter in which it was stated that we are vacating the shop at our own sweet will. My brother was forced to sign the letter in the police station,” alleged Shamsher Ali.
Similarly, Ikramuddin, another Muslim who was running his business of washing and ironing clothes was asked by the police to close down his shop. Afraid of any backlash against him, he has also left Chauras for his native Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh.
Indresh Maikhuri, state Secretary of CPI(ML)
Indresh Maikhuri in his letter to the Uttarakhand DGP has condemned the entire incident and demanded stern action against elements out to vitiate the atmosphere. He said that none has the right to force the minorities to abandon their business and homes and the rule of law should be enforced. He also questioned the role of the local police for their alleged partisan role in threatening the Muslims and forcing them to sign letters forcefully.
Yashwant Khatri, incharge of the Chauras police post when contacted said that there were nine Muslim shopkeepers and only a few have left on their own. When asked about the reason for vacating their shops and houses, he replied that those people had issues with their landlords and had vacated as per their own will.
In another related incident, Srinagar Garhwal police on a complaint by local BJP leader Lakhpat Bhandari lodged a case against Sahil Salmani, running a hair cutting saloon in the city for having five fake Face Book accounts under the name of ‘Amit Rawat’ with an alleged intention of committing “love Jehad” .
