Mosque torched, imam killed in communal violence in Haryana’s Nuh; death toll rises to 5

Nuh: A mosque was set on fire and the naib imam killed after communal clashes broke out during the ‘Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra’ taken out by the right-wing groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), killing at least three people, including two home guards, in Haryana’s Nuh district on Monday night.

Anjuman Jama Masjid located in sector 57 in Gurugram was torched on Monday night and the Imam identified as Maulana Saad, was allegedly killed by the Hindutva mob of 70-80 people. Two Home Guards named Gurusevak and Neeraj, and an unidentified individual was also killed, the police said.

"We have identified some of the accused and action will be taken soon," said DCP (East) Nitish Aggarwal, said.

He added that the accused opened fire during the incident. "The naib imam and another man were badly injured and taken to the hospital. The imam reportedly had stab injuries," the DCP said.

Security has been beefed up in Nuh after the communal clashes. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code have been imposed in the district to prevent the assembly of five or more people. Mobile internet services have been suspended temporarily.

A total of 20 companies (approximately 2,000 personnel) of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including CRPF, BSF and ITBP, have been deployed in Nuh by the MHA to maintain law and order situation. 12 of them are RAF.

Tension was brewing in the region after Bajrang Dal member Monu Mansar claimed in a video on social media a few days back that he and his team would be part of the procession.

Mansard is a suspect in the kidnapping and murder of two young Muslim men in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur in February this year.

The locals opposed Monu’s visit to Nuh because of his involvement in the murder case saying that it would disturb communal harmony in the region.

The violence broke out around Monday noon when around half-a-dozen vehicles carrying devotees reached Nuh Chowk leading to rumours that Monu Manesar was inside one of the vehicles.

“The vehicles had ‘Gorakshak’ written on them fuelling rumours that Monu Manesar was inside them. As soon as the vehicles reached Nuh Chowk, a handful of teenagers pelted stones at the vehicles.

Soon, the mob from the neighbouring villages descended on the road and went on the rampage,” The Hindu quotes Gurugram’s Pintu Singh, 36, as saying.

He sustained a shrapnel injury in the attack, the newspaper reported.

At least four vehicles and a dozen shops towards Nuh from the Sohna Chowk have allegedly been vandalised by Bajrang Dal members.

The situation in Nuh continues to be tense. However, there were no reports of any fresh violence on Tuesday. All educational institutions in Gurgaon are to remain shut on Tuesday.

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