Video shows Hindutva fringe mob trying to forcefully enter Ratnagiri mosque

The acts of Hindutva elements in disturbing social harmony are to be called heinous, as day by day, they emerge as a new threat to the social fabric of the country, as it is reported that this fringe element-triggered mob, which was celebrating the Shimga festival, tried to force its way into a mosque in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district on Thursday, March 13.

A video that surfaced on social media showed scores of people participating in the festival, using a large wooden device to break into the gates of Jama Masjid in Rajapur, while police officials watched without taking any action. However, the mosque authorities managed to prevent a major communal incident by closing the gates and holding firm.

The event took place on March 12, and while no large-scale violence was reported, local sources confirmed that one person sustained injuries during the incident. The video depicted the mob attempting to break open the gates three times, with the participants celebrating and dancing while the police personnel present at the scene appeared to take no action. Despite the severity of the situation, no official statement has been issued by the authorities yet, The Siasat Daily reported.

Holi, which is widely known as the festival of colours, has been celebrated in India with communal harmony for years, while in Maharashtra and Goa, Shimga is observed by burning old wood and unwanted items as a symbolic cleansing of negativity.

However, the violent attempt to breach the mosque gates has led to widespread condemnation on social media, with many netizens expressing concern over the growing communal tensions in the region.

Following the video's circulation, social media users voiced their outrage over religious festivals being used to incite disharmony, with one user on X highlighting that the incident occurred during the holy month of Ramadan while people were praying inside the mosque. Another user criticised the hypocrisy in society, arguing that democracy is being undermined as fringe elements bring disrepute to the Sanatan religion, which stands for love and harmony.

On Reddit, users lamented the communal tensions emerging in Ratnagiri, with one user expressing disbelief over the incident by recalling that the town had always upheld mutual respect among communities. Another user compared the situation in Maharashtra to states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, suggesting that communal tensions were spreading due to political influences.