Muslims still scared in Ujjain town

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Muslims in Mahidpura town in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh are still under fear four days after the eruption of communal violence during which a Muslim youth was killed in police firing on the day of Eid-e-Miladun Nabi.

On 10th March a procession to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi was taken out in the town. When the processionists were returning through their usual route – on which a group of the Hindu community was organizing ‘Akhand Ramayan Path’ on that day – some fierce argument took place between the two groups. Rather than handling the situation wisely, it is alleged, the police present on the occasion opened fire on the Muslim crowd resulting in the death of a Muslim youth and injuries to 17 others. Curfew was clamped immediately. Four days later situation yesterday was almost under control with Muslims still under fear.

Police claimed that they stopped members of a Muslim group, returning from a religious procession, from going towards the area where Hindus were holding a religious programme but the appeal went unheeded, leading to the communal clash.
But Nasir Mohammad, a social activist who rushed four injured people to the city hospital, said that instead of convincing the Muslim crowd, police opened fire immediately on Muslims while they could use lathi or fire in the air. “Police targeted Muslims deliberately,” added Nasir.

“If Muslim youth tried to go by the path where Hindus were holding religious programme the Hindus did not remain silent; on the contrary they started fighting with the processionists because they knew security forces were with them” Nasir told TwoCircles.net adding that while both the groups were pelting stones on each other, the police opened fire at Muslims.

Nasir also said that with a group of Muslim leaders he went to affected area and asked people to have patience. Asked about the current position of the area he said that now situation is calm but Muslims are still scared as police have arrested many Muslims after the incident and it is still going on.