Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Sep 1: The United Muslim Organization, Dakshina Kannada district, on Tuesday September 1 condemned the recent incident at Attavar in which a man was stripped, tied to a pole and assaulted by right-wing activists and others in full public view.
Shabbir (name changed) was stripped, tied to an electricity pole and assaulted by right-wing activists on August 24 for being in the company of a female colleague from another community. The girl later claimed that she Shabbir had 'harassed' her and that she was 'rescued' by the mob. Shabbir, however, said in his complaint that he was only giving some money to the girl which she had asked for, and he was sitting inside the car while she was standing outside.
Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, president of United Muslim Organization (UMO) and former mayor Ashraf condemned the incident and said, "This incident has created panic among the business community of the district. Sangh Parivar is attacking youths from the minority community by using girls. Such attacks are part of a strategy to spark communal riots in the district."
He further said that if such an incident happens in future, the United Muslims Organization, which comprises 40 like-minded organizations, would give a call to the minority business institutions and shops "to stop hiring girls from the Hindu community at their worksplaces".
"People from the minority communities are worried about hiring girls from Hindu community in the workplace. We will hold a campaign and also a Muslim convention by the end of this month.
"We want peace in the district. These types of attacks are repeating because of only two issues - girls and cow slaughter. Due to such incidents it is the poor people who suffer," he said.
president of Uniwef Rafiquddin Kudroli said, "As many as 13 incidents of moral policing have taken place from last August. 99.9 percent of Muslims are peace lovers. If the district adminisation or the police cannot provide security or solve this issue, let them say they cannot. We can solve it ourselves. Sangh Parivar is acting like a dictator."
The Organization also demanded the arrest of Anil Kumar of Bajrang Dal and Latha of Durgavahini, who allegedly threatened Shabbir's brother in the police station while the case was being filed. "Anil Kumar of Bajrang Dal and Latha wanted to compromise and threatened Shabbir's brother that a rape case would be filed against Shabbir. Latha even falsely claimed to be a representative from a national media," the UMO alleged, adding that Goonda Act should be invoked against all the accused in the case.
Referring to the press meet called by the girl the next day, the Organization alleged that the girl who was involved in the incident was different from the one who sat in the press meet. "The girl who was in the press meet was of a different build from the actual girl, and did not wear nail polish and finger ring like she did. Also, the actual girl was from a different district, while the one in the press meet spoke Mangaluru Kannada. Moreover, why did Sangh Parivar make her cover her face while addressing the media?
"If the girl was indeed a victim, why did the attackers abuse her at the spot instead of consoling her? If Shabbir had been harassing her, why did she not approach the police?" UMO pointed out in a press note.
When media persons asked if asking the minority communities not to hire Hindu girls would not further aggravate the situation, Ashraf said, "We are not asking anyone to take this step right now. We are only saying that if in future such incidents repeat, then we will give a call to stop hiring girls from Hindu community."
Asked what was the Organization's stand on the issue of cow slaughter, Ashrad said, "BJP-led government is at the centre. Let it ban cow slaughter, we will welcome the move."
On why the UMO did not protest againt the recent incident in which a nine-year-old boy was allegedly abused by a Madrasa teacher, as in Mangalore One school sexual assault case, Ashraf said that his organization equally condemns the Madrasa teacher incident too.
Asked if cases of immoral rowdyism were a reflection of the failure of Congress government in the state, Ashraf said, "Yes, it is a failure of the Congress government. When BJP was in power and pub attack incident happened, the government had at least arrested Prasad Attavar. But now the Congress government cannot arrest Bajrang Dal leader Sharan Pumpwell.
The UMO in a press note also demanded withdrawal of the 'false' case against Shabbir, compensation for him from the government, investigation into the identity of the girl who address the press meet, and arrest of Sharan Pumpwell.