As Haryana remains tense after communal clashes led to six deaths, several injuries, and arson, the state government has taken the preventive step of extending the ban on mobile internet and SMS services in Nuh, Gurugram, and other areas affected by the violence until August 5.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has requested four more companies of central forces to assist in restoring order and ensuring public safety in the affected regions. The situation remains tense, with authorities striving to bring calm and prevent any further escalation of violence.
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Vigilance has been heightened in districts bordering Haryana in Uttar Pradesh, such as Saharanpur, Shamli, and Muzaffarnagar, to prevent the spillover of unrest.
Social media videos fueled clashes
Communal clashes in Haryana's Nuh district, followed by violence in Gurugram, Palwal, Faridabad, and Tauru, have brought attention to the concerning role of aggressive social media videos in inciting unrest. Online platforms became breeding grounds for inflammatory content, as individuals known for their divisive rhetoric promoted hate and incited violence.
Self-proclaimed cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi, just days before the violence erupted, posted a video donning saffron attire, accompanied by lyrics inciting violence. The video hinted at his involvement in the Vishva Hindu Parishad's annual Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh, escalating tensions and sparking concerns among law enforcement.
How the Haryana Nuh communal clashes erupted: A timeline
Monu Manesar, a controversial figure already under investigation for the murder of two Muslim men in Rajasthan, further exacerbated the situation. He took to social media to announce his participation in the VHP's Yatra in Nuh, attracting rogue elements from both sides and intensifying the aggression and provocation.
Their inflammatory rhetoric found resonance with rogue elements from the opposing side, including one individual named Mohd Samar. Samar has since deactivated his social media accounts, reported India Today.
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Mobile internet ban
To prevent any further escalation of violence and maintain public order, the Haryana government decided to suspend mobile internet and SMS services in Nuh and some other places in the state until August 5.
Who are Monu Manesar and Mamman Khan?
The ban aims to disrupt the spread of inflammatory content and curb any further provocation through digital means.
Besides Nuh, the services will remain snapped in Faridabad, Palwal, and the territorial jurisdiction of sub-division Sohna, Pataudi, and Manesar of Gurugram district.
Haryana asks for more forces
In light of the ongoing violence and arson in the state, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar requested four more companies of central forces to restore order and protect public safety.
Twenty companies of central forces are already deployed in Haryana -- 14 in Nuh, three in Palwal, two in Gurugram, and one in Faridabad.
Molotov co*cktails target mosques
The aftermath of the inflammatory social media posts saw violence erupting in Nuh, with motorcycle-borne assailants targeting two mosques near Vijay Chowk and a police station with Molotov co*cktails.
Exactly what went down in Nuh and Gurugram
While no injuries were reported, the places of worship suffered damage, escalating tensions further.
Narrow escape for judge, her daughter
Amidst the communal clashes, the additional chief judicial magistrate of Nuh, Anjali Jain, and her three-year-old daughter faced a near-fatal mob attack during a religious procession, reported PTI.
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Their car was targeted, set on fire, and they sought refuge in a nearby workshop until advocates came to their rescue.
Committee to monitor online activities
To address the role of social media in inciting violence, the Haryana government established a three-member committee to monitor online activities from July 21 onwards.
This committee is tasked with taking appropriate legal action against individuals spreading hatred or misinformation.
The measure aims to curb the dissemination of incendiary content and address the root causes of the recent communal unrest.
Saharanpur, Shamli, and Muzaffarnagar on high alert
The communal violence in Haryana triggered security alerts in Uttar Pradesh districts bordering Haryana. Saharanpur, Shamli, and Muzaffarnagar witnessed heightened vigilance, with increased checking and patrolling along the Haryana-Uttar Pradesh border to prevent any spillover of unrest.
VHP, Bajrang Dal rallies
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal on Wednesday held protests in different parts of the country against the attack on a religious procession in Nuh. VHP working president Alok Kumar said demonstrations were held "successfully" across all districts in the country with the participation of "lakhs of people".
A petition was moved in the Supreme Court seeking to stop the rallies announced by VHP and Bajrang Dal in Delhi-NCR following the Nuh communal violence. In its order on Wednesday, the top court said the "rallies can go on but should be videographed".
What happened in Nuh?
Nuh district in Haryana was gripped by violent communal clashes during a religious procession organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The event turned into chaos when a mob attempted to stop the VHP procession, leading to clashes and stone-pelting between the participants and an opposing group.
Adding to the tensions were the rumors of the presence of Monu Manesar, a controversial cow vigilante who had been accused earlier this year in the deaths of two Muslim men.
The unrest soon spread beyond Nuh's boundaries, reaching the neighboring area of Sohna, Gurugram district. Two people, including an Imam, were attacked on Monday night outside an under-construction mosque in Gurugram's Sector-56.
Around three to four men attacked Imam Mohmmad Saad and Khursheed with sticks. Khursheed was also shot in the leg, and he is said to be critical, while Saad was killed in the attack.
Shops were vandalized, and an eatery was set on fire in Gurugram's Badshahpur on Tuesday.
