The Haryana Police have deployed 500 of its personnel in Gurugram to help Muslims offer Namaz in public places on Friday after Hindu groups have been protesting against the same for weeks. The Commissioner of Police, KK Rao, has said that policemen have been directed to take “strict action” against those protesting against Namaz in public spaces.
Meanwhile, Muslim groups have called more people from Nuh and Pataudi for ‘support’, a report by the Hindustan Times says. It is not clearly, however, whether Muslims from Nuh and Pataudi actually responded to the call. Nuh is in Mewat and reportedly, a large number of Rohingyas have been settled there in the recent past. Mewat has high crime rates and is often referred to as ‘Mini Pakistan’.
The chairman of Muslim Ekta Manch, Haji Shehzad Khan, said, “If they (Hindu groups) shout slogans, we will not sit silent. We don’t want to disturb law and order situation, but if they target us, we will not sit quiet.” He proceeded to add, “We don’t want any confrontation and conflict; we are ready to relocate to another place provided the administration can guarantee peace.”
The Haryana Police has detained several Hindus over the matter on Friday. Hindustan Times journalist Leena Dhandhkar described the protesters as “rightwing Hindus” who were taken to the nearest police station after detaining them to ensure “peaceful prayers”.
Rightwing Hindu groups reached Sector 12 to disrupt prayers being offered in the open. Police detained them and took them to nearest police station to ensure peaceful prayers @htdelhi @HTGurgaon @htTweets pic.twitter.com/F2tWrNpK0V
— Dr. Leena Dhankhar (@leenadhankhar) October 29, 2021
The Haryana Police also detained women over the matter.
Women detained after they started shouting religious slogans to disrupt namaz in Sector 12 @HTGurgaon @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/QOKv1qCX9y
— Dr. Leena Dhankhar (@leenadhankhar) October 29, 2021
Namaz was offered under police protection at Sector 12.
People offered namaz peacefully under police protection at Sector 12 @htdelhi @HTGurgaon @htTweets pic.twitter.com/GLDUpAQlSM
— Dr. Leena Dhankhar (@leenadhankhar) October 29, 2021
Hindus have been protesting vociferously against the matter. They have sung bhajans, raised slogans and demonstrated with placards to protesting against Namaz in public spaces. Residents say that the Namaz creates public nuisance and traffic jams. They also say that most Muslims who offer Namaz there come from far off places.
The Police, however, claims that the specific spots were decided for Namaz after ‘mutual understanding’ between the two communities. “The Namaz spots at public places have been decided by both Hindu and Muslim communities after mutual understanding and this place is one among them. Maintaining communal harmony and peace is our utmost responsibility and we will ensure that,” the Gurugram Police had said through its official Twitter handle in later September.
Despite the claims by the Police, the protests have continued and on the 29th of October, Hindus were detained to ensure that Muslims could offer Namaz in public places.
