Fear Grips Malegaon
By Mustafa Khan
21 July, 2010
Countercurrents.org
Malegaon, Maharashtra: As I was reaching the old vegetable market on the banks of the Mosum River around 11.30 am today (July 21, 2010)panic set in and suddenly it swept the area like a tsunami. People were running as if seized with a fury, shopkeepers were either closing the shutters or calling servants to do it, hawkers were hurrying through with their loads of vegetables, fruits and goods. Most of us were unaware of the cause and as we picked our way and asked each other we gathered that last night sixteen cows were slaughter at the Navjeevan or Galaxy hospital, a kilometer from the river bank vegetable market. No one was sure whether it was true or, as it so often happens in Malegaon, a rumour.
On October 26, 2001a riot took place here caused by rumour that sixteen Hindu women were molested and mauled. The Asian Age dispatched Florence Sequeria subsequently to find out the truth. She visited all the police stations and could not find even a single incident. The police gave a ‘standard’ reply that the victims were from high born class and would avoid publicity. There was neither any police registration of any such case. The only case that was registered was by a Muslim farm hand whose wife was raped in a village far from the town. But the rumour played havoc as fifteen Muslims and a Hindu lost their lives and scores were injured. Property losses were huge.
Last time riot on account of cow slaughter took place in 1967. A butcher had slaughtered a cow which RSS workers blamed the butcher had stolen but he maintained that they had sold him.
Last time the Galaxy aka Navjivan hospital figured in news was in the affidavit of approver Abrar Ahmed in the aftermath of the first bomb blasts of September 8, 2006. He claims that he had gone to help the injured when he overheard that the blasts were the handiwork of Dr Bipin Parek, Someshwar Shanker, Dr Rajendra Amin, etc.
When the dust settles on Malegaon we would know what the really matter is this time. But the past events have left a hazy undecipherable trail behind. The people would do better to wait and not take matters to the streets.
However, this time around the backdrop is important. In 2001 it was the apocalyptical scenes of 9/11. Now it is the murky atmosphere created by the vandalism of RSS volunteers in Delhi, Kolhapur and other place as details of the involvement of their paracharaks and senior most leaders in the conspiracy to kill Muslims in large numbers is being reported daily. Dr RP Singh, Indresh Kumar, Lt Col Purohit and others figure prominently and also the HC has re-imposed MOCOCA on Sadhvi Pagya and Purohit, etc, accused in 2008 blast case. Newspaper reports of this is on the front page today.
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