Haryana: Naib Imam Killed in Gurgaon, Mosque Set Ablaze; Nuh Communal Violence Toll Mounts to 5

New Delhi: A mosque was attacked in the Sector 57 area of Gurugram on Tuesday, leading to the death of Saad, a 19 year-old Naib Imam, taking the toll in the violence that erupted during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad procession in Nuh district to five.

As communal violence spread from Nuh, Section 144 was imposed in Gurugram, the authorities imposed a curfew in Nuh where two home guards were killed and many others, including several policemen, injured on Monday.

In Gurugram, the mosque was set ablaze in Sector 57 as the violence spread from neighbouring Nuh, the police said. The mob, which was carrying firearms, set the mosque ablaze around midnight and opened fire in which two persons were injured. One of them died during treatment. The victim has been identified as Saad, a native of Bihar, a senior officer said.

In Nuh, two more people injured in the violence on Monday succumbed to their injuries. The victims are home guards Neeraj and Gursewak and Bhadas village resident Shakti. The identity of the fourth victim is still to be ascertained.

Ten policemen were among 23 injured in the violence in Nuh. The police have registered 11 FIRs in the district and detained 27 people in connection with the rioting.

At least 120 vehicles were damaged during the violence in the district. Of these, 50, including eight belonging to the police, were set ablaze.

As news of the violence in Muslim-dominated Nuh spread on Monday, mobs in Sohna set ablaze four vehicles and a shop.

The situation in Nuh and Sohna continues to be tense. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in Nuh and the other affected areas, the police said.

According to officials, the situation is under control in Nuh. Thirteen companies of central forces have already reached the district, while six others will reach soon.

Police have begun flag marches in Nuh while the district administration has appealed to the public to maintain peace.

Security has been tightened at all religious places following the Nuh violence and the attack on the Gurugram mosque, the police said.

Mobile internet services were suspended in Nuh and Faridabad up to Wednesday. Educational institutes were ordered to remain shut on Tuesday in Gurugram, Faridabad and Palwal districts as a precautionary measure.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said "strictest action" will be taken against those responsible for the incident.

A police officer told Scroll.in that the procession was stopped near the Khedla Mod area in Nuh, stones were thrown at the devotees and members of the Muslim community burnt several vehicles.

However, some Nuh residents claimed that the clash may have been triggered by an objectionable video posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal activist in Ballabhgarh.

Communal Poison

The flare-up in communal violence comes amid the spine-chilling shooting incident in a Mumbai train when a Railway Protection Force constable targeted three Muslim men and killed them after pumping bullets into his senior, an adivasi officer. The RPF constable, who has been arrested, is said to have shouted out communal rant against Muslims after the killing spree.

In a purported video that went viral on social media, the constable, Chetan Singh, while standing next to the blood-soaked body of one Asghar inside the compartment, is heard saying:

“Pakistan se operate hue hain, tumhari media, yahi media coverage dikha rahi hai hai, pata chal raha hai unko, sab pata chal raha hai, inke aaqa hai wahan… Agar vote dena hai, agar Hindustan me rehna hai, toh mai kehta hoon, Modi aur Yogi, ye do hain, aur aapke Thackeray”

(‘They operate from Pakistan, this is what the media of the country is showing, they have found out, they know everything, their leaders are there… If you want to vote, if you want to live in India, then I say, Modi and Yogi, these are the two, and your Thackeray’).