A violent dispute broke out in Sagarpur, southwest Delhi, on June 30, following the Moharram procession after the claims that a Pakistani flag was waved during the procession, an allegation completely refuted by the Muslim locals while talking toFoEJ Media. The flag, as claimed by Muslim locals, was of Islam, not Pakistan. However, the Hindu residents said it was a Pakistani flag.
Meantime, Muslim residents who were overwhelmingly attacked told FoEJ Media that a group of Hindutva members reached a DDA park in street No. 8 of East Sagarpur and sought an explanation for the flag’s continued display.
“I was removing the goat from the ground when a group of people arrived. I folded my hands and told them, ‘Let me first clean up the mess left by the goat, and then you can do whatever you want.’ But they started saying, “Why hasn’t the flag been removed yet?” Noor Jahan said.
“There were two police officers present as well. I told them, ‘Sir, please remove it.’ The moment I said that, the Bajrang Dal members began hurling abusive language at me,” she added.
As the commotion grew louder, women from neighboring houses rushed to rescue Noor Jahan. However, they were also attacked by the assailants.
“Hearing the abusive language, the women from the neighboring houses came outside. They, too, were angered by the abuse, but the Bajrang Dal members then began attacking them with sticks,” Noor Jahan said.
“The police themselves said it was not a Pakistani flag. If it had been a Pakistani flag, would it have remained there all day in the presence of the police?” a resident alleged. This has not been verified by FoEJ Media with the Police.
Meanwhile, another resident, Shah Jahan, who sustained injuries on her hands, claimed, “The police were not taking any action; instead, they started beating us. The Bajrang Dal members also began a lathi charge.”
The video of the incident, which travelled on the internet, showed stone pelting from both sides, which the Muslim residents said was a “retaliatory action.”
“The Bajrang Dal members were beating us, so the children from our neighborhood also threw stones in our defense,” Shah Jahan said.
“The Bajrang Dal members told us, ‘So far, it’s only been a lathi charge. Next, there will be gunfire,” she said.
“Nothing happened to them, but we were beaten even inside our homes,” Shah Jahan alleged, showing her bruises.
“They were abusing us and waving cleavers at us. When they drew their cleavers, we also took out weapons to defend ourselves,” another woman, Shaina, claimed.
Meanwhile, police officials said that videos circulating on social media, CCTV footage from the area, and other available evidence are being examined. Further legal action will be taken based on findings of the investigation.
