Kolhapur Hindu Retaliation gives an alarming signal against Islamic Encroachments in Historical Forts.

Maharashtra: Why the peaceful Hindus became so violent to attack a Mosque in Kolhapur? 

Shibani Shinde  | HENB | Mumbai | July 15, 2024:: Though the Hindus in India are peaceful enough to accommodate the people of all faiths and even remain silent being tortured by Islamist people on many occasions, now a section of them become violent to attack a mosque in a village of Maharashtra.
Reports came in that a Hindutva mob recently vandalised a mosque in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur region. Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram‘, some Hindu people attacked the mosque in Gajapur village during ‘Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati Remove Encroachment Campaign’, as told by some sources.

A video came to fore that  a large number of people, some sporting saffron scarfs, are seen damaging the Mosque with axes and hammers. The Hindu people went atop the Mosque to break the domes and to hoist saffron flags there.

Sources say, the Hindutva activists took out a rally against the encroachment at the Vishalgad fort. But they were challenged by the local Muslims to proceed through Gajapur. But, the strong group of Hindus retaliated and  targeted a mosque in Gajapur, which is on the way to Vishalgad but 6 km away from the fort. No one was present in the mosque at the time of the incident as the Imam (Prayer leader) and the Muazzin (person with the duty of prayer call)  left the place apprehending the attack. Seeing many swords, iron-rods, axes, hammers inside the Mosque, the Hindu groups became infuriated and started the rampage.

Kolhapur Hindu retaliation against Islamic encroachments (Land Jihad) in historical forts gives an alarming signal.

The Vishalgad fort has been in the news after Hindutva organisations staged protests at the foothills demanding the removal of alleged encroachments and a ban on animal slaughter. Meanwhile, prohibitory orders have been issued under Section 37(A) A to F and Section 37(3) of the Maharashtra Police Act 1951 from July 15 to July 29.

“We had deployed adequate police force to avoid any untoward incidents. We have learnt a few things have happened. We will register cases after taking cognizance accordingly,” Kolhapur’s Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit was quoted by the Times of India as saying.

Islamic encroachments in historical forts once owned by the Hindu Kings including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj have been a bone of contention for the members of Hindutva organisations in Maharashtra, who want to remove all the illegal and forceful occupations like mosques, tombs, mausoleums etc. erected there.

In March 2023, the ‘Gad-Durg Rakshaan Mahamorcha’, organised a huge rally in Azad Maidan. Mumbai with a demand for protection forts and castles of Maratha Kings and warriors.

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__Inputs from Agencies.