Lucknow turning into a hub of Islamist activities as Hindu leaders get murdered in broad daylight

The way the Islamist mob had terrorized the common populace through rampaging the public property in UP especially in Lucknow during the anti- CAA and NRC protests, it indicated a case deep-rooted radicalisation. The recent murders of Hindu leaders Kamlesh Tiwari and now Ranjit Bachchan have confirmed the gravity of radicalisation in certain elements of society in Lucknow. Organisations such as UP module of SIMI, Rihai Manch and PFI have played a major role in this radicalisation.

Uttar Pradesh President of Vishwa Hindu Mahasabha Ranjit Bachchan has been shot dead in Lucknow by unknown assailants who rode a bike and shot him in the head. The incident took place at Globe Park in Hazratganj area where the Hindu leader had gone for a morning walk. 

Lucknow Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kalanidhi Naithani had announced after the violent anti-CAA protest in Lucknow that PFI members held several meetings across the city. The police had also claimed to have damning evidence of such meetings in the form of electronic surveillance and eyewitness accounts. He had said, “The PFI also distributed pamphlets, placards and other offensive material on the Citizenship Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) to people in various colonies and also on the social media.” Apart from this, he added that PFI activists had carried out mass mobilisation in the city along with other outfits including the Rihai Manch.

Hindu leader Kamlesh Tiwari was brutally murdered in October last year at his residence over his previous comments on Prophet Mohammed. Earlier, over a lakh people had gathered in Muzaffarnagar to protest and demand the death penalty for Kamlesh Tiwari. A Times Now report had revealed that the Hindu Samaj Party president, Kamlesh Tiwari had complained about receiving life threats from the ISIS in the month of May last year. According to a charge sheet filed by the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in an Ankleshwar court, one of the ISIS operatives arrested from the state of Gujarat had shown a video featuring the Hindu Samaj Party chief to witnesses and had said, “Kamlesh Tiwari ko maar dalna hai (Kamlesh Tiwari is to be murdered).”

Confirming this, The Delhi Police in January this year had arrested three persons inspired by global terror organization ISIS, who were planning a terror strike in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Uttar Pradesh. The terrorists, arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell, were also involved in the sensational murder case of a Hindu leader which has not been disclosed by the police yet.

The extremist elements with the active support of SIMI and PFI are trying to radicalise the common populace of Lucknow, motivating them to take arms and take revenge from the Hindu leaders. Fake narratives and rumours have also played a part in this process. Recital of Quranic verse and Islamic slogans in the protests further proves the radicalisation. Lucknow had witnessed major incidents of stone-pelting and arson during the anti-CAA and NRC protest. The mob had attacked the media, police and blocked the roads.

UP police has unearthed the agenda and the organisations associated with the Lucknow arson. The unfulfilled desire of the PFI and SIMI to create unrest in India is tactically blocked by the police and intelligence. Police should also work to contain the impact of the radicalisation of the people, especially in Lucknow.