There are large scale riots in Bhainsa, Telangana, but national media seems blistfully unaware

Ever since last week, communal riots have been flaming between the Hindu and Muslim community in Bhainsa in the Nirmal district of Telangana. Aided by the blind eye of CM K Chandrashekar Rao, the violent clashes have resulted in the wounding of over 12 civilians and police officers, all whilst the mainstream media refuses to give the incident any air time. As per a report in The Times of India, trouble started in Bhainsa on March 7 when the handle of a Muslim bike rider accidentally brushed a passer-by, who belonged to the Hindu community.

According to reports, an argument ensued soon after which later escalated to a violent attack as the two groups engaged in arson, violence and pelted stones at each other. As a precautionary move, the local administration has suspended internet services and imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). In order to keep the law and order situation under control, an additional force of 40 officers and 600 police personnel have been deployed in Bhainsa.

According to media reports, 19 cases have been registered and 22 people from both communities, who were allegedly involved in the violence, have been arrested. Out of 22, one is the sitting councillor belonging to Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM. He has been booked for an attempt to murder and armed riot.

However, this is not the first time that Hindus in Bhainsa have been forced into the corner by the Muslim community. In January 2020, a similar clash had broken out between Muslims and Hindus in Bhainsa where 11 people were injured and several Hindu houses were torched. Reports suggested that 18 houses were set on fire in Korbagalli street, and several bikes were torched. BJP MLA Raja Singh was put under house arrest. He had alleged that AIMIM was behind the attack on Hindus in Bhainsa.

It was even claimed by a Twitter user named Angry Saffron, that a case was filed against a journalist named Sridharan Sidhu for reporting how a Muslim mob had attacked Hindu houses while chanting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’, ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘We will keep your female gods’.

The Liberal brigade which went berserk when a blockade was implemented in Hathras is seemingly looking the other way in the case of Bhainsa. Forget talking about the blockade, the liberal media has conveniently sidestepped the entire ‘communal riot’ angle as it doesn’t suit their agenda.

According to New Indian Express, BJP has also been meek in bringing any national spotlight to the issue as State president Bandi Sanjay Kumar egged his MLA’s to bring the issue in the Assembly Budget session.

“Whether it was the unemployment allowance, Mallanna Sagar outsees issue, or law and order issue in the light of the communal violence in Bhainsa, if the government had acted when communal tensions occurred last Sankranthi, the latest riots wouldn’t have happened,” said Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

Just the way Bengaluru riots were swept under the carpet by the liberal media, the tragedy of Bhainsa has been reduced to a small and worthless incident where Hindus are allegedly being tormented and forced out of their homes.