In a deeply disturbing incident in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district, a peaceful Hindu religious procession came under attack when it passed by the Tarbechwa Mosque in the Jhurjhuri area of Barkatha on Sunday night. The procession was part of the ongoing Shri Shatchandi Maha Yagya and Hanuman Pran Pratishtha being organized in the locality, a sacred event for the Hindu community.
As the religious procession, which included men, women, and children, moved through the area, it was attacked by Islamists, without any provocation. The assailants pelted stones at the devotees, injuring several participants, including women. The situation quickly escalated as vehicles in the procession were set ablaze and straw stored in nearby homes was torched turning the night into a scene of chaos and fear.
Eyewitnesses stated that stone pelting continued under the cover of darkness, suggesting a coordinated effort rather than a spontaneous clash. Incidents of arson were reported from multiple locations in the vicinity, pointing to a calculated attempt to intimidate and disrupt a peaceful Hindu religious gathering.
Following the violence, outraged locals blocked the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway, demanding strict action against the Islamists. Hazaribagh SP Arvind Kumar Singh confirmed that forces have been deployed to bring the situation under control.
This is, however, not the first incident where the Islamists have hurled stones upon the Hindu processions. A few days back, Hazaribagh witnessed a tense situation on the night of March 25 when a Mangla procession ahead of Ram Navami was attacked with stones near Jama Masjid Chowk. The violence, which erupted around 10:45 PM, reportedly started after an Islamist mob objected to the songs being played during the Hindu religious procession and resorted to violence.
Incidentally, this has become a regular practice over the years by the Islamists of hurling stones at Hindu religious processions under one pretext or the other.
