Palestine Flags, Attacks On Police And Hindus, Violence Among Muslim Groups: A List Of Muharram Procession Controversies

The Muharram processions held on Wednesday (17 July) sparked controversies in various cities across several states of India. Here's a list of them (not exhaustive):

1. Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital, Palestine and Hezbollah flags were hoisted during the Muharram procession (Hezbollah is Lebanon's political party and a militant group).

Anti-Israel slogans were raised for the country's attacks on Gaza. A poster of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was stomped upon. Anti-United States slogans were also raised. Subsequently, a dozen mourners were detained.

A First Information Report (FIR) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was also filed. However, former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah criticised the police action.

2. Baharaich: In Uttar Pradesh (UP)'s Baharaich, it is alleged that the mourners started vandalising fences around farms while taking the Tajiya procession.

This led to a brawl between Hindus and Muslims. After some rumours, the Muslims attacked the Hindus, leading to serious injuries to four Hindus and one Muslim.

3. Bareilly: A brawl erupted here over the DJ sound of the procession as a few Hindus objected to it, while Muslims were adamant about keeping the volumes high. Police mediated to pacify the rival groups.

In another incident in the district, procession members started making inappropriate gestures and comments against women of their own community. On objecting, a person tried throwing acid on a woman.

The woman was saved as other community members took the attacker out of the house. However, the police have yet to find the accused.

4. Siddharthnagar: A teenager was detained here for hoisting the Palestine flag on the roof of his house. The flag was taken down by the police and the teenager was questioned.

5. Kanpur: In a video viral on social media, Muharram mourners can be seen raising objectionable slogans in front of the house of a BJP councillor Vidya Verma. Police have taken note of it.

6. Jalaun: Here two groups from the Muslim community started fighting over who would take out the Tajiya procession first. Subsequently, three got injured in the fight. Police mediated to pacify the rival groups.

7. Prayagraj: During the Tajiya procession, an argument erupted as Muslims wanted to cut a branch of the peepal tree. On objecting, the Muslims attacked Hindus.

Three were injured in the attack and taken to hospital for treatment. On the victim's complaint, a case against six people has been registered. The incident happened in Islamia village of Yamunanagar zone.

8. Pilibhit: Alleging that playing the DJ is not being allowed, Muslims started protesting outside a police station. After the police's explanation, the procession moved forward.

9. Fatehpur Sikri: Pro-Palestine slogans were raised and Palestine flags were hoisted during the Muharram procession. After the videos went viral, the police arrested seven.

10. Patna: In Bihar's capital, the participants of the Muharram procession started looting local shops and hitting locals. The incident is recorded on CCTV. The police controlled these anti-social elements.

11. Muzaffarpur: The Muslims violently protested as the police seized their procession DJ. Along with stone pelting, the mob chased policemen and beat them. Over a half dozen protesters have been detained.

12. Bettiah: Pro-Palestine slogans were raised and Palestine flags were hoisted during the Muharram procession in Bettiah's Narkatiyaganj. Police were a mute spectator to this incident.

However, after objections were raised, the police said that they are investigating the matter through photos and videos and will soon detain the accused.

13. Motihari: An individual hoisted the Palestine flag during the Tajiya procession. He was taken into police custody after his video surfaced. The area is said to be under the influence of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

14. Jamui: People from three villages engaged in a scuffle to show off stunts during the Muharram procession. Half a dozen were injured and the police had to do lathi charge to control the situation.

15. Vaishali: A mob attacked a police vehicle in Mangalhat of the district after an argument. All the glass panels of the police's vehicle were broken. The police had tried to stop the procession because of crossed the time limit.

16. Dumka: In Jharkhand's Dumka, several individuals were seen hoisting the Palestine flag in separate incidents, as confirmed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Pitambar Singh.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have condemned the incidents calling them anti-national and demanded strict action against the accused.

17. Hazaribagh: Violence erupted over the playing of a controversial song in Muharram DJ. Stone-pelting happened. The glass of the police vehicle was broken. Two policemen were among a dozen people injured.

18. Dhanbad: Here also stone-pelting occurred after an argument over the procession route, resulting in injuries to a dozen people and a few policemen, who were mediating between the groups.

19. Jharia: Here, an argument occurred among Muslim groups for showcasing stunts during the procession. Sticks, swords and stones were used for the fight resulting in injuries to half a dozen people.

20. Giridih: Stone-pelting occurred here after an argument between two groups. However, the police controlled the matter before further escalation.

21. Khandwa: Along with several carrying Islamic flags, an individual was seen hoisting the Palestine flag during the Muharram procession in the Madhya Pradesh city.

After Bajrang Dal's complaint, the police detained a few individuals and questioned them. Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai has assured of strict action against those who try to disturb peace.

22. Rajgarh: A minor travelling on the DJ truck of the Muharram procession hoisted the Palestine flag. He was detained by the police but no case has been registered.

Before the day of the procession too, many controversies erupted since 8 July, when the month of Muharram began. Palestine flags were raised in Bihar's Darbhanga and Nawada.

Notably, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi had also said 'Jai Palestine' after taking oath in the Lok Sabha.

Slogans like "Hindustan mein rehna hai to ya Hussain kehna hai (if you want to live in Hindustan, you have to say Ya Hussain," were raised in Amethi. Taking note of the viral video, Amethi police detained the individuals seen in the video.

An ancient Ganesh temple's Shikhara was vandalised in Rajasthan's Baran on Tuesday, a night before the Muharram procession. Hindus protested and said that they would not allow the procession to pass.