Muslim scholars from Mira Road and Mumbai met Ajit Pawar on Sunday

“There are discussions that Rane might visit Panvel. So, we have contacted MBVV police and learned how to prevent the large convoy from disappearing in lanes and rampaging in Panvel, where the situation is under control,” said an officer in Panvel police. “We will take all measures to uphold peace and will not allow any politicians to disturb communal harmony for political benefit.”

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Attackers didn’t know area

Rane’s visit to the communally disturbed area of Mira Road had flared up the issue as motorcycle-borne youngsters, who were part of the convoy, disappeared only to stoke embers. “But since the youngsters were outsiders, they did not know the area properly and they stopped in Shanti Nagar, mistaking it for Naya Nagar, and pelted stones at shops,” said the officer.

Though the communal tension of Mira Road has been temporarily put under control by the heavy police presence, local residents and the police fear that publicity-hungry politicians will never miss an opportunity for political gain,’ said a shopkeeper in Naya Nagar. The BJP leader Geeta Jain said, “Rane’s visit did not flare up any communal tension. No incident took place after Rane visited Mira Road. We will not keep quiet if anyone tries to disturb our religious rally.” “Cops in Mira Road barricaded the area and restricted our visit. The cops can't restrict our movement,” she said.

Meanwhile, former Corporator Zubair Inamdar said, “People are happily living here. We are thankful to the police for bringing down communal tension. Even local journalists did a commendable job by calling leaders across parties, police, and civic officials and requested them to restore peace. Now, everything seems to be alright.” “Our police officials were focusing on the security of Rane. We did not realise he would come with some miscreants,” said a senior crime branch officer requesting anonymity.

“These youngsters were not residents of Mira Road, but were hired goons from Bhayandar, Borivli, Ghodbundar, and Santosh Bhavan (Nalasopara East).They damaged multiple shops, broke their glass doors, pelted stones, abused, and terrorized local residents and shopkeepers,” said the officer. “These goons are the same whom politicians heavily rely on to muster large crowds at rally grounds,” the officer added.

How activists fanned flames

The MBVV police officials said that the minor road rage issue coupled with misinformation and misinterpretation was deliberately flared up by right-wing activists who were on the road with religious flags on the eve of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “Though there was a communal riot in Naya Nagar on January 21 night, things were immediately put under control. We had sensitised the area by marching on the roads. But the issue was unnecessarily flared up by right-wing extremists and politicians to appease their national and regional leaders,” said a senior police officer requesting anonymity.

The officer further added that Nitesh Rane’s post on X on January 22 morning incited people to indulge in communal violence. The right-wing activists and power-hungry politicians had tried to cash in on the low-scale communal violence of Mira Road, where the ember of hate among local residents was injected by political fraternities.

Ajit Pawar steps in

The activist and scholars from the Muslim community M.A. Khalid and Salim Sarang met the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday with all affected people from Mira Road. They discussed the whole issue of the alleged false cases and harassment and the demolition carried out, which was a one-sided action by the administration.

Shops were attacked on Tuesday evening in Shanti Nagar. Pics/Hanif Patel

Pawar immediately took the matter up with the concerned department and asked them to keep law and order under control at any cost. Pawar also asked the municipal corporation in Mira Road not to demolish any illegal structures and to maintain peace. The people who met him thanked Ajit Pawar for his support.

Rane’s speech in Pandharpur

On Saturday, Rane delivered a provocative speech in Pandharpur, where he made a controversial statement that the ‘police will not be able to do anything to me, as our boss is sitting in the 'Sagar' bungalow.’ (Sagar Bungalow is where Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resides). Rane was speaking at a Hindu protest march organised in Malshiras. In his speech, Rane said, “We do not create obstacles in the festivals of other religions. Others have started interfering with our festival.”

Rane warned that they should stay within the limits now. “So, now, only one call should come from Malshiras that ‘Nitesh Saheb, we have done the program, now save us’. After that, it will be our responsibility to get you home safely. I am talking in front of the police. They will not do anything to me.”

Rane’s version

BJP leader Nitesh Rane told mid-day, “Some of the cops are trying to malign the image of their Home Department and they are not loyal to their job. It is incorrect to say that the people from my convoy fanned in Mira Road to create unrest by vandalising shops. Why would people from my convoy create unrest in Mira Road? Who gave you this piece of wrong information? Somebody is misleading you. And please stop calling it communal tension when Hindus are being targeted. I am bound to go to a place where Hindus are being targeted.”

“If the cops think that people from my convoy created unrest in Mira Road, they should talk to me first instead of speaking to the media,” he added. “The cops were piloting the convoy from front and behind. The cops are trying to malign the image of the Home Department and Devendra Fadnavis.” 

“There have been nearly 23 cases of love jihad in Naya Nagar; I have also learnt that there have been certain cases which have not been brought on record for the last two years despite receiving regular complaints regarding encroachment on Hindu lands, drugs cases, etc. I have given proof to the MBVV police commissioner asking why the cases were not registered for the last two years? I have also given him (MBVV police chief) the names of police officers behind not taking action. Later I briefed Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the same,” Rane added.

When asked how many people were there in his convoy, Rane said, “I did not sit and count but the people were joining me.” “You should also ask the Jihadis to know why are they doing land jihad? Illegal mosques and toilets are being made adjacent to temples. All these must be stopped. The attacks on Hindus must come to an end; this is a Hindu Rashtra. I have been visiting the affected areas in Maharashtra to embolden our Hindu community,” he underlined.

“What happened in Mira Road? Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims assaulted Hindus who had been celebrating the Pran Pratistha of the idol of Ram in Ayodhya on January 22. We have been targeted first. They should stop targeting the Hindus,” he underlined. “I do not understand why all these tensions do not rise when there are other religious morchas like Muharram? Why are only Hindus being targeted? The Hindu community is completely demotivated now,” he added.

“Not all, but there are certain police officials who are flaring up the situation. I have already informed the Home Minister that there are certain police officers who are helping by not noticing these things (violence) at the right time,” Rane told mid-day. “This is not a communal riot, Hindus are being attacked. And I will definitely visit the area where Hindus are being targeted,” he added.

Jan 21
Day riots took place in Mira  Road

Jan 22
Day Pran Pratishtha ceremony was held