Ratlam: Amid a fight broke between two villagers, more than 25 Hindu families in Surana village in Ratlam district threatened to migrate from the village. They have alleged harassment by members of a community for the last two and a half years.
Bilpank Police has registered to cross FIRs against the two villagers Mukesh Jat, who is also claimed to be a coordinator of a Hindu outfit, and Mayur Khan for abusing and beating each other on January 16.
Upset from this call, the families belonging to the Jat community wrote on the walls of houses that these houses are on sale. The reason stated was posing a security threat and wanting to migrate from the village, locals said.
“They played objectionable music and took out rallies. Women didn’t feel safe due to them. They are harassing us mentally and when we go to the police station, police officers don’t take any action. On January 16, Mayur Khan with more than 100 people came to my house and abused me. He threatened me and asked me to leave the village,” said Mukesh Jat.
“When I filed FIR, the police registered a case against me too. We don’t feel safe here in the village,” he added.
Another villager, Omprakash Patel said, “A few members of the Muslim community are harassing us. They mock us scare us and shout abusive words to us. They throw garbage near our houses and spit in front of houses. They are terrorizing our children.”
A group of representatives regarding the matter spoke with district collector Kumar Purshottam and asked for allocating a piece of land in some other village because they feel unsafe in the village and can’t live here.
However, the Muslim community members said a group of people especially Mukesh Jat is trying to communalize every trivial issue. “For the past two years, Mukesh Jat with a few others is trying to create communal tension in the village. He filed at least half a dozen complaints against Muslim community members. On January 16 too, he fought with me and later filed a fake complaint against me,” said Mayur Khan.
When the matter was surfaced, home minister Narottam Mishra took cognizance and said, “It is our duty to maintain peace and harmony in our state. The issue of Surana village is serious and nobody needs to feel scared. The administration will resolve this matter.”
Amid the order by home minister Ratlam district collector Kumar Purshottam and superintendent of police Gaurav Tiwari held a meeting with villagers.
District collector Purshottam said, “Distrust has been increased among villagers towards each other due to some small issues. We are trying to resolve it.”
“The villagers said they feel unsafe due to regular fight and harassment so we have decided to form a committee of six members that include Sub-divisional magistrate and sub-divisional officer of police with two members of each community. They also said that people are encroaching upon their land so the encroachment will be cleared within a month,” said the collector.
SP Gaurav Tiwari said, “A police outpost will be set up in the village where 10 police personnel will be present always to maintain law and order.”
“The village doesn’t have any history of communal tension but for the past few months some anti-social elements are creating trouble so we are also taking action under National Security Act (NSA) against criminals,” he added.
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