On the evening of April 12, during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Guna district, a Muslim mob launched a brazen attack on a Shri Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra, pelting stones as the procession neared the Colonelganj mosque. The time was approximately 8 PM when chaos erupted — and among the injured was an 11-year-old boy, son of BJP councillor Omprakash Kushwaha.
The yatra, which had started from Shah Ke Kolhu Pura and was proceeding along Hat Road, came under attack just as it neared the mosque. What started as exchange of slogans turned violent, and soon, stones rained down on the devotees, many of whom were children and elderly.
The question we must ask: Why does violence erupt during Hindu processions — and why is the pattern so disturbingly one-sided?
Stones on Bhakts, Excuses by Authorities
Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Sinha confirmed the attack, stating “The procession was passing near Colonelganj Mosque during which slogans were raised. Stone pelting took place, and some people have been injured. We deployed forces within 15-20 minutes and controlled the situation.”
Videos of the assault surfaced online — visuals showing young men pelting stones not only at the procession but at the police itself. In response, police were seen using only “mild force” to control the mob.
What’s even more alarming is the audacity of such anti-social elements — attacking a lawful, permitted religious procession and then clashing with law enforcement, right in front of cameras.
Public Protest and FIRs — But Will Justice Be Served?
As the videos went viral, public anger spilled onto the streets. Locals gathered at Hanuman Chowk, blocked roads, and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
ASP Man Singh Thakur stated that a few people had been detained and video evidence is being examined. District Magistrate Kishore Kumar Kanyal said an FIR had been registered against four individuals, and assured that the situation was now “under control.”
But here’s what Hindus are asking today: When will action be taken before the first stone is thrown? Why is appeasement the default response when Hindu sentiments are attacked?
Pattern of Violence
This is not an isolated case. Similar incidents have marred Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in recent years, raising concerns about targeted disruptions of Hindu religious events. In 2022, stone-pelting occurred during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, injuring both civilians and police personnel. In April 2023, violence broke out in Odisha’s Sambalpur during another Hanuman Jayanti rally, where several shops were torched despite heavy police presence and enforcement of Section 144. Also in 2023, in Karnataka’s T Narasipura, 32-year-old Yuva Brigade member Venugopal Nayak was stabbed to death following a communal clash during the festival. Hindutva activist Chakravarti Sulibele alleged that the murder was politically motivated, blaming supporters of the ruling Congress party.
For how long will Hindu festivals be seen as ‘provocations’? Why must every religious celebration come with fear of attacks, FIRs, and police deployments? While police have made arrests and issued statements of control, the larger question remains—how many more such incidents will it take before effective, long-term measures are implemented?
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