A self-declared group of demonstrators gathered on Sunday, July 14, in the immediate area of Kolhapur’s famous Vishalgad Fort, purportedly to clear out what they perceived to be unlawful capture of land. As the crowd grew throughout the morning, tensions increased and a large police presence was necessary to control the situation. Eventually, the demonstrators were forced to retreat after being scattered by the authorities. But this altercation signaled the start of a string of violent events that would transpire later in Gajapur, with a specific focus on the local Muslim community.
On their way back, a group of extremists attacked the villages of Muslimwadi and Gajapur, damaging Muslim-owned shops, homes, and cars. It is crucial to remember that the people living in Muslimwadi and Gajapur had nothing to do with the alleged encroachment on Vishalgad Fort. Still, these helpless villagers were the target of the mob’s wrath. Many residents of these villages were caught up in a wave of unjustified violence as the Vishalgad controversy grew, which caused widespread fear and devastation in their Muslim community.
Muslims already left their houses due to tension
Many residents had already left the village on Saturday and relocated to safer areas, but many others were unable to leave because they had domestic animals to tend to. The closed houses were vandalized by the Hindu extremists, who broke windows and doors and uprooted tin roofs. They did not even spare the closed houses. Following this senseless violence, the Muslim community was further devastated by an attack on the nearby mosque, in which hammers were used to smash windows and minarets.
Ground report from the incident
In the name of removal of encroachment, houses and vehicles of the people of Gajapur village were destroyed by some miscreants without any connection with encroachment.
Video started emerging on social media showing a Hindu mob chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans while entering the mosque and vandalizing the property. In the video mob is seen using a hammer on the mosque’s structure. Some reports claim that miscreants tore the Quran.