Muslims change their outer shell following techie’s murder Pune, June 08: On Saturday around 1.30pm namaz at the mosque in Unnati Nagar, Hadapsar had a usual gathering but something was different. Pathani suits had made way for shirts and trousers and a few youths had shaved off their beards. The atrocious murder of Mohsin Sadiq Shaikh here on June 2 allegedly by members of Hindu Rashtra Sena has left residents apprehensive. Mohsin, the 28-year-old IT manager, coming back from namaz, was targeted as he was wearing a Pathani suit, sporting a beardand skull cap. Not less than 25 Muslim families, who have been inhabited of Unnati Nagar for the past 40 years, say there has never been any communal tension before. A local inhabitant said, “Our Hindu neigbours are with us. Its the outsiders who have done this. “Police have said 30-40 young men from the outskirts had attacked Mohsin, of whom 17 have been arrested.“I feel scared sporting a beard and going out for work.So I, along with two of my friends collectively took a decision to shave off the beard till the law and order situation improves in the area,” said a 28-year-old resident who did not wish to be named. “I have only trimmed my beard all these years, but this is for the first time I felt the need to look different, at least for some time.“ Others say they have stopped wearing the skull cap when they step out of their homes. Hindu families too are shaken, more so because the locality is known for its unity. “There has been no quarrel, leave alone a clash, among the two communities here. We are united and we have already held a peace meeting,” said Rajesh Lad, the LIC agent outside whose office, Mohsin a manager in a textile firms IT unit, was attacked. Even the police said they were taken aback when first reports of the attack reached them. Local policemen were dealing with tension in another place following some unacceptable posts on social networking sites. Shahin Anjuman Masjid Trust has demanded that Satav Plots Lane No 2, where Mohsin was murdered, be named after him. Mohsin offered prayers at this mosque twice every day. Ayub Ibrahim Nalband, a resident, said the tension that gripped the area following the murder has impacted business as most shops now remain closed in the afternoon, nothing like in the past. Sayed Qutubuddin, a recovery agent with a bank, said,“I have always offered namaz in kurta-pyjama. But over the past few days, I have switched to shirts and trousers.” Unless those who killed Mohsin were brought to book, the community would continue to live in fear, said Sayed Qutubuddin. Locals, on Saturday afternoon, did not rush home after namaz, but stayed back to discuss if they should indeed change their outer shell for the time being. A good number of Muslim residents of this locality run grocery shops or have smalltime jobs such as carrying goods -work that keeps them in public view. “We are wondering if we too should change our appearance. These are bad times and we should not be attacked,” said a local trader. President of the Maharashtra Muslim Front Mr. Nadim Shafi Mujawar said, “Muslims are still living in a state of fear and are even afraid of stepping out of their houses ever since Mohsin was brutally killed. Muslims wearing skull caps and Pathani suits have changed their attire apprehending trouble that some thing may happen to them.” Mujawar said, “We want the state government to ban Hindu Rastra Sena and punish those responsible for the murder and for creating trouble in the city. Muslims here will continue to live in a state of fear if no immediate measures are taken by the government.”
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 11:27:28 +0000
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