"We are not going to complain to the police. There is no point of it. We will only get embroiled in legal hassles," said Abdul Haque (54), a dealer of plastic items from Thane's Mira Road which has been marred by communal unrest since 21 January.
On the evening of 23 January, the third day since clashes first broke out in the Mira Road's Naya Nagar area over alleged attack on a Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha procession, Haque received a call from his son Mohammad Tariq (21) to inform him that their vehicle was attacked by a mob.
A video of the incident that took place in Sector 3 of Shanti Nagar area, merely a kilometer from Naya Nagar, has gone viral on social media. On the vehicle's back, the name 'Rashid Tempo Service' is painted.
"It happened with the police being so nearby. They (attackers) must have merely seen a vehicle with a Muslim name on it and attacked. Ours wasn't the only vehicle attacked. Several auto rickshaws around were also attacked with sticks at that time" Haque said.
Haque's Son, Two Associates Injured
The vehicle was being driven by Tariq at the time of the attack. While Tariq has suffered injuries due to blows from the sticks, two associates Mohammad Meraj and Deen Ali have also suffered injuries. Meraj has received seven stitches on the head, Haque said.
"Lots of people are asking me to lodge a complaint. I don't see any action after a complaint though. The video is viral on social media. The police must have seen it by now but nobody has reached out. I am getting calls from all over the country but not from the police," Haque said.
Clashes Continued for Third Consecutive Day
Tensions had erupted on 21 January, after a Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha procession was allegedly attacked in the Naya Nagar area. Police and residents of the Muslim-majority locality had allegedly objected to the procession passing through the area.
In purported visuals from Sunday, miscreants could be seen vandalising vehicles of the procession. So far, the police have arrested 13 people in connection with the incident.
While the police has maintained strict vigil and carried out marches in the affected area, incidents of violence are still going viral on social media.
On Tuesday, several videos of continued unrest, including that of an auto driver being attacked, were circulated online.
In CCTV footage being widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), miscreants can be seen pelting stones at a shop called Haji Chicken Shop near Cinemax Mall in Mira Road's Ramdev Park.
Refusing to comment on any specific incident, the Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police on Wednesday said that there was indeed some unrest on Tuesday.
"The situation is under control but some incidents did take place. We have taken necessary action in all the incidents and filed cases. We will issue a detailed statement soon," Jayant Bhajbale, DCP (Zone I), Mira Road, told The Quint, while refusing to comment further before releasing an official statement.
Tensions Rose After 'Bulldozer Action' on Tuesday
The situation in Mira Road also remained tense after the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation on Tuesday, citing illegal encroachment, bulldozed 15 shops at the Haidary Chowk in Naya Nagar area where the clashes took place on Sunday night.
"Illegal structures and encroachments razed by bulldozers in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road where Ram Mandir Pranpratishtha celebrations were stone pelted. After instructions from the Maharashtra government, action is being taken by Municipal Corporation with the help of the police," the Maharashtra government said on Tuesday.
Police Warns Against Malicious Posts on Social Media
Earlier on Wednesday, the MBVV police warned admins of WhatsApp groups against any content being posted that has the potential to rake up religious sentiments of any community.
"An investigation is going on in the matter and the accused are being arrested based on evidence. The atmosphere is calm in the area and some people are broadcasting different videos about the incident through various media. Due to this, misunderstandings are spreading in the society," the police said in a statement.
The police said that no "offensive text, video, photo, status, etc, which may hurt the religious sentiments of people of any caste religion regarding the incident, which may create law and order problems and disturb social peace, should be posted on Whatsapp.
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