NUH VIOLENCE : A PLANNED ACT OF SHAME

Mewat is a cultural region which spans the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In 1372, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq granted Raja Nahar Khan Mewati of Kotla Forte the lordship of Mewat. He established a hereditary polity in Mewat and assumed the title of Wali-e-Mewat. Later, his descendants affirmed their own sovereignty in Mewat and ruled until 1527. During the British period, they came under the states of Alwar and Bharatpur. Meo is an ethnic group of Mewat region particularly in the Nuh district. In 1947, many Meos shifted from Alwar and Bharatpur to Gurgaon region. Gandhiji also visited Ghasera village in Nuh and requested Meos not to leave India. Following his visit, this village came to be known as Gandhi Gram Ghasera. In 2005, Mewat was designated a district comprising of five blocks. Mewat district was renamed as Nuh in 2016 and became one of the 22 districts of Haryana. According to the 2011 census, the population of Nuh district is little over a million, with 79.2% Muslims and 20.4% Hindus. The Meos constitute the predominant Muslim population and are mainly engaged in agriculture. In 2018, Niti Aayog declared Nuh as the most underdeveloped district of the country, despite its proximity to well-developed Gurgaon. Nuh faces challenges in health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, and basic infrastructure. The three Vidhan Sabha constituencies in this district  are Nuh, Firozpur Jhirka and Punahana. All of these are part of the Gurgaon Lok Sabha Constituency.

Nalhar Mahadev Mandir, situated about 7 km from Nuh city, stands on a picturesque Aravali hill. The origins of this temple are shrouded in antiquity, with historical records and local beliefs tracing its roots back to several centuries. It is believed to have been constructed during the reigns of Yaduvanshi Rajputs, who once ruled this region. It is believed that the Pandavas visited this place during their exile in the forests. They were in search of water. Lord Krishna appeared before them and  striking the ground with his foot, created a spring of holy water, which continues to flow within the temple complex to this day. This sacred water body is known as Nal and the main deity is Lord Shiva, giving the temple its name ‘Nalhar Mahadev.’ This temple holds immense significance for devotees especially during the auspicious occasion of Shivratri and other festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva. This sacred abode of Lord Shiva remains an integral part of Haryana’s cultural and religious heritage.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) launched Brij Mandal Jalabhishekh Yatra in 2021 to raise awareness about temples in this region and foster a sense of community feeling among Hindus. This one-day yatra is held during Shravan, the fifth month of Hindu Calander, attracting thousands of devotees to the pilgrimage temples in south Haryana. This year, the yatra falls in the Purushottam month, when Shravan is two months long, having special significance. The yatra begins at Nalhar Shiv Mandir and goes to Mata ka Mandir in Singar and Jhir temple in Firozpur Jhirka.

  Mohit Yadav alias Monu Manesar is a Bajrang Dal member and a cow vigilante from Manesar, near Gurgaon. He became infamous for his role as the head of the Goraksha Dal, a cow protection taskforce unit of Bajrang Dal in Haryana. He is accused of involvement in killing of Nasir and Junaid, from Bharatpur. They were allegedly abducted by cow vigilante on February 15 and their bodies were found burnt in a charred car in Bhiwani, the next day. The Rajasthan Police filed a charge sheet in the case and named Monu Manesar as accused, but he denied the charges of kidnapping and murder and is currently absconding. He has significant online presence on social media and is often seen live streaming with his team and giving interviews on TV channels. He posted a video on social media expressing his intention to participate in a ‘Shobha Yatra’ and encouraging the people to join in large numbers.

 Mamman Khan is a Congress MLA from the Firozpur Jhirka assembly constituency. During the budget session of assembly in February this year, he accused the govt. of allegedly arming the Gau Rakshaks and flashed the image of Monu Manesar while attacking the govt. He openly threatened Monu Manesar of dire consequences if he comes to Mewat. He said “if Monu Manesar comes to Mewat, he will be crushed like onions.”

On 31st July, the Brij Mandal Jalabhishekh Yatra organized by VHP and Bajrang Dal, with about 25000 participants, was halted by a group of young men from other community near Khedla Mod in Nuh and pelted stones at the procession. They also set on fire  cars, shops, and houses. The participants in the procession also retaliated and riots erupted. Nearly 2500 people including women and children took shelter in the Shiva temple when the two sides clashed. While in the temple, they were surrounded by the rioters for several hours before the police reinforcement evacuated them. The rioters also rammed a bus into the cyber police station of Nuh and set the cars outside on fire. By  evening, the riots spread in the nearby cities including Sohna and Gurgaon. One under construction mosque in Gurgaon was set on fire and a person killed. So far six people including two policemen have lost their lives and many have sustained injuries.

 Nuh has gained a notorious reputation as cybercrime hotspot in the country.  Police attribute this to the stringent enforcement of cybercrime laws and cow slaughter prohibition causing problems for the villagers.

Monu Manesar’s video and the counter threats on the social media, along with Mamman Khan’s provocative statements escalated the tension. The attack on the Yatra seemed pre planned, as many people from outside were also seen indulging in violence including the Rohingyas and its connection from across the border can’t be ruled out. The questions that the state govt. needs to answer are, was it not an intelligence failure? Why were adequate security measures not taken after the provocative posts on the social media? This is a total failure of the state govt. We need to strengthen the intelligence network and security force in such sensitive areas. Developmental work needs to be done on priority basis. Better health, education, employment and general infrastructure will certainly change the mindset of the people. The guilty must be punished strictly as per the law. The religious leaders from both the communities should engage in serious dialogue to reduce the rift and appeal to the people for harmony. Ultimately, we all are Indians first and no religion is superior to humanity.

By Manoj Dubey
Retd. Principal
Delhi Public Schools

(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)