Uneasy calm over building of mosque in Seelampur

The situation on street number eight of Brahampuri colony in National Capital’s Seelampur area became tensed when on August 9  around 200 Muslims gathered and shouted slogans for the mosque to be built in a plot on the street forcing more than eight Hindu families to put ‘House For Sale’ hoarding in front of their house. In a small lane, around thirty Hindu families and a dozen Muslim families live.

“Though the issue is resolved between both the communities after talks on Tuesday evening but there is still a fear living here. We have never expected this to happen between the both communities as we had been living in the area for past two decades and there has always been brotherhood among the Hindu-Muslim communities. For now we have removed the house for sale boards,” said Suresh Kumar, a resident in Brahampuri colony. 

Few months ago, locals got to know that a building in the area which used to operate as a factory is being converted into a mosque following which the Hindus living area put an objection.

The situation was on the verge of becoming normal, but some members of the Muslim community became adamant that mosque will be built on that site only and Muslims will read Namaj there.

Even the situation became tensed on 9 August but on 10 August, Seelampur’s AAP MLA Mohammed Ishraque (also known as Haji Ishraq Khan) reached the site to read namaj which triggered the issue.

“‘House for Sale’ hoardings were put by more than eight Hindu’s families at front of their house in fear of situation to get worse. They were even being threatened. People have stopped moving about in the street. Politicians of the area have failed to manage the situation and are making it worse. In such a situation, it is better to sell their house and leave,” said Jagdish Chandra, Treasurer, Market association, Brahampuri. 

“MLA talks of Hindu-Muslim unity by visiting Shyamgiri Temple on the occasion of Eid, but on the other he is showing that he is first and foremost a Muslim by specifically reading namaj at the disputed site,” said Jagdish, a shopkeeper on Brahampuri road. Suresh Kumar’s family had also alleged that they had received threats of being blown up in a cylinder blast.

Though the communities after talks have resolve the issue but there is still fear among both Hindu and Muslim communities in the area. “We don’t want this issue to rise anymore. We have agreed only to offer namaj in the plot bought by us and only selected people will come to this place. Hindu families have also removed house for sale board from their house,” said Imran Saifi, a resident of street no-8.

“It is our second generation living here. Though things are calmed down for now but after the recent incident I don’t feel safe living in the colony. It isn’t safe for my children too,” said Ram Prakash, a resident of street no-8.

The communities have compromised but Police force is still deployed on the street to monitor the situation. “The situation is completely normal at the moment. Though they might have resolved the issue but police will be deployed in the area for a while. Strict action will be taken against anyone found spreading rumours,” said a police official.

Shifting of Hindu families from ‘sensitive’ areas of West UP & Delhi-NCR area has been talked about in whispers for many years now, but the issue first came to national limelight in 2016 after around 300 Hindu families fled Kairana in Shamli district due to fear of the members of a particular community (Muslims) which was in majority in the area.