Ram mandir inauguration: How communal tensions gripped Mumbai's Mira Road, Pune’s FTII

After communal unrest in Mira Bhayander city in Maharashtra’s Thane district, a clash broke out between members of Hindutva outfits and students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune on Tuesday (23 January). While the tensions in Mira Bhayander arose on the eve of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the FTII incident took place a day after the grand event in Uttar Pradesh’s temple town. The police have registered First Information Reports (FIRs) in both cases. What happened in Pune and Mira Bhayander? Let’s understand. Hindutva outfits ‘barge’ into FTII A group of men belonging to right-wing Hindutva outfits allegedly entered the FTII campus on Tuesday and burned a poster about the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya , as per a Maktoob Media report. According to Scroll, footage on social media showed men shouting “Jai Shri Ram” slogans. Some men reportedly burnt the poster reading “Remember Babri, death of Constitution” and destroyed a board showcasing images to mark the event. The police confirmed the banner was set on fire by the members of the right-wing Hindutva outfits, reported Indian Express. “Preliminary probe has revealed that a banner was displayed on the campus by the FTII Students’ Association. Our information also suggests that screening of a film and an exhibition of photos related to the history of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue was also organised on the campus,” an officer from Deccan Gymkhana police station told the newspaper. A student claimed that more than a dozen security personnel were present when the mob barged in, accusing the police of complicity, reported Maktoob Media. An FIR was filed based on a complaint by Sanjay Jadhav, a security officer posted at the institute in Pune, against 12 to 15 persons who had barged into the campus under IPC sections relating to unlawful assembly, rioting, causing hurt, trespassing, damage to property and criminal intimidation. The police officer told Indian Express that their probe has revealed that the men do not belong to a single group but are from several Hindutva right-wing outfits based in Pune. A second police officer told Indian Express, “Some people have approached us and given a complaint application against the FTII students for putting up the banner. They also claimed that the FTII students assaulted the group that had entered the premises. These allegations are being verified.” According to the police, some people were sent for medical examination and the reports did not show serious injuries, the newspaper reported. Mira Road clashes Two incidents of communal tensions reportedly occurred in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road on Sunday (21 January) and Monday. As per Indian Express, a group of 10-12 people in vehicles carrying saffron flags and chanting “Jai Shri Ram” were stopped by some local people from another community, which triggered tensions and clashes on Sunday night. A police officer told PTI that the group allegedly burst firecrackers during the rally, which another group objected to, leading to an argument. The second group then allegedly brought wooden sticks and attacked the vehicles. Videos shared on social media showed cars being vandalised by a mob, The Quint reported. Later that night, the police carried out marches to control the situation. The police filed an FIR under various sections of the IPC, including 307 (attempt to murder) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), among others. On Monday, violence broke out between two groups with both sides allegedly pelting stones, The Quint reported. The police registered a second FIR following the incident. The police have reportedly picked up a total of 28 people so far, including four minors. After the communal clashes, the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) used bulldozers to raze about 15 structures in the Muslim-dominated Haidary Chowk area in Mira Road on Tuesday afternoon, as per Indian Express. The chowk is close to the area where the violence erupted on Sunday night. [caption id=“attachment_13650562” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Demolition drive against alleged illegal structure built on a roadside at Mira Road, 23 January. PTI[/caption] An official from the MBMC claimed the civic body demolished encroachments in the area as part of a “routine drive”. “We demolished around 15 structures in the Haidary Chowk area on Tuesday. The action has been taken since the structures were illegal and were encroached upon in the public place,” MBMC deputy municipal commissioner Maruti Gaikwad told Indian Express. Local activists alleged no notices were served to the shop owners ahead of the demolition, claiming that they have legal documents. Speaking to Indian Express, Saad Syed, a social activist in Mira Road, said, “Close to a dozen structures have been demolished. As far as we know, no notices were served. Even if notices were served, what message is being sent by demolishing structures of a particular community a day after the communal clash. Are illegal structures present only in a particular community’s locality.” The demolition drive came a day after Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis warned of strict action against the culprits. He had also warned of action against illegal construction in the area, as per ThePrint. The Mira Bhayandar Vasai Vihar Police on Wednesday issued a notice, asking group administrators on instant messaging and social media platforms to ensure that no jokes, videos, or other forms of content related to clashes are forwarded, reported ANI. The police also warned of action against the group admins if the order was violated. With inputs from agencies