“IF you speak in Hindi, you are labeled as Pakistani; if you speak in Bengali, you are automatically deemed Bangladeshi,” said an anonymous young man whose shop was demolished during an anti-encroachment drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri after communal clashes in April. Due to concerns for his safety, his family has urged him to leave the area until tensions ease. Others in the neighborhood have already left town or sought refuge with relatives elsewhere. The young man expressed fear that the police are targeting young boys in the area.
On April 16, three processions were conducted in Jahangirpuri as part of Hanuman Jayanti, coinciding with the Muslim holy hours during Ramadan. The first procession occurred at 1:30 PM, the second at 4 PM, and an unauthorized third procession started at 6:30 PM, during Iftar when many Muslims were present at the Jama Masjid on Kushal Road. This third procession, consisting of more than a thousand individuals, carried weapons such as swords and knives.
When the procession reached the mosque, they began chanting provocative slogans, including “Mulle kaate jayenge, Hindustan mein rehna hoga Jai Shree Ram kehna hoga” (Muslims will be chopped, if you want to stay in India you have to say Hail Ram). Residents of the area were hurt by being referred to as Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Various religious institutions, including a temple, church, and gurdwara, coexisted harmoniously in the neighborhood for decades, according to residents.
The procession with weapons and the subsequent violence were attributed to the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad by Abdul Wahid, a resident. However, in neighboring Hindu areas, Muslims are often referred to disparagingly as “mini Pakistan” and “Bangladeshi colony.” Local Hindus acknowledged that the recent incident may not have escalated if it were not for the political agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
After the Hanuman Jayanti procession’s provocative slogans on April 16, confusion and stone-throwing ensued, resulting in nine injuries. Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta wrote to the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Mayor requesting the demolition of “illegal” structures belonging to the “rioters” in Jahangirpuri. The NDMC dispatched bulldozers on April 21 to demolish small shops built on drainpipes, with the exception of two, all owned by Muslims. The Supreme Court intervened to halt the demolition, but the NDMC continued their operation, demolishing the gates of the Jama Masjid until political activists, including Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), stood in front of the bulldozers to stop them.
Residents felt mistreated and threatened as their lanes were barricaded, and their boys were arrested and allegedly beaten in custody. When visiting the area, police and CRPF personnel heavily barricaded C Block, where most Muslim residents live. Some residents even felt trapped, unable to leave their own lanes. Journalists were also limited in their access, but after insistence and confrontation, they were escorted through Kushal Road, where the anti-encroachment drive had taken place, under the condition of not taking pictures or videos. Electronic media reporters, protected by the security personnel, were excitable and did not appear to engage with local residents.
Contrary to claims propagated by BJP and Aam Aadmi Party leaders that Jahangirpuri residents are Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, the community is a resettlement colony established during Indira Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister in the 1970s. The area consists of poor residents, including ragpickers, garbage disposal workers, and small traders, most of whom migrated from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar. The community is composed of Hindus, Muslims, and a significant Dalit population. Although Hindus and Muslims are segregated in different blocks or lanes, there are still mixed neighborhoods where both communities coexist.
The overall area has been neglected and in a state of decay, with the recent anti-encroachment drive taking place near the Jama Masjid and a Kali temple. The police have arrested nearly 50 individuals, including the prime accused, Ansar, who has been booked under the National Security Act. The enforcement directorate is investigating him for money laundering. According to locals, Ansar is known as a local crook but was not involved in communal activities. They speculate that the police, who had been looking to arrest him in other cases, took advantage of the situation. Only an unbiased inquiry can uncover the truth.