The tribal community had called for a ‘bandh’ a week after a woman was allegedly molested and assaulted by an auto driver identified as Sheik Maqdoom. The incident had led to unrest in the region.
Published Sep 04, 2024 | 8:40 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2024 | 10:10 AM
Internet has been shut down and prohibitory orders have been clamped in Telangana’s Jainoor following violent communal clashes.
A shut down call by adivasi community protesting against the sexual assault of a tribal woman took a violent turn, leading to communal clashes in Jainoor town of Kumurum Bheem Asifabad district on Wednesday, 4 September.
The tribal community had called for a ‘bandh’ a week after a woman was allegedly molested and assaulted by an auto driver identified as Sheik Maqdoom. The incident had led to unrest in the region. On Wednesday, the unrest blew into a full-fledged communal clash.
According to the survivor’s family, Maqdoom had picked up the Adivasi woman while she was en route to her village on 31 August. The woman alleged that Maqdoom forced her into his auto rickshaw near Raghavapur and allegedly attempted to rape her.
When she cried out for help, the accused reportedly assaulted her brutally with a large stick and left her for dead after she lost consciousness. A passerby who found the unconscious woman alerted her family, who took her to a hospital in Sirpur. After regaining consciousness, the woman provided details of the assault to her family.
The adivasi woman’s brother subsequently lodged a complaint with the Telangana police on Monday, prompting the ongoing investigation.
According to a police press release, the victim is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Hyderabad.
Led by DSP Sadaiah Panthati, the Asifabad police swiftly conducted an investigation and took Maqdoom into custody. On Tuesday, authorities registered a case against Sheik Maqdoom under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. The charges include attempt to rape and assaulting the Adivasi woman on August 31.
In response to the assault, the Adivasi community called for a bandh in Jainoor on Wednesday. The protest turned violent and led to significant damage to shops and religious sites within the town, as tensions between the communities reached a boiling point. Protestors were accused of deliberately targeting commercial shops, religious structures associated with Muslims.
Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) spokesperson, Amjed Ullah Khan took to social media platform X to criticise Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress government for failing to take precautionary measures.
“When Rome was burning, Nero was playing flute”, Its same with @Revanth_anumula in Telangana, Since yesterday night there has been communal tension in Jainoor Town of Komaram Bheem Asifabad District and No precautionary measures were taken..” he posted.
“When Rome was burning, Nero was playing flute”, Its same with @revanth_anumula in Telangana, Since yesterday night there has been communal tension in Jainoor Town of Komaram Bheem Asifabad District and No precautionary measures were taken by @TelanganaDGP & @spasifabad which… pic.twitter.com/YtjyRrOa6B
— Amjed Ullah Khan MBT (@amjedmbt) September 4, 2024
Authorities are continuing their efforts to ensure justice for the victim and to address the communal tensions that have risen in the aftermath of this incident.
The district administration has issued prohibitory orders under 144 CrPC and 163 BNSS, along with a ban on the Internet as a precautionary measure to avoid the spread of rumours and fake news.
Noting that the situation is under control, the district police said that an additional 1,000 police personnel were deployed along with the Rapid Action Force (RAF).
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
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