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"When you start attacking cronyism and people's political interests, it gets nasty": Leicester violence - Muslims attack Hindus who were protesting against earlier violence by Muslims against Hindus, religious symbols used to identify and target Hindus

Insight UK, a Hindu organization that is in touch with the victims in Leicester, said that the driver was targeted specifically after the mob saw Hindu symbols on the dashboard of his car
 |  Satyaagrah  |  Islam
Leicester violence by Islamists against Hindus
Leicester violence by Islamists against Hindus - Representational image

"When you start attacking cronyism and people's political interests, it gets nasty": Leicester violence - Muslims attack Hindus who were protesting against earlier violence by Muslims against Hindus, religious symbols used to identify and target Hindus by Muslim mobs

Nothing to see here. Just the UK’s new protected class celebrating diversity. You aren’t on board? Oh, you’re some kind of Islamophobe?

“United Kingdom: Islamists attack Hindus in Leicester city who were protesting against earlier violence by Islamists on Hindus,” OpIndia, September 18, 2022:

After hundreds of people crowded the streets in the city’s eastern section, violence erupted on Friday night in Leicester, United Kingdom. This comes after a spate of targeted attacks on Hindus followed the Asia Cup India-Pakistan cricket match on August 28, when armed Islamists attacked Hindus and their residences in the vicinity.

Police officers have swarmed the streets of Leicester, exercising disposal powers and encouraging peace as disturbance persists on the streets following a protest by Hindus demanding action against the violence by Islamists. The protest was disrupted by Islamists as they hurled glass bottles at the protestors. A Saffron flag was also desecrated by a mob of Islamists in front of the police.

As per an official statement by the Leicestershire police, the violence erupted on Saturday evening after a group of men staged an ‘unplanned protest.’ “Parts of East Leicester experienced serious disorder yesterday evening (Saturday 17 September) into this morning (Sunday) when large crowds formed after groups of young men began an unplanned protest,” the statement reads.

The violence on the 17th of September erupted after a spate of violence that had gripped the city over a span of 3-4 days, starting from the 4th of September, where Muslim mobs had gone on a rampage identifying Hindus and unleashing violence against them. During the rampant violence by Islamists in the city earlier in September and on the 17th, several Hindus were specifically targeted after being identified by the display of Hindu symbols.

“Hindus of the area are living in fear. All easily identifiable symbols like Om, Shubh Labh, and pictures of Gods & Goddesses are being removed from the doors. Fear of being selectively targeted for their faith by Islamists has forced them to erase all markers of their Hindu identity”, Insight UK had tweeted at the time.

A similar pattern was observed during the recent 17th September attacks as well. During the violence unleashed by Islamists against the Hindus, who were peacefully protesting against the earlier violence in September,

During the violence, a white car was attacked by the Islamists, a video of which was widely shared on social media.

In the video, a Muslim mob surrounds a white car driven by a Hindu. Initially, the mob starts beating down on the car, trying to open the driver’s seat door. After they managed to open the door, they drag the Hindu driver out and beat him mercilessly.

There were several Islamic accounts on Twitter that celebrated the attack on the Hindu driver. One of the accounts that garnered considerable attention was that of @Itachixuchiiha.

Posting a video of the Hindu driver, soaked in blood after being attacked by Islamists, the handle tweeted a celebratory tweet with laughing emojis. In the video, the police officer was seen talking to the injured and battered Hindu while asking others video graphing him to back off.

“He was specifically targeted after the Islamists saw Hindu Gods and Goddesses on the dashboard of his car”, they told OpIndia. In fact, the Islamists tried to spread substantial propaganda even about this incident. Several Islamists had claimed that the Hindu driver was attacked because he had tried to run over Muslims with his car. However, there has been no evidence to substantiate this claim. The video only shows the driver being attacked unprovoked and beaten up mercilessly.

Another individual from Leicester also took to Facebook to say that he was attacked because there were images of Lord Ganesh on the dashboard of his car.

We got under attack on green lane road by muslim because there was ganeshji murti on our car’s dashboard so I have...

Posted by Shyam Gigabhai Odedra on Sunday, September 18, 2022

“We got under attack on green lane road by Muslim because there was Ganesh Ji murti on our car’s dashboard so I have a question with Leicester police and Leicester government what do you have to protect Hindus from that thing if can’t do anything then tell us we all Hindu just respect this country reputation and rules but if you can’t give us security then let us know once we know how to protect our self and how to protect our religion ok#leicestershire police”, wrote the individual.

As per an official statement by the Leicestershire police, the violence erupted on Saturday evening after a group of men staged an ‘unplanned protest.’ “Parts of East Leicester experienced serious disorder yesterday evening (Saturday 17 September) into this morning (Sunday) when large crowds formed after groups of young men began an unplanned protest,” the statement reads.

“Officers attempted to engage with the group and remain with them whilst additional officers were called in. They sought to keep actions lawful but, regrettably, the situation led to disorder,” it further reads adding that two people have been so far arrested from the site. A total of 27 people have been arrested since the dispute began in the city.

On Saturday, Twitter user and Analyst Anshul Saxena shared some details on Twitter showing how plans were made to attack Hindus in the city. Anshul shared how radicals and Islamists were sharing the stories on social media and planning to attack Hindus.

Officers tried to hold back crowds amid tensions involving mainly young men from sections of the Muslim and Hindu communities.

Police said two arrests had been made, and that the trouble flared up after "an unplanned protest".

It is the latest of several incidents, including violence after an India and Pakistan cricket match on 28 August.

A significant police operation will remain in the area in the coming days.

Suleman Nagdi, of the Leicester-based Federation of Muslim Organisations, told the BBC: "What we have seen on the streets is very alarming.

"There have been problems in the community since the India and Pakistan cricket match and while that game often sparks gatherings they have not in the past turned this ugly.

"We need calm - the disorder has to stop and it has to stop now. There are some very dissatisfied young men who have been causing havoc.

"We need to get the message out that this must end and try to do this through parents and grandparents talking to their sons."

Sanjiv Patel, who represents Hindu and Jain temples across Leicester, said he was deeply saddened and shocked by Saturday night's disorder.

He said: "We have lived in harmony in the city for many decades but over the past few weeks it is clear there are things that need to be discussed around the table to get out what people are unhappy about.

"Resorting to violence is not the way to deal with this.

 

"We are horrified and deplore what was going on (yesterday) and across the last two weeks.

"Across the Hindu and Jain community and with our Muslim brothers and sisters and leaders we are consistently saying 'calm minds, calm heads'."

He warned people to be wary of disinformation on social media.

He added: "Violence is not a solution to anything. This has to be a time for peace, calm and engagement."

Police said one man was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder and another on suspicion of possession of a bladed article.

They remain in police custody.

Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I don't think anyone saw the confrontation (on Saturday) as a likely outcome and police had been given reassurance things were calming down a lot.

"Things got very nasty indeed last night and I am very worried on behalf of the people who were caught up in it and I was impressed by the way police responded to it - it can't have been an easy task."

He added: "It's mostly young men in their late teens and early 20s and I have heard suggestions people have come in (to the city) from outside looking for an opportunity to have a set-to.

"It's very worrying for people in the areas where this has happened."

Sir Peter said it was important community leaders continued to try to de-escalate the situation but he acknowledged it was a challenge to get through to young people.

Speaking on Saturday night, Leicestershire Police's temporary chief constable Rob Nixon said in a video: "We've had numerous reports of an outbreak of disorder in parts of the East Leicester area of the city.

"We have got officers there, we are taking control of that situation, there are additional officers that are en route, and dispersal powers, and stop and search powers have been authorised.

"Please do not get involved, we are calling for calm."

Community leaders from East Leicester were on the ground with officers, and were calling for calm and encouraging people to go home, the force added.

In the early hours on Sunday, police said the situation was calming and "under control", and large number of searches had been carried out.

"Several incidents of violence and damage have been reported to the police and are being investigated," a spokesperson said.

"We are aware of a video circulating showing a man pulling down a flag outside a religious building on Melton Road, Leicester.

"This appears to have taken place while police officers were dealing with public disorder in the area. The incident will be investigated."

'Out of control'

A woman who witnessed Saturday's disturbances said there were people wearing balaclavas or with masks over their faces, and with hoods pulled up.

She told the BBC they were "just everywhere, it was like crowds walking away from a football match".

"There were police blocking the road; officers literally stood shoulder to shoulder blocking Uppingham Road," she said.

Footage online showed police attempting to hold back crowds as objects including bottles were thrown.

A resident from Green Lane Road said what she witnessed on Saturday evening was "very intimidating".

"The whole situation seemed really out of control," she said.

"The police were there but it didn't seem like they had a great handle on things.

"People were still feeling very scared, unsure and uncertain, and with everything else that's gone on recently, there's also a lot of tension building up in the few weeks that we've had this happen and unfold."

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