Khargone police filed an FIR against miscreants calling for economic boycott of Muslim shops and trying to create enmity among religious groups and disrupt peace, said Superintendent of Police Rohit Kashwani on April 26, 2022.

Earlier, The Quint reported an incident in Katarwar, Khargone where a sound truck appealed to all “Dharma-loving” people to close markets and shops to “retaliate” against the “heretics” who attacked Hindus in Khargone city. According to The Quint, the person appealed “to all Hindus to oppose them and mothers and sisters to not buy any item from them.”

Kashwani said the police promptly reacted to this by filing an FIR against the hate-mongers. “We are identifying people right now and will arrest the accused soon,” he said.

Similar calls for boycott were sounded earlier on social media. One video in particular showed a group of women taking an oath in the name of Lord Mahakal to boycott sale and buying from Muslim folk. Initial reports from local fact-finding groups said the meeting was held by Ubdee women in Radha Vallabh market. However, police officials say that Ubdee village and the market are far away from each other. Kashwani said the team is trying to ascertain the location of the meeting to file an FIR accordingly.

Previous interviews with administrative and police officials show that while the law enforcement is aware of the dangers of hate speech and such casual hate speeches in localities, the administration is yet to wake up to the latest hate trends.

Meanwhile, a little respite to the victims of the Khargone violence came on April 24. In a plea filed by Fareeda Bee (wife of an accused in the Khargone riots case) before the High court of Madhya Pradesh, the state government reassured the Court that no action shall be taken against the petitioner for demolition of the house without following due process of law. The plea was filed on apprehension that the respondents may demolish the structure of the house without following due process of law. It is to be noted that the Supreme Court recently issued notice to the Centre, States of UP, MP and Gujarat in relation to the PIL seeking to direct authorities to refrain from undertaking the demolition drive of the houses belonging to the accused as a punishment. 

“The petition is filed on apprehension that the respondents may demolish the structure of the house of the petitioner without following the due process of law. Learned Additional Advocate General for the respondents/State submits that no action shall be taken against the petitioner for demolition of the house without following due process of law,” said the court order disposing the petition.

Bee said she was allegedly threatened by the State with an ultimatum of razing down her house because of her husband's arrest, reported LiveLaw.

Related:

Khargone: Why is the administration ignoring the proliferation of hate on social media?
The changing anatomy of hate speech and communal violence
Now a demolition drive in Jahangirpuri?
Curfew back in place after Madhya Pradesh police record first death in Khargone