Key Points:
- Violence broke out in Tarana, Ujjain after VHP official Sohil Thakur was attacked Thursday night
- Thakur was threatened to stop seizing vehicles in name of cow protection
- Attackers from Mirza gang assaulted Thakur and his relative with rods, knives, swords
- Hindu community announced shutdown, protested at police station demanding arrests
- Rumors of deliberate shop fire after short circuit escalated tensions Friday afternoon
- Stone-pelting occurred after Friday prayers, Hindu neighborhood targeted
- More than 10 buses vandalized, four-wheeled vehicles damaged, shops closed
- Police from 10 stations, 6 inspectors deployed, drones used to monitor rioters
- 5 of 6 accused arrested, situation brought under control
Communal violence convulsed the Tarana area of Ujjain on Friday afternoon as a dispute that began Thursday night over cow protection escalated into large-scale rioting, stone-pelting, and arson, prompting authorities to deploy police from 10 stations and use drones to monitor the situation. The unrest, which left several vehicles torched and shops shuttered, stemmed from an assault on a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) official and was exacerbated by rumors of a deliberate fire.
The crisis ignited on Wednesday night, January 22, when Sohil Thakur, a VHP official and Bajrang Dal worker, was attacked near the RSS office in Tarana by a group of 15 young men from the Muslim community. The assailants, identified as Ishaan Mirza, Shadab alias Idli Mirza, Salman Mirza, Rizwan Mirza, Naved, and Sappan Mirza, confronted Thakur and threatened him to stop seizing vehicles in the name of cow protection. When Thakur resisted, the Mirza gang attacked him with rods, knives, and swords, inflicting serious injuries that required hospitalization.
Assault and Escalation
Thakur’s relative, who rushed to his rescue upon witnessing the assault, was also beaten by the rioters. The violent confrontation triggered immediate outrage within the Hindu community, which announced a city-wide shutdown and staged protests at the local police station, demanding the immediate arrest of all accused. The situation remained tense through Thursday night as authorities attempted to negotiate with community leaders.
The dispute took a dangerous turn on Friday afternoon when a fire broke out in a shop due to a short circuit. Rumors rapidly spread through the city that the fire had been deliberately set, fueling communal tensions. Following Friday prayers, stone-pelting erupted in some areas, with rioters targeting a Hindu neighborhood in Tarana. Vandalism intensified as enraged mobs set a bus on fire and damaged more than 10 buses, along with several four-wheeled vehicles.
Police Response and Security Measures
Panic gripped the area as shopkeepers closed their establishments and fled. Law enforcement responded swiftly, deploying police personnel from 10 police stations under the supervision of six inspectors. Drones were deployed to monitor the movements of rioters and identify instigators. The police eventually dispersed the crowds and brought the situation under control.
The police have arrested five of the six named accused, including several members of the Mirza gang, while a manhunt is underway for the sixth suspect. The administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (formerly Section 144) in sensitive areas and increased patrolling to prevent further violence.
Political and Community Reactions
Local BJP leaders have demanded strict action against the perpetrators, while Muslim community representatives have appealed for peace and cooperation with authorities. The district administration has convened a peace meeting with leaders from both communities to restore normalcy and address underlying tensions related to cow protection activities.
The incident has drawn attention to the fragile communal harmony in the region, with cow protection groups increasingly clashing with minority communities over vehicle seizures. Authorities have warned that any further attempts to take the law into their own hands will be dealt with severely.
