Silent protests against lynchings on Eid

Hyderabad: With the Markazi Ruiyat-e-Hilal (Central Moon Sighting) Committee declaring that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, a section of the Muslim community has called for silent protests against the lynching of Muslims and others by the hands of so-called gou rakshaks.
Citizens and activists took to social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and internet enabled messaging services such as Whatsapp to spread the message.Text and Whatsapp messages were widely shared. The peaceful protest is a part of larger protests which are being organised by several groups across the country, including the national capital.
Returning home to a village in Haryana, Eid shopping at Jama Masjid in New Delhi, a family was abused, humiliated and assaulted by a mob that passed communal remarks and accused them of carrying beef in a bag.
Later, a 19-year-old was stabbed to death and another received stab injuries, while the railway police failed to intervene and stop the assault.
“A lot of people have come forward to silently protest the lynching by gou rakshaks. This is nothing short of terrorism. As a mark of this protest, people will wear a black band of their arms on Eid. This is to express the need to stop these people and the Centre and states to be proactive in putting the perpetrators bars,” said Syed Qutubuddin Masood, an activist.
Black bands will be handed out at various Eidgahs, including Eidgah Miralam.
On the other hand, the Students Islamic Organisation has pressed into action its units across the city to launch its own initiative of a peaceful protest against the wave of terror unleashed by antisocial elements. It will also launch a signature campaign.
“We will have banners which speak of the violence. Furthermore, those who wish to wear black bands can do so,” said Students Islamic Organisation president Laeeq Ahmad Khan told TOI.
In April last year, a man identified as Pehlu Khan was killed and at least four others were wounded after cow vigilantes from Haryana stopped them on the Behror highway, thinking they were transporting cattle.