A shocking incident has unfolded in Karnataka where an Islamic extremist to recreate the 2002 Godhra train carnage-like incident boarded the Aastha special train and threatened Ram Bhakts to set the train ablaze if they continued chanting Jai Shri Ram.

 

The incident took place at Hosapete railway station around 8 pm. The Hosapete railway station witnessed tense moments on Thursday night after an unidentified man, who boarded the Ayodhya Dham-Mysuru Aastha special train, abused the Ram devotees.

 

As per the reports, the train, carrying 1,500 Ram devotees, was returning to Mysuru via Jabalpur and Nagpur who were chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ along the way.  Four Muslim youths who were on the train picked an argument with the other passengers over chanting the slogan and one of them allegedly threatened to set the train on fire.

 

The Ballari Railway police have registered a case following a complaint lodged by M Anand Krishna of Hosapete.

 “Group of Muslims boarded the train at Hosapete on Thursday night, around 8 pm, and started abusing the Ram

Bhakts.He threatened to set the train on fire if they (Ayodhya pilgrims) continued chanting Ram bhajans and Jai Shri Ram slogans. When the passengers tried to catch hold of him, he jumped out of the train and escaped,” the complaint stated.

 

The Railway police have taken up a case under IPC sections 504, 506 and 295(a).

 

 

 

Sources said the suspect was arrested on the outskirts of Gadag. But the police have not confirmed the arrest yet.

 

On Thursday night, after the incident, the passengers of the Aastha special train staged a protest at Hosapete railway station. The agitating Ram devotees said they would not allow the train to proceed until the suspect was arrested.

 

In the legislative Council on Friday, BJP leader Kota Srinivas Poojary questioned the government over the law and order situation. “Miscreants barged into the Ayodhya Dham-Mysuru train last night at Hosapete and threatened to set it on fire. But the government has not reacted on the incident so far. Prior to the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Congress leader B K Hariprasad had warned of a Godhra-like incident. It seems like his words are coming true. The accused were held and then released”. 

 

SPSriharibabu and local BJP leaders managed to pacify the protesters, after which the train continued its onward journey. Meanwhile, taking no chances, the police security was beefed up around the railway station. More than 100 police personnel and homeguards were deployed at the railway station on Friday.

 

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday urged the state government to arrest those who allegedly threatened the passengers returning from Ayodhya, at Hosapete on Thursday night, reports DHNS from Hubballi. Speaking to media persons here on Friday, Joshi said, “Criminals feel safe whenever the Congress comes to power. Parties like Congress and TMC encourage such activities due to their appeasement politics, he added.

 

 

On 27th February 2002, the Sabarmati Express was scheduled to reach Godhra station at about 3:30 am. On that day, the train was running four hours late. As such, it arrived at Godhra by 7:40 am.

 

8 minutes later, a mob of 2000 Islamists set 59 Hindus, including 25 women and 15 children, in the coach S6 of the train on fire in Godhra’s predominantly Muslim area – Signal Falia.

 

31 Islamists were found guilty of the Godhra massacre on February 22, 2011, by the trial court (with only 11 receiving the death penalty and 20 receiving life in prison), and all 31 convictions were affirmed by the Gujarat High Court in October 2017, resulting in everyone receiving a life sentence. Before that, based on the testimony of witnesses and survivors, it was obvious to anybody with even a modicum of intellectual integrity that Muslims had set the train on fire.

 

In February 2003, an accused person made a judicial confession in which he acknowledged that Godhra was a well-planned attack and that he had personally participated in it. A judicial confession is conclusive evidence. This proves that the Godhra carnage was a preplanned attack on the innocent Karsevaks. India reacts after US cop who killed Jaahnavi Kandula freed