Shops & Mosques Attacked: What Led to Communal Flare-Up in Telangana's Asifabad?

"The sentiment that underlines it that Muslims don’t flourish economically," recounted Sirajuddin.

Many Muslim-owned properties were damaged amid communal violence in Telangana's Asifabad district.

(Photo: Vibhushita Singh/The Quint)

(In-depth investigations into hate crimes require asking the tough questions. Your membership fuels our team to go further. Empower us in ‘Uncovering Hate’, BECOME A MEMBER today)

"Mulk mein jo ho raha hain, usi ki ek kadi hain." (It aligns with what is happening in the rest of the country).

This is what Syed Sirajuddin, who has lived in Jainoor village in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana for almost 20 years told The Quint.

On Wednesday, 4 September, communal violence erupted in the village after a crowd of over 2,000 locals belonging to the Gond tribe descended on a market area and vandalised shops, vehicles, five mosques and a madrasa.

One of the local mosque was also vandalised by the crowd.

(Photo: Screenshot from the video accessed by The Quint)

Section 144 and an Internet ban has been imposed in the district as well.

The violence was allegedly a reaction to another case wherein an auto-driver, Sheikh Makhdoom reportedly sexually abused and beat a tribal woman in Jainoor village.

The police has arrested Makhdoom and a case under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has also been filed.

But what really preceded the violence and what happened in Jainoor village on 4 September?

One of the local Muslims looks upon the shop completely burnt down.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

'Because of Bandh, Shopkeepers Were Home'

The Quint has accessed many videos that show the destruction and violence carried out on 4 September — scores of shops completely vandalised and burnt.

Nearly 95% of the shops that were damaged belonged to Muslims. Over 100 shops were attacked, the mob also set fire to around 20 motorcycles, and damaged four to five cars. They also attacked five mosques, including Jama Masjid and Kashif-Ul-Uloom madrasa in Jainoor village.

Sirajuddin, a native of the district has only recently shifted to Adilabad but has family living in Asifabad which is some kilometers away.

A mobile shop and a medical store belonging to one his nephews, Suhail, have been damaged and looted in the communal violence.

"My nephew told me, 'There was fire and smoke all over, people were screaming on the road as they ran to their shop which was vandalised.' They were caught unaware as they were home due to the bandh," said Sirajuddin.

Shops, along with bikes and cars were set on fire.

(Photo: Screenshot from the video accessed by The Quint)

After the tribal woman's case and her photos circulated in the media, it sparked outrage among the tribal community and they called for a Bandh on 4 September.

Meanwhile Tanveer Ahmed told The Quint that shops belonging to his friends in Asifabad were also damaged in the violence.

"When the tribal woman's account spread in the media, the Adivasi leaders gave several provocative speeches and that led to the violence in Jainoor. Even though the investigation in her case hasn't even begun, but the whole Muslim community was attacked because of it," he alleged.

In another video accessed by The Quint, locals were seen arguing with the police, showing them a bag that had petrol-filled bottles in it. Locals stated that the police came in a few hours later when SP of Asifabad, Srinivas Rao, deployed additional force in and around the district.

Police personnel was later deployed at the scene but the damage to the shops had already taken place by then.

(Photo: Screenshot from the video accessed by The Quint)

Meanwhile, Asaduddin Owaisi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that he spoke to the DGP of Telangana who has assured him that the situation will be taken care of.

"We appeal to the Telangana masses not to take law in their hands, whoever is indulging in violence, they have to be caught. It can't be that if you want you go and damage a house or motorcycle at someone's house. There should be supremacy of rule of law. He also said in another byte to the media," he added in another video speaking to the media.

On the other hand, a day after the incident, the Telangana police posted on X that Jainoor is now peaceful: "The police department has taken measures to establish peace and morale among the locals in that area. Strict action will be taken against the concerned persons if provocative false news is spread on social media."

They added that legal action would also be taken against people making incendiary statements.

'Muslims, Adivasis Lived in Harmony Before'

But there seems to be more than meets the eye in the case.

Sirajuddin stated that the tribal woman's case is not the only reason behind the violence.

He told The Quint, "It had been brewing for a while now. It is a locality where Adivasis lived along with Muslims for decades and there used to be brotherhood and a strong sense of communal harmony even in our livelihoods. However, it has changed in the past 10 years or so."

A lot of non-tribals have now settled in the tribal-dominated areas, mostly Hindus and some Muslims. There have been conflicts between tribals and non-tribals because of this. But that spilled onto the relationship Adivasis and Muslims shared. There are some who don't want Muslims to grow economically.

Syed Sirajuddin to The Quint

Sirajuddin and Tanveer said that due to the tensions and violence of 4 September, many locals have either fled to other districts to their relatives' home or have locked themselves in and are refusing to speak to the media as they are scared to do so.

They stated that the scale of the violence will only be clear and possibly quantified in the coming days. "What happens in North has now reached the South as well," remarked Sirajuddin.

Another video accessed by The Quint shows, Seethakka, the Minister of Women and Child Welfare of Telangana visiting the tribal woman who was hospitalised.

While speaking to the media, she said, "She was also beaten by the man. Her treatment is underway and we also spoke to her son in Gondi language. I appeal to the people to be peaceful at this moment."

SP KB Asifabad has also engaged with community leaders from both sides to maintain peace and urged the public not to believe in or spread rumors.

As a form of protest, the local Muslim community has called for a 'bandh' on 6 September but have said that it won't be imposed on other communities.

(The Quint also reached out to SP Asifabad. His response will be added once received).