On April 30, the Nainital police learnt of about the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl, following tension spread in the hill city. As news of the victim’s medical examination spread, some Hindu organisations started protesting outside the police station. Gradually this protest turned violent.
According to the police, the protesters vandalised the shops of the Muslim community, threw stones at a mosque and also damaged some houses and vehicles. The glass panes of many windows in the area were broken and the main market of Nainital was completely closed.
Soon, a video went viral on social media. Shaila Negi, a Hindu woman, was seen standing amidst the crowd and protesting against the protesting mob. While ‘anti-Muslim’ slogans were being raised all around, Negi fearlessly spoke about unity and harmony.
In an interview with Newslaundry, Negi said that she is getting threats on social media, but she still believes in communal unity and brotherhood.
“They were protesting the abuse against the victim but were raising misogynistic slogans. How are we safe when they say such vile things about women and at the same time seemingly protesting against the abuse [of the minor victim]? It was just a mob that was trying to scare people… They asked my father if he was a Muslim or Pakistani. To which he replied, ‘I am Muslim. How can you ask me a question like this at such a time?’ The mob turned the issue into a communal one, which shouldn’t have happened...Hindu and Muslims, we are one” Negi said.
Watch this special conversation with Shaila.
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