Leicester city in the United Kingdom witnessed communal tension between Hindu and Muslim communities, leading to the arrest of two in an area with a mixed population of both communities.
The disturbance between both communities began after the India Vs Pakistan cricket match of Asia Cup 2022 on 28 August.
The latest episode has led to community leaders and police calling for calm.
On 17 September, a group belonging to the Hindu community started a march chanting “Jai Shri Ram“.
The woman who witnessed the disturbance across Leicester city said that there were “people wearing balaclavas or with masks over their faces, and with hoods pulled up.”
“They were throwing bottles and all sorts,” a local of Belgrave Road in the eastern part of Leicester.” They were coming past our mosques, taunting the community and physically beating people up randomly,” said Majid Freeman.
Freeman said that in response, young Muslims led a march. They no longer believe in the police; they will defend their community on their own.
One Drishti Mae, who is defined as a former chairperson of a national Hindu organisation, is mentioned by the newspaper as saying that the recent restlessness was exceptional but that it was Hindus who were being targeted and harassed. She described Hindus as a “first-generation migrant community.”
Leaders of the Muslim community, Hindu and Jain temples, and community organisations in Leicester have all pledged that they will work to get to the bottom of what caused the march on Saturday.
Leicestershire police have been using their official social media handle with the wording that the situation is now favourable. Earlier, its temporary chief constable Rob Nixon had released a video message urging peace, noting that this was unusual for such a culturally diverse place.
