Mumbai: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have asked Vasant Oasis, a large housing complex in Marol, Andheri East, to sack their Kashmiri Muslim security guards within 48 hours, claiming they could be a threat to the residents. It is not clear how many Kashmiris work in the complex, but estimates are close to 40. If the complex fails to sack them, the right-wing Hindu groups have threatened to assault them and drive them away.
A representative of the hiring agency, Neepa Real Estate Pvt Ltd, declined to give details of the conversation he had with VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. “I will need the company director’s permission to talk. However, we won’t take this threat lying down. I am a former army man. We have plans on how to approach this threat. My company will take the decision,” the security head said.
The MIDC police confirmed they have received the letter from VHP and Bajrang Dal. “We are investigating the complaint and will find out how many Kashmiris work there,” a police official said.
In a letter sent on Thursday to the police, BHP’s Konkan province president Dr Ajay Sankhe and province minister Mohan Salekar, said they have come to know that Kashmiri Muslims work as bouncers in the housing complex.
The complex has 20 buildings with over 3,000 flats and nearly 10,000 residents. Gautam Ravaria, the co-convener of Bajrang Dal’s Konkan chapter, said they received the information about the security personnel from the residents.
“The security of 10,000 people is in the hands of these security men. Neepa Real Estate Pvt Ltd, the company handling the security of the complex, gave work to Kashmiris,” said Ravaria.
As per the letter to the police, “Hindus were killed in Jammu and Kashmir after asking them about their religion. There is no need for such Kashmiri watchmen and bouncer Muslims here.” The letter adds that the police would be responsible for any law and order situation when VHP and Bajrang Dal themselves remove them.
