MP Police beat up a man. Their apology: "You had a long beard. All are ashamed that they did this to a Hindu brother without knowing his identity. Whenever there is a Hindu-Muslim riot, police always supports the Hindus, beat Muslims brutally.” #Thread bit.ly/36dyQ0i
What's happening here? The MP cops are telling Bundele "we didn't beat you up coz you're Dalit/bahujan. We've friends from your caste. We beat you up coz we thought you were Muslim. You're a Hindu brother of ours, come, let's hate Muslims together."
Here on display is the institutional communal bias of India's police. The MP police is using the same strategies the Sangh: brutalise oppressed castes & then try to coopt them into the Sanghi fold by inviting them to bond over & share anti Muslim hatred. But IT FAILED.
What's most important about this awful story is Bundele's courage of conscience. He refused to be drawn into the fold of majoritarian privilege & Islamophobic prejudice. He instead used the temporary offer of Hindu privilege to expose Islamophobic bias in the police institution.
So this story is not only about the brazen Islamophobic bias that is hard wired in so much of our police. It is about the fact that 6 years into a regime that has cultivated Islamophobia, courageous citizens like Bundele still fight back, rejecting the communal divide.
Bundele said, “I was struck by the way the police officials apologised. Even if I was a Muslim, what gives the police the right to assault them without any cause.” Bundele is the hero of this story, who defends India's Constitutional promise & our unity & rights. Be like Bundele
Oh and remember, what angered the "kattar Hindu" policeman on March 23 was the fact that he thought a Muslim man was invoking the Constitution of India. So this cop abused the Constitution of India. This is an insight into the police brutalities against anti CAA protestors. 
