Bajrang Dal activists are on a rampage in Madhya Pradesh. From beating up foreigners on suspicion of carrying beef to pelting stones at the house of a Muslim driver, who had accidentally hit a cow on the road, it seems they are wearing their misplaced emotions on their sleeves.

Whipping up communal passions at the slightest pretext and going out of their way like they did in Chhindwara when they targeted two South Africans, who it was later found out had pork and chicken in their vehicle, the saffron activists are redefining lawlessness in a state that is alleged to be going soft on them.

Bajrangis as they are identified in common parlance have always been a law unto themselves but a sudden surge in their activism has caught the administration on the wrong foot. Lending the saffron outfit a helping hand is its elder sibling the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which has wide network in the state.

The recent spurt in their activities began with the recovery of a large number of carcasses of cows outside Mandsar town a few days after Id-Ul-Zuha celebrated on January 1. The town observed a bandh to protest the alleged slaughter of cows followed by a series of bandh calls in nearby towns keeping the region on the edge for a long time.

Even before peace was restored, it was time for Muharram, yet another test for the administration. Hindu festivals coincided with Muharram and saw both communities out in large number leading to violence and imposition of curfew in Jabalpur, Indore and Biaora town of Rajgadh district.

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