Communal Violence in 2013

Irfan Engineer

(Secular Perspective January 1-15, 2014)

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and the Director of IB Syed Asif Ibrahim in the recent conference of DGPs of all states highlighted that some mechanism should be worked out for early warnings of communal riots and riots should be prevented before it occurs. Sadly, police have been ignoring early warnings, in fact writing on walls and do too little too late. The year 2013 was worse than 2012 from the standpoint of communal violence. According to the Home Ministry data released in the National Integration Council meeting, 107 people were killed in communal riots across the country, which includes 66 Muslims and 41 Hindus in 479 incidents of communal violence this year. Apart from those killed, 1,697 people including 794 Hindus, 703 Muslims and 200 policemen were injured. Bihar saw 40 communal disturbances, 25 incidents of tension-like situation and recorded nine deaths – five Hindus and four Muslims. Among the injured, 123 were Hindus, 66 Muslims and 19 police officials. After the Home Ministry data was released, The Inquilab daily reported another riot on 28-12-13 in Chikmaglur (Karnataka) in which 31 people were injured, including two police personnel.

Gujarat reported 6 deaths (3 Muslims and 3 Hindus.) 147 injured (85 Hindus, 57 Muslims and 5 policemen) in 64 incidents of communal violence this year (up from 5 deaths and 500 injured last year). Incidents wise, Gujarat is next only to UP, while number of people killed in communal violence in Bihar is higher than Gujarat.

UP recorded the highest casualties until October 2013 at 62 deaths, of which 42 victims were Muslims and 20 Hindus in 93 riots and 108 incidents of communal tension (TOI dtd. 14.12.13 reports 95 deaths in UP in 500 incidents). Communal conflict in Muzaffarnagar alone witnessed 53 deaths. A total of 219 Muslims and 134 Hindus were injured. According to Indian Express dtd 18-10-13, in Muzaffarnagar riots 62 people died – 46 Muslims and 16 Hindus.

In 2012, the country had witnessed 93 deaths – 48 Muslims, 44 Hindus and one police official – in 640 incidents of communal violence. 2,067 people were injured, including 1,010 Hindus, 787 Muslims, 222 police officials and 48 others. Though the number of communal incidents reduced from 640 in 2012 to 479, the number of deaths increased from 93 to 107. In the year 2012 also, UP had recorded the highest number of deaths (39) in 117 incidents of communal violence, in which 20 Hindus and 19 Muslims were killed. Among the injured, 266 were Hindus, 197 Muslims and 25 police officials. This shows that with fewer incidents, and less spread out riots, the rioters were more angry or better armed and organized, or both.

The other factor behind higher fatality of riots is the approaching Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and mobilization of voters along caste and communal lines. Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, got his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah appointed as in-charge of UP State. Amit Shah soon visited the site of demolished Babri Masjid and prayed for construction of Ramjanmabhoomi Temple – revisiting the communal agenda of construction of Ram temple with the intention of communal polarization ahead of general elections. The Sangh Parivar next tried to promote communal polarization by organizing chauryasi kosi parikrama of Ayodhya, something that is not even a tradition, and timing wise, the only justification would be forthcoming elections. For over a year, the Sangh Parivar stigmatized love between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl as “love jihad”. Unsubstantiated allegations of love jihad – a figment of imagination of course – is supposed to mean that every love of a Hindu girl by a Muslim boy is a conspiracy for which the Muslim boy receives a handsome amount and the Hindu girl suffers. The reverse – love between a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy – of course is not a conspiracy because Hindu boys are supposed to be only virtuous. Baseless and in fact obnoxious propaganda was carried out through leaflets. The written word in large sections of Indian society is unfortunately considered as proof. Muslims as a community therefore appear as bundle of evil lot, even when some of them are not terrorists.

Relentless campaign was carried on regarding “illegal immigration from Bangladesh” and practically the whole Bengali speaking Muslim community in Assam State, Delhi, Mumbai and other places was branded as illegal Bangladeshis. In addition to AASU, the Bodo leaders in Bodoland areas are also now accusing their neighbours since generations to be illegal Bangladeshis. Anti-cow slaughter campaigns have been used very effectively in Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and to some extent, in Maharashtra. Sangh Parivar linked vigilante having links with police personnel regularly stop cattle being transported and whenever either the driver or owner of the vehicle, or the owner of the cattle is a Muslim, then hefty bribes are asked for and on refusal, the cattle is ceased calling in the police, the Muslim owner or driver beaten up. Media contacts publicising the event as Muslims were illegally taking cows slaughter house. Regular news of Muslims illegally slaughtering cow, a religiously revered animal makes them object of hatred. These issues are in addition to traditional propaganda like “all terrorists are Muslims”, “Muslims are loyal to Pakistan”, “Muslim population is growing at an alarming rate due to polygamy and they would soon be a majority in the country” etc. This continuous propaganda and mobilization around the above issues contributed towards higher fatality during communal riots. The riots also appear to be better planned and rioters better armed as compared to 2012. The culpability of the Sangh Parivar is clear from the fact that in Bihar, there were 17 incidents of communal violence in 4 weeks after breakup of the alliance with the BJP and 24 incidents 6 weeks after the break up.

In the year 2013, the Sangh Parivar used both methods to polarize communally – shock and awe, as well as low intensity conflicts. The examples of shock and awe seem to Muzaffarnagar and Kishtwar where as the others, as we shall see below were low intensity, particularly in MP and Gujarat. In UP, students of Darul Uloom Deoband and Nadwatul Ulama were regularly attacked while travelling in train or outside their campus during the entire year with Urdu press carrying the reports, besides Indian Express dtd 9/9/2013. This year, restaurants became additional sites of conflict – in Dhule, Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and Nawada (Bihar). Social media was used ‘effectively’ in addition to rumours to mobilize the rioting mob on streets. Sangeet Som, BJP MLA was arrested and charged for circulating a fake MMS purportedly depicting Muslims beating up Sachin and Gaurav who later died. The video clip was actually pertaining to an incident in Pakistan. The video clip was widely circulated through WhatsApp and MMS. Without any doubt, the circulation of the video clip added towards large mobilization of Jats in their Mahapanchayat and the brutality that was witnessed during Muzaffarnagar riots, which included the brutal sexual assaults. A woman was dismembered into two and a ten year old’s head was smashed and 13 of the 53 bodies on which post mortem was carried on were beyond recognition. Maximum charred bodies came from Phugana (Sunday TOI dtd 15-9-13). After Gujarat in 2002, this appears to the first time when sexual assaults were used with brutality as a weapon.

Women’s organizations visiting Muzafffarnagar reported several incidents of rape, however, the women assaulted were not ready to complaint. A team with Farah Nazqvi and several other members that visited relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and other riot affected areas reported “The team heard accounts of sexual assault on women of varying degrees of brutality – from tearing clothes to rape and gang rape. We gathered first-person testimonies from two young women who spoke with great difficulty and trauma about gang rape being committed on them. Several girls spoke of their clothes being torn off. These were difficult testimonies to elicit, for the women were frightened and spoke about ‘their honour’ and ‘family honour’ and, at this stage, no one we met wants to go public or pursue a legal criminal case of sexual violence. We heard reports that many families had sent young girls who were assaulted away to relatives’ homes. They did not want them to be in the camp, or for the stories to spread. There is an urgent need for women’s rights activists to spend time in these camps and help create an environment of trust and security in which women may be able to speak freely and seek help, justice and restitution.”

The other very disturbing pattern was the spread of communal polarization to rural areas in Muzaffarnagar. The Jats and Muslims, largely from backward castes share the same culture and speak the same dialect. They shared strong bonds of harmony for ages and fought with unity against the Britishers right from the first war of Independence. The backward class Muslims in Western UP did not respond enthusiastically to the Pakistan movement. Sir Syed too was not enthusiastic to spread his Aligarh Movement for education of Muslims among this class of Muslims. The campaign on love jihad stigmatizing Muslims, and the bahu beti bachao (save daughter-in-law and daughter) campaign persuaded Jats, who maintain strict control over their women, to believe that their women are under threat from the predating Muslims. It is ironic that the khap panchayats (caste based organizations that strictly enforce marital relations) known for maintaining strict control over women in the family and resort to honour killing of their daughters should name their campaign as bahu beti bachao muhim. These campaigns, nevertheless, “succeeded” in creating anti-Muslim consciousness. Scores minor incidents and skirmishes took place between the Jats and Muslims over teasing women, a common incident in patriarchal and feudal society. The incidents in which Shahnawaz was killed by Sachin and Gaurav also emanated from the allegation of teasing their sister and then, Sachin and Gaurav were killed. This enabled the BJP to hijack the Jat Mahapanchayat which metamorphosed into Hindu Mahapanchayat. The spread of riots in 4 districts in rural areas is devastating new trend. The displaced Muslims are still not able to return to their villages.

Seven people were killed in police firing (7 in Dhule – all Muslims) and one died in Tonk (Rajasthan) due to injuries sustained when police in entered mosque and subjected namazis to baton charge.  Several policemen were also injured in line of their duty. The police were able to contain and prevent only a few riots while they were either mute spectators or participants in the rest. In Dhule and Tonk, the casualties were solely due to police rather than rioters and victims of police brutality in both the cases were Muslims.

The theatre of communal violence was in Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, J&K, Karnataka and Assam i.e. mainly West and North.

Statewise break up of some incidents of communal violence:

Maharashtra:

In Maharashtra, 11 people were killed and 271 injured in 64 incidents of communal violence until October this year. Seven of the 11 killed were from the minority community. Of the injured, 101 were Hindus, 106 Muslims and 64 police officials (figures given by the Central Govt. during the National Integration Council meeting).

The communal violence in 2013 started with Dhule in Maharashtra. On 6^th January 2013, a Muslim auto driver had an argument with Kishore Wagh, owner of a restaurant in Madhavpur near Machchi bazaar in the heart of Dhule over nonpayment of a Rs 30 bill. Wagh hit the driver on his face with a ladle. Bleeding profusely, auto driver went to the police chowki, a 100 yards away, but they turn him away. The driver returned with a dozen or so youth, only to find that the crowd near the restaurant had also swelled. Stone pelting began from both sides. The police chowki, like a kiosk, was in the middle. The constables ran away. The Muslim mob pulled out the furniture and papers from the chowki, made a pile on the road and set fire to it. Police arrived and their fire was directed only on the Muslims. Six Muslims were shot dead and more than 229 people, including 113 policemen, were injured. Four of them, including a minor, were shot in the back, while one received a bullet in his neck. Muslim houses and shops, within a stone’s throw from the police formation, were looted and gutted almost under police supervision.

A Maharashtra Police report on the January 6 Dhule riots in the state indicted cops of firing “in excess” and without following the procedures. Six policemen were arrested on February 8 and two have been suspended based on the report, which states that the suspended policemen looted and vandalised property in the area.

On 5^th February 2013 at 5.30 pm there was tension following communal clashes in Lonar town in Buldhana district. The District is known for its hot water spring in. One person from Majority community died while being treated in hospital.  Spread of riots was prevented by combing operations and increasing police reinforcements. Five people were arrested (Sahafat Daily, dtd. 7/2/ 2013).

On 13-6-2013, curfew was imposed in Saudagaon (Raver Tehsil, Jalgaon Dist.) following clashes between two communities during which shops and vehicles were scorched. 7 persons were injured in the clashes. A small dispute in a hotel turned into heated arguments and soon members of the two groups pulled out sharp weapons and resorted to stoning each other. Police arrested 20 people. (Sahafat, 14-6-2013 )

On 18/8/13 there were communal clashes in Mumbai over collection of donation for Ganeshotsav in Agripada area. Shiv Sainiks insisted on contribution of a certain amount for the festival from a Muslim vendor who expressed his inability due to poor business. This led to clashes. Two policemen were injured while trying to control the situation.

Rajasthan:

Communal riots broke out in Sawa village, a Muslim majority village in Chittorgarh, on 28/6/2013 following a road accident in which one person was crushed to death by a dumper. Large crowd gathered after the incident and burnt the dumper and demanded compensation. There are many China clay mines in the region and their dumpers ply regularly through Sawa village on its way to Gujarat. The rash driving by dumper drivers led to pent up anger among the residents. The mine owners mobilized their forces and burnt shops in the village. 22 persons from minority community, including sarpanch of the village and 12 persons from majority community were arrested. One person was injured in police firing.

 On 11 July 2013 when Muslims of Tonk City were offering Maghrib Salat (Prayer after sunset) at the Chhawni Jama Masjid, a Baraat procession came from the nearby ‘Keer’ Hindu locality playing D.J. in loud voice and stayed a bit longer in front of the mosque. Some people requested the Keers not to play the D.J. in front of the mosque. A heated argument took place which soon turned into conflict and then stone pelting from both sides began. The police came and controlled the situation.

On 12 July 2013, as the Muslims gathered at the Chhawni Jama Masjid in order to offer special Friday (Juma’) prayers, huge Police force was deployed along with RAC and STF personnel. The Juma’ prayers went peacefully and people came out of the mosque. According to the eye witnesses, all was peaceful and under control and the people were heading towards their homes. All of a sudden, allegedly without any provocation, about 150 policemen (including RAC and STF) stormed into the mosque breaking the back door of the adjacent Madrasa and instantaneously fired a number of teargas shells straight on the people offering Namaz in the mosque.

One of the shells hit a youth Nasir in his face, who died on the spot and another injured critically. Then the police resorted to ‘lathi charge’ and started beating everyone irrespective of their age. Even a Muslim police officer, who was praying at the mosque, was also thrashed by the STF. Even the Imam of the Jama’ Masjid was not spared. About 80 people were injured and two died. The person died other than Nasir could not be recognized, as the police took him away in very serious condition and he didn’t belong to Tonk.

In the previous article, we examined the trends in riots and the all India statistics of communal riots provided by the Union Govt. We also described some of the communal riots in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In this article, we now propose to describe some riots in J&K, UP, MP, Bihar, Karnataka and Assam.

Kishtwar, J&K

On 9^th August after the Eid-ul Fitr prayers, there was sudden stone pelting. There are two versions of the incident. After the Eid prayers, the dispersing gathering was greeted with provocative posters depicting hanging of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt. The other version says that the dispersing mob was shouting anti-India slogans, which infuriated the sentiments leading to stone pelting. The latter version seems hardly credible as Muslims in Jammu hardly identify with Kashmir nationalists for self-determination. 3 persons died during the riots and 80 were injured in Hidyal village. Among the dead was Arvind Kumar Bhagat (23 yrs) who succumbed to bullet injuries – Hindus claim in private firing while Muslims claim it be from police firing. Bashar Ahmad Mochi was beaten by a mob and later burnt alive. Curfew was imposed in 8 districts of Jammu region. Kishtwar has a delicate demography with Hindus constituting 45% and Muslims 55% and known for its saffire mines and saffron. Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kitchloo, who hails from the district alleged that preparations for riots were being done at least since a month and armed mob was planning to attack minorities. Home Minister P. Chidambaram made a statement in Parliament blaming Bajrang Dal for stoking communal fire. The role of Village Defence Committee members who have been provided with fire arms was also brought into sharp focus during the riots. Most of the VDC members are Hindus.

At the centre of the Kishtwar communal clashes is vote-bank rather than separatist politics, a sustained effort at polarisation that explains how a small fight escalated into a frenzy so suddenly. The BJP tried to politicize the unfortunate incident by sending Arun Jaitley to the spot and chose this incident from among hundreds in Jammu and Kashmir where people have been killed and properties destroyed. The only time when BJP sought to increase the compensation amount paid to riot victims was for the Kishtwar riot victims. Kishtwar was known for cordial relations between the two communities. Two agitations had strengthened the bond – a joint struggle for carving out a separate district for Kishtwar, and one for a separate degree college.

Before the militancy years, the BJP polled a mere 1,066 votes in 1983, and 3,309 in 1987 against Bashir Kitchloo’s 18,044. In 1996, when the BJP made militancy a poll issue, its candidate came second with 10,900 votes to the senior Kitchloo’s 17,889. But in the last election, in 2008, the BJP’s Sunil Kumar (16,783 votes) ran Kitchloo (19,248) close, while the PDP, contesting for the first time, polled 10,403 votes to be number three. The BJP had managed to consolidate the Hindu vote and Kitchloo would have lost but for the SC votes. Sunil Kumar, incidentally, had been working with security agencies in counter-militancy for almost 10 years before joining politics.

UP

On 12-7-13 the Saffron Brigade objected to Namaz being performed on streets in Meerut during the month of Ramzan. There was tension between both the communities, however, police force was deployed and escalation of the tension into violence was prevented.

On 26/7/13, 1 died and a dozen were injured in Nanglamal village near Meerut in communal violence. The conflict was over use of loudspeaker outside a temple situated near a mosque. However, elders from both the community intervened and sorted out the matter amicably. An Iftaar party was going on when some persons under the influence of liquor started abusing and this escalated into violent clash. During the clashes, bullets were fired and the police had to resort to baton charge. One Sunil died of bullet injury and Shahid was hospitalized. The Muslim residents of the village accused that the police entered their houses and destroyed the furniture and belongings and beat up people (Sunday Express 28/7/13).

On 16/8/13, 2 people, including one woman was injured in stone pelting involving both the communities. The fight was over approach way to Kabristan land in Modi Mira village in Meerut Dist (Sahafat 18/8/`3).

Majority of incidents in UP took place on September 7 and 8. Total 128 incidents of communal violence took place between 27^th August and 16^th September. 50,000 people were displaced and staying in appalling conditions in Muzaffarnagar. The state govt. did little to provided for relief camps, even though paying lip services. At least 40 kids died in the relief camps for lack of medical facilities, facing severe winter in tents without adequate number of blankets (Indian Express dtd. 3/12/13). Till 6^th October, 46 Muslims and 16 Hindus were killed. 57 Muslims  and 11 Hindus were injured in the Muzaffarnagar Riots. according to the official figures (Indian Express 18/10/13). Till October 13, 352 FIRs have been registered and 1,068 persons booked for incidents in 5 districts – Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Meerut, Baghpat and Saharanpur. 243 persons have been arrested, majority being from Hindu community. 17,000 persons are still living in Relief camps. The BJP MLA from Saradha, Meerut – Sangeet Som was booked under the National Security Act, but soon released by the Advisory Board as the case was not made full proof either by collusion or due to negligence. BJP later publicly felicitated the MLAs and other accused from their party after their release on bail encouraging the riot leaders.

The role of police in the Muzaffarnagar riots was one of gross negligence of their duty. Political interference in policing made the situation worst. The Director General of Police admitted to inefficiency of the police force (TOI dtd. 25/9/13). The police could have intervened when campaign against “love jihad” was ongoing to stigmatize the Muslim community. Small incidents were used to create anti-Muslim consciousness. They didn’t. Police arrested several Muslims for murder of Sachin and Gaurav. However, sting operations revealed that the accused were released by the police on the Azam Khan’s intervention. Then in violation of orders prohibiting assembly, Muslim community was mobilized in which MPs from BSP as well as SP were present and the SP himself received the memorandum from the leaders of unlawful assembly. BJP then found it convenient to mobilize Jats calling for a mahapanchayat. The Jats gathered in thousands with arms and some even kidnapped Muslims along the way. The armed participants passed through the police posts and pickets and nobody stopped them, even though the mahapanchayat there were prohibitory orders banning assembly. No attempt was made to enforce the ban, even though the anger of the crowd assembling with arms was not hidden from anybody. Provocative speeches were made and then riots started with the mob attacking Muslim villages as they were returning. Police miserably failed in reaching the trouble spots to control the riots, except in few cases.

Muslim miscreants waylaid a tractor of Jats returning to their village into nearby cane fields and killed them. In other villages where Muslims were in majority, Hindus were attacked. Sarpanch of Kharad village saved lives of 150 Muslims by giving protection to them in his house.

Some riot survivors were offered compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs if they submitted an affidavit to the effect that they would not return to their villages and the state government issued a notification to that effect. Such a notification was hitherto unheard of, and is unsustainable Constitutionally. Article 19 gives right to settle anywhere and the executive does not have a right to “purchase” from the citizen their right to settle in their villages. The Government finished the unfinished task of the rioters of throwing them out of the villages by ensuring through affidavit that they did not want to return. If anybody wanted proof of collusion between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party, here it was.

The Samajwadi Party seems to be in collusion with the BJP as both the parties calculated their gains in Western UP. However, for the Samajwadi Party, the violence escalated beyond its calculation and now more likely to harm their interests as Muslims are already moving away from the Samajwadi Party. Western UP and particularly the affected districts is stronghold of Rashtriya Lok Dal headed by Ajit Singh. Charan Singh consolidated Jat Muslim votes and created a strong base for his party. Communal polarization would weaken Ajit Singh’s Party as Jat votes would be chipped away by BJP and by providing some compensation, Samajwadi Party hoped to strengthen its Muslim base. Such cool calculations over human tragedy seems to be unfortunate but a reality. When the SP could prevent 84 kosi parikrama, they definitely could have prevented the Jat mahapanchayat too! Not doing so was criminal collusion on part of the SP and it must take primary blame for the Muzaffarnagar riots along with the BJP.

MP

On 20/8/13, 45, including 30 policemen were injured in communal violence in stone pelting incident in Chandan Nagar Thana in Indore. Fight began over the result of a cricket match and carcass of an animal found near a temple, which turned into a slogan shouting by Sangh Parivar connected people. Shops were damaged and 100 vehicles were set to fire and two policemen were critically injured.

On 19/9/13, Communal violence started in Chhipabad of Harda district caused huge losses to several residential properties and injuring 22 people, but the major impact seems to be on the psyche of the victims, especially women and children. Miscreants from Bajrang Dal destroyed even foodgrains inside the homes of Muslims. Several homes were torched using petrol from a nearby pump. 60-70 children stopped going to school and caused psychological problems to a person. A mob had entered school asking children of Muslim community be handed over to them. The authorities had locked these students up safely and told the mob that they had returned home. A fact-finding team led by L S Herdenia demanded immediate arrest of Surendra Rajpurohit alias Tiger, who allegedly was the main inciter of the violence and investigation into the role of the son of a local BJP MLA and to book all those guilty. The violence occurred over a Muslim hitting a cow and the rumours of death of the cow spread like wild fire with active participation of Saffron Brigade. Police were mute spectators to the entire incident. It is ironic that human beings think they should violently attack others in retaliation for death of a cow!

Bihar

On 9^th August, a Nagpanchami procession in Bettiah turned violent. There was stone pelting and vehicles of Dist. Magistrate and the SP were burnt. Curfew was imposed. The precession had political sub-text and provocative political slogans were being shouted against political leaders like the Bihar Chief Minister, the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. This is aftermath of separation of JD(U) from the NDA. Lathi wielding men of Mahabir Akahada were leading the procession of tractors and carrying political placards (The Hindu, 15/8/13).

Nawada witnessed bloody violence for over 48 hours between groups of two communities leading to death of two persons. The communal clashes started here on August 10, a day after Eid, when some Muslim youths objected to the presence of burqa-clad Muslim girls at Baba ka Dhaba, owned by a Hindu, on the outskirts of the Nawada town. The youths attacked the dhaba and damaged the furniture. Some of the youths were captured by the people of the majority community who had gathered there by then. Then a bigger group of minority people reached the dhaba to secure release of the captured youths, and this resulted into clashes and arson at large scale. A big mob of the majority community, armed with firearms, came up from the Bundelkhand locality and attacked on Moghlakhar locality dominated by the minority community. In fierce stone pelting on either side several people were wounded. During the clashes, gunshots were fired from the majority community resulting in the death of one Md. Iqbal. The clashes and gunfire happened in the presence of the police and the site of the violence was at stone’s throw from the police station. Soon after the incident, the district administration clamped curfew in areas that fall under police stations of Nawada town, Mufassil and Sadar. Five were injured during the riots.

Locals said the curfew has virtually imprisoned the minority areas and taking benefit of that, shops of minority community were looted and burnt in majority areas. Several shops of Muslims were burned down and when the police were trying to control the rampaging mob, one majority youth tried to snatch the gun of a policeman, forcing the police to open fire leading to death of the youth from the majority community. Nawada riots were the sixth communal riot in Bihar since chief minister Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP in July.

Karnataka

31 people, including two police personnel were injured in communal violence in Chikmaglur on Saturday, 28^th December 2013, reports The Inquilab daily dated 1-1-14. (The Inquilab, 2014). The police personnel were very brutal with the minorities. Severed head of an animal was found by outside a place of worship on Mahatma Gandhi Road. Scores of people came onto the streets in protest and police resorted to baton charge. 61 year old Sahab Jaan, a resident of Tipunagar was dragged on the road and badly beaten by police even as he was removing the animal carcass and washed the spot with water. 20 year old Sheikh Badhan’s ear drums were damaged by the police. Ajaz Ahmed (38 years) was going to work when he was surrounded by police personnel and beaten up with batons even though he was innocent. Ahmed is sole bread winner for the family and won’t be able to work now.

Assam

On 25^th August, meat was discovered near 3 temple areas which sparked off communal violence in Rangpur (Cachar Dist.). 7 policemen were injured and army had to be deployed. The Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi blamed the VHP and the BJP for the riots in which several shops and vehicles were burnt.

Conclusion:

Slightest of provocation like a Muslim beating a cow, meat discovered near temples/mosques, teasing of women belonging to another community, inter communal marriages / love affairs, political processions in religious garb, use of loud speakers, dispute over restaurant bills etc. are used as provocations to spark off riots. Police inaction and often collusion encourages the rioters and anti-social elements and help them acquire religio-political clout making them powerful politicians. While these issues need to be handles sensitively, the real challenge is in de-constructing communal identities in a way that help realize the diversity that exists within each community and which contributes to enjoyment of our wonderful lives and adds to better understanding of our worlds. The prejudices against the other are the bonds that cement an imagined community and these need to be replaced with bonds of humanity, love, justice and compassion for all. But for that to happen, we need a law that makes state accountable for its acts and omissions and failures in controlling violence. A legislation that provides for effective procedures to punish the guilty and provide entitlements to survivors of communal violence for adequate standards of relief, rehabilitation and reparations.