By TCN News,
New Delhi: In February this year, communal clashes erupted in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh when a procession of Barawafat (Eid Miladun Nabi) was passing through. Rather than controlling the clashes the security forces and infamous PAC leashed a reign of terror on local Muslims – they were beaten, their homes looted and hundreds of them were made named accused for the rioting.
Eminent human rights group Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) sent a fact-finding team to the village and the team has come out with the stories of shameful khaki terror and brutality.
Following is the gist of the report of the PVCHR fact-finding team:
Case Details
On 16 February, 2011, an incident of communal violence took place at the Sahaspur village in Moradabad district. Following this unfortunate incident, Uttar Pradesh state police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) committed brutal repression of the persons belonging to the Muslim minority in the village.
The Sahaspur village under Bilari police station is at a distance of 27 Km from Moradabad city. This village has a total population of almost 15000 people — majority Hindu community is almost 8000 and the population of Muslim community is 7000. Until 16 February, 2011, the Sahaspur village was well known for its religious tolerance and communal harmony. The most popular Hindu festivals, Holi and Dashahara, are celebrated more by the Muslims than that of the Hindus in this village.
It is informed that the last time in 2010 the path which was being traditionally used for the procession at the occasion of Barawafat was found to be damaged and at that time it had been suggested by the Hindus themselves to take out the procession through another path. But this time on 16 February, 2011, at the occasion of Barawafat, as the procession advanced on the new path, as had been suggested by the Hindus in 2010, the village head Mr. Kishan Singh Jatav, accompanied by others youth, mostly associated with Hindu Jatava community, refused to let the procession pass through the new path and asked the processionists to go back.
Local Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who was at the spot and escorting the procession, at first tried to talk with the Hindus and convince them to let the procession pass through the new path. But it is alleged that at the same time SDM received a telephone call on his mobile and after that he ordered to get the procession back, as to walk through the traditional path. This gave rise to resentment among Muslims youth and they wanted from the SDM to let the procession pass through the same path. Meantime, allegedly, stone pelting started on the procession from the roofs of the Hindu Jatavas’ community. Responding to this sudden attack on the procession, Muslims youth also started stone pelting on the Jatavas. Police resorted to Lathi charge and people began to run away to save themselves and it caused stampede at the spot. A 12-year-old Muslim boy named Shahibe Ali son of Mr. Abdul Haque got seriously injured and taken to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries next day.
It is alleged that soon after the incident the forces of Rapid Action Force and P.A.C. were called on and they exploded tear gas, broke off the doors and entered the houses of Muslims and beat indiscriminately women, children and old aged persons. It is alleged that on the one hand Jatavas were looting but on the other hand police were busy in beating. Mohd Hafiz, a victim of the incident, told that police were beating the women and children and arresting the young and old aged persons.
It is informed that an FIR, against the 27 persons by name and hundreds other unknown persons belonging to Muslim minority, was lodged at the Bilari police station. The whole population of the Muslim community was living under extremely frightening situation in the village. Many others have left the village.
Additional Information
According to the fact finding report submitted by the team of human rights activists, the local administration had already been informed of the possible dispute, regarding the path of the procession of the Barawafat that might take place during the procession. But, as alleged by the rights groups, no precautionary action, on the part of the administration, was taken to avoid the dispute by ensuring safe path to the procession. It is informed that even the local administration had failed to stop the police atrocities, colluding with the Hindu Jatav’s community, on the Muslims of Sahaspur village.
It is noteworthy that hundreds of Muslims have been implicated in serious criminal cases following the incident of communal dispute at Sahaspur village but no person from Hindu majority community has been implicated in a criminal case for inciting communal violence and committing atrocities against the persons and families belonging to Muslim minority. But according to the report of the fact finding team, doors of the Muslim houses were found broken, damaged looms, burning of factory of Muslim weavers and serious injuries to many of them.
Ii is ironic that media have also played very prejudiced role and never seem to be interested in to bring forth the atrocities committed by police on the Muslim community. Till the date local or national media have shown no inclination to study the horror and sufferings through which the Muslim community is going through at the Sahaspur village and to make it public.
Though the Moradabad district is listed as a Minority Concentrated Districts and Prime Minister’s 15 point programme for welfare of Minorities is in effect in this district but National Minority Commission has taken no action against the atrocities committed against the Muslim community at Sahaspur village in Moradabad district.
Slideshow:
Details of victims
Shahibe ali s/o abdul haq, age-12 resident of sahaspur, Thana –Bilari,Muradabad
Taufik alam s/o Abdul Jabbar, age-16, resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Isarar Husain s/o Abdul Jabbar, age-28, resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Moh. Hanif s/o Moh. Yamin, age-45 resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Irfan s/o Ansari, age-20 resident of Imli muhalla, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Moh. Hayat s/o Moh. Yamin, age-36 resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Babban s/o Moh. Malik,age-42 resident of Imli muhalla, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Moh. Taufik s/o Abdul Jabbar,age-18 resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Ikram Husain s/o Abdul Jabbar,age-20 resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Moh. Naseem s/o Moh. Farukh,age-25 resident of Imli muhalla, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Mushahid Akhatar s/o Shahid Husain,age -23, resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Yameen s/o Saed Ahamad,age-25 resident of Imli muhalla, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Ikarar s/o israr,age-30 resident of Imli muhalla, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Nanhe s/o rustam ali,resident of Chakkar ki milak,Thana-Sivil Line,Muradabad
Dr. Shakil s/o Kabir ,age-42 resident of Nayi Basti, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Wahadi s/o Badalu ,age-65 resident of Nayi Basti, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Suleman s/o Raesh resident of Nayi Basti, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Raesh s/o Khalil resident of Nayi Basti, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari,Muradabad
Irfhan s/o Wahadi resident of Nayi Basti, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari,Muradabad
Ikram s/o Moh.Ahasahan, age-30 Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Moh. Hashim s/o Jaid,age-18 resident of Bari Masjid, sahaspur,Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Nurmuhammad s/o Moh. Yakub,age-25 resident of Bari Masjid, sahaspur,Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Gulam Muhammad s/o Moh. Yakub,age-23 resident of Bari Masjid, sahaspur,Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Khalil ahamad s/o Abdul gafur resident of Rahamat Nagar, thana – Kataghar, Muradabad
Jakir Husain s/o Shaukat Husain age-25 resident of Bari Masjid, sahaspur,Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Idrish s/o Ehashan ,age-22 resident of Lal Masjid, sahaspur, Thana-Bilari, Muradabad
Dr.Mahamud Husain s/o Sadik ahamad,age-25 resident of Nurutala,thana-Kunduruki, Muradabad
Aasif s/o jashar resident of Muhalla –Ibrahimpur, thana –Bilari, Muradabad
The complete report of the fact-finding team is in Hindi and is available at:
http://muslim-minority.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post.html
About PVCHR
PVCHR is a human rights organization operating from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is an organization of good reputation and has several nationally and internationally known human rights activists associated with its daily work. Since inception, PVCHR has been actively engaged in reporting and intervening in human rights cases, particularly concerning the violence committed by the law enforcement agencies in Uttar Pradesh. The PVCHR has reported through its Urgent Appeals Programme many cases of rights violation. Most of these cases have exposed atrocities committed by the Uttar Pradesh state police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).