By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Apparently it started spontaneously but the way a particular community incurred losses of human life and properties shows it was organized and planned, Mohammad Ahmad, secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said on Tuesday after returning from riot-affected Kosi Kalan town of Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh.
Ahmed led a fact-finding team of JIH to Kosi Kalan on Monday. The team met affected people and inspected the shops and houses looted and burnt by rioters on Friday following a minor scuffle. The JIH delegation had informed DM and SP through fax and email about their visit.
“A Hindu boy had allegedly used urinal nearby and put his hand in the water pot kept outside the mosque for sharbat for namazis after Friday prayer. Some Muslims got angry and allegedly the boy was slapped. He returned home and informed his community. The Jats took the slap as attack on their prestige as the local Muslims are very poor and weak. They came in hordes and started attacking Muslims, their houses and shops,” Ahmed told TCN over phone.
The JIH team reached the village at 8 am, there was curfew, yet they met responsible persons of the community and inspected burnt shops and houses, they also met family members of the deceased. According to the local, this was an organized and planned riot and that is why one particular community has incurred losses, Muslim properties were singled out.
Since Friday prayer till 10 pm, rioters had free run, they were supported by people in huge numbers from neighboring villages. Affected people told the team about ex MLA of BSP and alleged he was leading the rioters.
Affected people have named some accused in their complaint, they even named those who fired at the Muslims and burnt their houses and shops. However, no arrest has been made so far.
It is said Kosi Kalan has one lakh population, Muslims are just 12%, majority of them are very poor and illiterate. They are vendors or sell animals for livelihood.
A statement from JIH fact-finding team says five Muslims were killed in the riot – two were first shot at, then their hands and legs were cut and burnt alive, one boy was shot to death while two bodies are yet to be identified.
While state government of Akhilesh Yadav has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each deceased and Rs 50 thousand for each injured, the compensation amount has not yet reached the victims, they villagers told the team.
JIH has constituted a local team to conduct thorough survey of losses, as the curfew was in place, the team was not allowed to enter the village. For initial aid, JIH has provided Rs 45 thousand to its local office bearer, it has also announced to give all legal help to the victims.
The JIH delegation also met newly appointed DM and SP. They assured the team of action as soon as the FIR is filed.
Other members of the delegation were SQR Ilyas, General Secretary, Welfare Party of India, Mohammad Shafi Madani, secretary, social welfare, JIH, Inamur Rahman, public relations, JIH.