A study on the forced displacement of Muslims in Gujarat
By Nikhat for TwoCircles.net,
When one sees minorities in Gujarat, in particular Muslims, from a close angle, the Gujarat Genocide 2002, which left hundreds dead, injured and lakhs displaced, would just seem a tip of an iceberg as their alienation and ghettoisation has become a phenomenon. Gujarat has seen worst of the politics of communal polarization and violence.
After 2002 pogrom, social and economic boycotts and forced displacement of Muslims have been used as a very strong tool to subjugate the community. More than 5000 families have never returned to their village or home and have become ‘displaced’ in their own motherland.
A few case studies of forced displacement and social and economic boycott of Muslims in Gujarat would help in understanding this phenomenon and help articulating discrimination and alienation of Muslims in Gujarat in particular and India in general.
Case Study 1: Muslim families forced out of village
Kharvada, a heterogeneous village of Visnagar block, located at a distance of just 10 km from the district centre of Mehsana, once recognized as a symbol of communal harmony and peace in the entire locality, as it was one of the few villages, where Muslims were saved by the Hindus during 2002 riots and also because, an old Muslim resident of this village Rahimbhai Rasulbhai Momin, popularly known as Chacha in the locality, was a recipient of President’s Awards- 2007 for communal harmony but on the sad eve of Independence Day of this year, it had turned dictatorial and communally aggressive against Muslims on the pretext of a simple demand of land for graveyard raised in the Gram Sabha. Only 21 families of Momin Shia Muslims live in the village and are carpenters, small farmers and agriculture laborers by profession.
Just to recall that earlier, they used to go to a village called Parsa, for their last rituals as there was no graveyard in their village and Parsa was the only nearest graveyard, but recently, they were denied entry in the same graveyard due to overcrowding. It was a difficult situation for Muslims of this village. To meet this end, a representation was made by Muslims of this village to Anandiben, State Minister of Land Records and Revenue on June 06 of 2009, in a Lok Darbar organized at Visnagar Executive Magistrate’s Office, where the minister had promised fulfillment of their demand in presence of the District Collector. The matter was then transferred to the Home Secretary, who later referred the same to the District Collector, Mehsana namely, Ajay Bhadu. Ajay Bhadu referred it to Madhubhai Jesambhai Chaudhary, the Sarpanch of village Panchayat.
When the same demand was made before the Gram Sabha, as opined by the Sarpanch, on August 15, 2009, three persons belonging to Chaudhary caste, namely, Pathu Lawji Chaudhary, Pratap Ramji Fala Chaudhary and Devraj Ramji Harshankar Chaudhary, violently objected to their demand and threatened them of life and abused them in the filthiest language. As told by the victims, Pathu Lawji Chaudhary, who is accused in a murder case, called everyone to boycott all Muslims and said publicly in the Gram Sabha that “ yeh sale mian abhi zameen mang rahe hain age pata nahi kya kya mangne wale hain”, (These rascal Muslims are now demanding only land and no one knows what would they demand in future), he went on saying that “yeh jab yahan rehne aye the to do the ab to Babal ke jaise badh rahe hain, inko ukhar ke phekna hoga”. (They were only two families when they came here but now they have outgrown like acacia, they must be uprooted). He insulted all Muslims present in the Gram Sabha before the Sarpanch, Panchayat Secretary and others.
All of the three with the support and backing of other Chaudharies have threatened Muslims to leave the village otherwise they kill and burn them all and their houses to the ash. Realizing the imminent danger to their safety at the Gram Sabha, Muslims have to leave the place.
It is worth mentioning here that, the village is politically, socially and economically dominated by 150 families of Chaudharies and 400 Darbars families, which enjoys political patronage and protection of local BJP, VHP and Bajrangdal leaders. The Sarpanch of the village Panchayat is also a Chaudhary has Affiliation from the ruling party that is BJP and also both MLA of Visnagar and MP from Mehsana Constituency are from the ruling BJP.
From the next morning onwards, Muslims have been boycotted by Chaudharies and several restrictions were imposed on their movement and socio-religious conduct, they were dictated not to offer namaz, wear topis (caps) and run madrasa in the village. They were also not allowed to buy articles from the shops, to go to the village Atta Chakki (Flour Mill) and to travel on the village passenger vehicles.
On 17th, Muslim children were also threatened in the village primary school by Chaudhary kids and told to leave the village otherwise all Muslims including children and women would be killed by them, which frightened everyone of the community.
And on August 24’ 2009, more than 100 people from 21 Muslim families have migrated the neighboring village, namely, Vadnagar under constant duress and socio-economic boycott called by the Chaudharies and staying in a Madrasa. The daily needs including food etc. are being taken care of by the Muslims of this village.
Next morning, on 25th, they made a representation to the District Collector of Mehsana, Director General of Police, Superintendent of Police and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for safety to their life and property. Further, on 28th, representation was also made to the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil to intervene in the matter.
In the wake of lukewarm approach of the police and district administration, they are not willing to return back to their native village. Even the FIR was lodged after 18 days on 2nd of September but no arrests have been made by the Police yet. So far, no arrangements were made by the District Administration and the Police to provide security to these displaced Muslims, to provide relief including cash dole, tents etc. at the site of migration and to make suitable arrangements for their return to their village.
In nutshell, it seems that these Muslims were as such abandoned by the government. Till date they are not being able to return back to their native village.
Case Study 2: 130 families forced out of Nandenpada village
Nandenpada is situated 15 km near Maharashtra border and is the only village of Dangs-Gujarat, where Muslims are living. The village has around 130 Muslim families. Almost a century ago, these families have migrated from Surat as salt sellers. They are engaged in cattle rearing. They are being regularly harassed by local police and forced to pay a regular hafta (weekly extortion money). It was the holy month of ramzan 2008, the PSI called AP Borse of Ahwa Police Station started coercing them to pay extra hafta but the Muslims of Nandenpada requested him that they would not be able to pay extra hafta in the month ramzan and pleaded not to ask for more till ramzan.
Due to this, the Ahwa Police has increased the vigil and on one night a truck coming from Maharashtra was raided and drivers and the merchant were held in police custody on the pretext of carrying cows. The Police then called Community leaders of Nandenpada to the Police Station. Around 25 persons from Nandenpada reached police station on a tempo. Seeing them coming to the Police Station, the PSI AP Borse ordered firing without any reason and warning. In the response, they also started stone pelting. During firing, two persons of Nandenpada village have sustained serious bullet injuries and the PSI and one Constable were also got injured.
Important to note that the Muslims who sustained serious bullet injuries were sent to Ahwa hospital, which has very poor infrastructure but on the other hand the PSI and Constable were sent to Surat Hospital. On next morning, Superintendent of Police, Surat along with Navsari Police with the help of Adivasi Sarpanch and local right wing leaders, attacked the village and ransacked houses, beaten them both Muslim men and women badly. Women police were also there, who were beating and abusing women. Also, they destroyed food grains, kerosene and other household items. During this attack by police, many men and women sustained serious injury. After the attack by Police, the inhabitants of neighborhood with the right wing leaders further ransacked the houses and looted the valuables. Then on account of fear and threat of from the tribes and police, many of the Muslim families have fled to the woods and some of them to Maharashtra. They kept fleeing from one place to other place in the forest for more than 30 days.
The police has registered cases against Muslims and arrested 14 Muslims including 2 women. No cases have been registered against the police and right wing leaders for attacking Muslims of Nandenpada.
On a close scrutiny, it is revealed that there was a long dispute between Adivasi and Muslims on account of forest land. And according to the new law, these Muslims are entitled to forest land but the local right wing leaders do not want Muslims to live there. And there’s started the police torture, extortion and violence.
Case Study 3: 20 families forced out of their native village of Gajapura
It was village Gajapura, which proved the human concerns at the time of one of the most terrible riots of the history i.e. Gujarat Genocide-2002. It was one of such villages of Halol-Panchmahal, where Hindu neighbors have saved life of many Muslims. After riots, 20 families have left Gajapura on account of fear but the Hindu Sarpanch and others helped 4 families for their return to the village. But something went wrong on the eve of 2008 Holi, when the same Hindus, who saved lives of many Muslims during 2002 riots, turned riotous.
The riot began on a small pretext that one Zakirbhai abused Indrajeet Ahir, Sarpanch. Initially, only 3-4 Hindus came to Muslims to threaten and demanded Zakirbhai to teach him task. They caught Zakir and slapped her heavily, but somehow he managed an escape. But soon, A mob of around 50-60 Hindus headed by local right wing leader Arjunbhai Bhupatbhai Parmar, gathered near the Muslim locality of the village and started stone pelting and abusing. The mob was raising slogans like “mian logon ko mar dalo, inko zinda nahi rahne dena”. Terrorized by stone pelting and slogan shouting, Muslim families started closing their doors but the rioters aggressively started beating Zakir’s cousin Shahrukh and his other family members. The mob beat him till he fell faint on the ground. In this attack, he got serious injuries and his both hands got broken. The mob had also beaten other Muslim men and women with sticks, rods and sharp weapon like dharia. The rioters ransacked houses of Muslims and the loot and stone pelting continued till the arrival of Police from Rameshra out Police Station arrived within an hour and got hold of the situation but no arrests were made that night. Also, FIR was lodged in next day morning. Sarpanch and his accomplice were arrested but released soon after.
Shahrukh remained admitted in the Halol Referral Hospital for more than 15 days but the remaining injured persons have not been given the first aid. Some of them have got serious head injuries.
Police registered FIR of simple injury and rioting but did not mention looting, grievous injury and carrying weapon initially, but after intervention of an NGO called Janadhikar, the Sections relating loot, grievous injury and carrying weapons were included.
Still, Muslims of Gajapura are living under constant threat of forced expulsion and boycott. The Sarpanch threatens them to leave village other ise their women would not be left safe. The Muslims have to purchase everything from the Rameshra Market. Now, the Sarpanch discriminates Muslims for scheme and facilities of village Panchayat.
Before this incident, both communities have lived in amity and co-operation but now there is no communication and exchange between both communities.
Case Study 4: 26 Muslim families forced out of Mangrol and Kamrej talukas
On September 18 and 19, 2007, a number of houses and shops of Muslims were looted and put on fire in Velacha, Navagam, Kamrej and Kim Char Rasta of Mangrol and Kamrej Taluka of Surat district. On 18, at around 7:30 pm, a mob of Hindus attacked houses of Muslims in Velacha. They attacked houses, looted, damaged and burnt 22 houses belonging to Muslims in from of the Police. Police instead of protecting them from the rioters threatened them and told them to leave the village to save their lives otherwise no one will save them. There was no effort from Police to stop the mob from rioting and looting.
Due to threat and danger to their life, all Muslim families of the village have to fled and stay in the forest. 26 families and around 110 persons saved their lives by hiding in the forest for the whole night without food and water. The next morning, on 19, they manage to reach a neighboring Muslim village called Hathoda and took shelter in the Madarsa, where community had made arrangement for their food etc. They lived there for more than 3 months without any assistance from the State Government.
On 19/09/07, at around 12:30 pm, the Police along with around 20 SRPF personnel entered the Madni Chowk Mosque at Kim Char Rasta, carrying guns and sticks and wearing shoes. They arrested 12 people, who were offering Namaz in the mosque and took them to the Kim Police Station. They were beaten badly with sticks and rifles by Police Constable Mr. Prakash Raghunath Patil and Mr. Kiran Rathore (L.C.B. Surat) and threatened him of life. They were kept in the police station without any food and water for roza. When questioned by other, they threatened them to arrest under false charges, if any one would make any complaint against them. The police had also damaged the mosque building.
The Police also denied them of any first aid for the injuries. The Police took off their mobile phones and cash.
No compensation was given yet and a Special Criminal Application No. 2262 of 2007 is pending in the High Court of Gujarat demanding adequate compensation for the riot victims, whereby the State Government is offering a paltry sum of Rs. 10,000/ towards compensation of commercial as well as residential property.
These are only illustrative and indicative of what the Muslims of Gujarat facing in their day to day life. These case studies are enough indications of the extent to which life, identity, citizenship, culture, symbols, and heritage of Muslims or associated with Muslims are under threat by the octopus of communal fascism.
It is to force Muslims to forget their existence, their humnahood and to realize them of their sub-ordinate citizenship, forcing them to withdraw from the mainstream and to further alienate. It’s a tactic to force in to the vicious cycle of discrimination—alienation—discrimination. To break this cycle should be the main task of the present polity and community.
The state of Gujarat is expected to facilitate the process of return of the internally displaced and to provide adequate relief and rehabilitation including reparation to the victims in line with all national and international human rights standards but the government is using all possible means through its instrumentalities to further subjugate and persecute them. Every time when such incidents happen, the government instead of helping victims’ scars to heal puts them in an absolutely abandoned state. A whole class of people is constantly being left to die and rot in outrage, agony and despair due to state action and inaction and the government busy body is busy singing rhetoric Vande Gujarat, Swarnim Gujarat and Vibrant Gujarat and rejoicing victory of sadhe panch crore Gujaratis (Fifty five million Gujaratis).
Don’t they belong to sadhe panch crore Gujaratis?