By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: Two days after the violence in Pratapgarh, the Momin Ansar Sabha—an organisation of Muslim weavers visited the affected village on Monday. The organisation demanded CBI enquiry of the incident and adequate compensation to the victims.
A mob of thousands had in a planned manner gheroed the village Asthan in Kunda Tehsil of Pratapgarh on Saturday. They torched every Muslim house in the village. The riot continued for nearly seven hours while police could not muster courage to enter the village.
President, Momin Ansar Sabha, Mohd Akram Ansari who led a delegation and visited the village stated that there are 46 houses of Muslims, all belonging to weaver community in the village. “Every single house was burnt. Even a mosque and mazar were burnt. On the second day of violence smoke was still simmering from the rubbles,” said Ansari.
Ansari castigated the Akhilesh led SP government stating that the government claims to be a well wisher of weavers but they have been specifically targetted by the mobs. “It is strange as the local MLA is also from ruling SP. I also pity the Muslim leaders in the party who had not the courage to at least visit the affected area,” he said.
Ansari demanded adequate compensation to the victims. He also raised the demand for a CBI enquiry in the whole episode. Ansari also claimed that the accused in the FIRs in the arsoning are roaming freely while police is yet to arrest them.
It should be noted that the area falls under the feudal leader Raja Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya area who is an independent MLA and SP supporter. He is also a cabinet minister in the Akhilesh government.
Meanwhile, in a latest development, the state government has suspended Pratapgarh SP OP Sagar and CO of Kunda tehseel S Rana.