By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Ballarpur (Maharashtra): Five Muslims are on indefinite hunger strike since March 9, 2010 in Ballarpur town in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. They are demanding tough action against police officer Aslam Khan who is an inspector at Ghughes police station of the town. They blamed the officer to hurt their religious sentiment during the Miladun Nabi procession.
According to Safeer Ahmad, a local resident, on February 27th when local Muslims were taking out Eid Miladun Nabi procession in the city then suddenly inspector Aslam Khan reached there and used filthy language regarding the religious procession and threatened to stop it.
“The procession was going well like every year but the inspector came and said ‘stop this drama.’ This sentence made people angry which led to scuffle between people and police. The dispute damaged the display of Gumbad-e-Khazra then people refused to take procession forward unless the inspector is punished. After that SP reached the spot and appealed to take the juloos at conclusive place. He assured action against the inspector,” narrated Safeer Ahmad to TwoCircles.net.
After the incident despite several requests by the people, police did not file FIR against the inspector. On the contrary FIR was lodged against 13 people who were leading the procession.
They appealed to SP and other high level officers to give them justice but they failed to receive any response. Finally, five people went on indefinite hunger strike on March 9th, 2010. So far three of them have been admitted to the hospital in critical condition even though no action or solution came from the administration.
People say that they have informed to Chief Minister of the state, Home Minister and Minority Affairs minister about the incident and waiting action but they are uncertain that if they would get justice.
According to the residents this was not the first incident but the offending police officer has done a series of such incidents.