By TCN News,
Hyderabad: A group of some social and human rights organizations visited the violence-hit areas in Hyderabad to find out the truth. The team met both Hindus and Muslims and visited affected religious places. The residents told the team the violence was politically motivated and pre-planned. The team has demanded a judicial probe into the communal violence by a sitting Judge of High Court.
Fact-finding team
The Fact- Finding Committee consisting of members from five organizations namely Lateef Mohd Khan, Kaneez Fathima, A.Srinivas, M.Mandakini, S.Q.Masood, from Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee, Jayraj from Kula Nirmoolana Porata Samiti, M.Raju from Patriotic Democratic Movement, M. Agamani from Chaitanya Samaikhya and D.V. Ramakrishna Rao from Viplava Rachayitula Sangam visited the violence-hit areas of Hyderabad including: Madannapet, Kurmaguda, Hussaini Alam, Moosa Bowli, Tadbun, Shamsheergunj, Chatrinaka, Lal Darwaza, Shah Ali Banda, Musheerabad, and Bholakpur.
The team met different sections of people who were affected by the violence and subsequent curfew. The team also visited Masjids, Mandirs, Gowshala, Dargah, houses, shops and people who got attacked during the violence. According to our observation, thirty six Masjids, and few Dargahs, were attacked and damaged severely, three Mandirs and one Gowshala was also attacked, property including houses, shops, vehicles, hotels, pan shops, fruit and vegetable shops etc were either burnt, damaged and looted in Hyderabad city. In this violence hundreds of people got injured by stone pelting, and lathis and three persons died due to stabbing. Hundreds of youths were illegally detained and arrested.
First phase of violence
Violence in the Hyderabad city started in the Madannapet area on the evening of 23rd March 2010. We observed that this area is a locality of mixed communities. As per the version of local people, on the occasion of Eid Milad un Nabi, one community people tied small flags on two sides of the roads, lanes and by-lanes. These flags were not removed after the festival and continued till one month. In the competition of this, another community also wanted to tie the flags on the occasion of Sriramanavami. The real problem started when the green flags were removed to tie saffron flags. Meanwhile the elder persons of Muslim community asked to give some time to remove the flags, but the local Corporator of BJP, Sahadev Yadav provoked the youth to tie the saffron flags by removing green flags. He managed to gather hundreds of youths from different places of city. Some of them were even drunk. The same day at 10.45pm, a large mob gathered and started stone pelting without considering whether they are Hindus or Muslims. Houses of both the communities were damaged due to stone pelting. Shops were looted. This mob even attacked burqa clad Muslim women. Due to this, violence spread in the nearby areas spontaneously.
According to the version of the local people, Hindus and Muslims are living peacefully in this locality since many years. But some outsiders created the violence and flags became the primary reason for it. They also said that this whole thing was pre-planned and the mob came with the stones and lathis to create ruckus. They also said during the whole violence in this area, police presence was negligible. This area is always sensitive because of the presence of Hindu Vahini, VHP, Bajrang Dal and other RSS shakhas. From the past two years this area has continuously witnessed violence. Police personnel have not taken preventive measures and municipal authorities did not pay attention. According to them, police is targeting the Muslim youth and a number of youth have been picked up, illegally detained and few of them have been shown arrested. Police has registered number of cases on Muslim youth, and these youth are not in a position to come out on bail.
Second phase of violence
Even after such problems and violence in Madannapet area, due to the flags and religious functions, government and police did not take any precautionary measures before it started again in other areas after four days on the same issue. The native of Moosa Bowli, who is the owner of Kirana store which is 60 years old, and a woman who runs a private school said on the night of 27th March, at 10pm green flags were removed to place saffron flags in front of Hanuman Mandir and therefore violence started, which was instigated by a TDP corporator of Mangalhat area, Raju Singh. He brought some 200 people who came in RTC buses and spread in all the nearby localities, they were carrying mobiles, stones, lathis, and talwars with them. They were continuously talking on their mobiles while spreading themselves. They systematically attacked houses, shops, Masjids, schools in those parts of areas. This committee contacted the local residents who belong to both Hindus and Muslims and came to know from them that the trouble was started by the mob that had come from outside the areas. They also said that they are living in those localities for the past few generations. They never witnessed such type of incident in their lives. They even said it is the negligence of police, it became the silent spectator of the violence and when local people approached and demanded to act, the police washed off their hands by saying we do not have power to control.
The fact finding committee visited the 200-year-old Masjid-e-Mahboob Shahi which was attacked on the 27th midnight 12 O clock by the mob. According to a research scholar of Jamia Nizamia who resides in a room of the masjid said, when the green flags were removed to place saffron flags, some Muslims objected to it because they still had to celebrate another festival and then the arguments took place between the two groups. Suddenly a mob started stone pelting on Mandirs and Masjids. That scholar said this is nothing but because of some anti social elements the situation became worse. Hindus and Muslims live in a friendly manner, he further said that there is a tailor’s shop by a Hindu in front of Masjid, every day we great each other. Whatever happened was preplanned to disturb the peace. As an Islamic research scholar he said that, any such thing which creates nuisance should be avoided. If at all such type of people exist in our society, we should stop them. Because, the ultimate loss would be ours. He further said Eid Milad un Nabi is a message of peace and harmony, the placing of flags is not the culture of Islam. Show put up and wastage of things is prohibited under Islam. Eid Milad un Nabi should be used for the purpose of educating people but not for show put up. The present generation has to be taught about the Islamic education, the unnecessary placing of flags with Islamic symbols and slogans is an act of disrespect. If at all flags were tied, they should have been removed immediately after the occasion which is the responsibility of the people who placed them. Politicians should not be allowed to use religion for political benefits. There is political hand behind whatever happened in Hyderabad and a factor of competition between green and saffron flags.
This committee visited Begum Bazaar area where Masjids were severely damaged on 27th March 2010. Masjid e Mohammedia, Gandhi Galli, Begum Bazaar is the most badly damaged Masjid. Four tombs were demolished, roof top, walls, main gate, doors, windows were all broken; flooring, Qur’an, religious scriptures, praying carpets were all burnt. As per official record the property worth Rs 2.50 lakh was damaged. As per the care taker of this Masjid, this area was once populated by the Pathans and Arabs but at present this is dominated by the Marwari. Already some portion of this Masjid is encroached by a Marwari. There is a big water tank in Masjid and when the Holi festival comes that tank is occupied by that community and filled with the colours, so on that day the caretaker and others have to leave the Masjid premises and go away to avoid any untoward incident. He also said that Muslims always adjust themselves by withdrawing processions and other programmes. But the extremists of other community are not cooperating and instead becoming aggressive. Due to the attack and fear the Muslim population is forced to migrate to the old city area. The areas of the Masjid are shrinking and the areas of Mandir are expanding. Another Masjid e kolsawadi in Begum Bazaar was burnt completely and cow dung was dumped in the premises. The official loss is estimated of three lakhs in this Masjid. As per the information, ten Masjids of Begum Bazar were severely damaged and burnt. The land value of this area is very costly in business point of view and is mostly dominated by business community who are Marwari’s. This committee has observed that these Masjids are becoming hurdles for them in those areas.
Third phase of violence
Even after all the violence, property loss etc and when the situation was out of control and when in all the areas section 144 was imposed, police gave the permission to take out the rally on 30th March, on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti to the Hindutva group in which Hindu Vahini, Bajrang Dal and VHP actively participated. Even the BJP leaders lead and encouraged to take out the procession. This is the first time in Hyderabad where Hanuman Jayanti procession took place. According to the information received from the people, rallies from different parts of the city were taken out and all of them gathered at Afzal Gunj, from there they moved towards Musheerabad. Police and Intelligence already had information that the rally was to come out from different areas and gather at one place. From Afzal Gunj they moved towards Musheerabad on two wheelers in thousands in number. According to the people they were armed with the stones, lathis and talwars. Many small groups moved in different parts of the city in both Hindu and Muslim localities, they had saffron flags in their hands with the slogans of ‘Jai hanuman’, ‘Hari lungi, Munh mein paan, Bhago saalo Pakistan’, and many other bad words towards Muslims and their women. On that particular day the whole city was under their control and police was the mute spectator, and handed over the city to the Hindutva forces.
This committee also visited the Tadbun area. A Shiv Hanuman Mandir was targeted in that area where stone pelting happened due to which the gate and door was damaged. According to the caretaker some unknown people came on bikes and started pelting stones on the Mandir and ran away. From there the committee visited the Shiv Mandir Gowshala, according to the Manager of the Gowshala, on 30th March evening at 5.30 to 6pm, an unknown mob came suddenly and started stone pelting, burnt the jute bags and bikes. In the fire three cows and a calf were burnt. According to the Manager, this Temple and Gowshala was started in the year 1996. It is located in the thickly populated Muslim area but never had any problem, local people are always cooperative. But that day the people who came were unknown people. He also said, during the attack some local Muslim people came to protect the temple and Gowshala. The attack was not planned and it happened suddenly with the intention to create fear among people, but not to take anyone’s life. He also said that whatever disturbance happened in the city was just the result of competition of tying flags in various parts of the city. He informed us that the Home Minister visited the Gowshala immediately after the incident and provided all kinds of facilities such as curfew passes, bringing feeding material of cows from other areas etc. He expressed his full confidence on local people. But police registered the cases against one hundred and twenty Muslim youth and arrested many of them.
From there this Committee moved to Masjid e Bhatti Aahak, namely Syed Shah Karimullah Shah Quadri. This Masjid came under attack on the evening of 30th March. The front door was burnt badly, the caretaker who stays beside the Masjid was threatened with bad words and was asked to come out, and then that person had to escape by jumping the backside wall along with her 5 year old nephew. She was given shelter by a neighbor who was a Hindu lawyer. He assured her full protection and when the mob dispersed she was safely dropped at her house.
The fact finding committee also visited the Musheerabad area where the mob terrorized the local people under the presence of police personnel in front of Musheerabad police station. According to a shop owner, opposite to Musheerabad Police station, at about 12.30pm, local police personnel instructed him to close his shop saying that a rally is to pass from this road. Some other local people also informed us that the police personnel told them that the people who are in the rally are carrying stones, lathis and talwars along with them. According to the locals the mobs was in a number of more than ten thousand and were coming from RTC X road towards Musheerabad. This committee got the information that this mob gathered at BJP leader Laxman’s house, had a meeting with him, he provoked them to move on further. When the mob was moving from this area on their bikes, giving slogans of Jai Bharat Maata, saying bad words to the Muslim men and women and giving slogan of ‘Hari lungi munh mein paan, bhaago s**lo Pakistan.’
The mob while moving from that area, attacked Masjids, shops, hotels, pan shops which are located on the main road, in which huge loss occurred, bikes parked near the shops and on other side of the road were burnt. Then they succeeded to enter into the locality which is known as Bholakpur, by pelting the stones along with anti Muslim slogans. They attacked number of Muslim houses and people in which many people were injured. The team visited the Bholakpur area and spoke to the victims. The local residents informed that this Hindutva mob attacked them, they were speaking Hindi, and they looked like outsiders. The residents said that, when this mob was attacking, Muslims came out of their residences that time police started lathi charge and used tear gas on the Muslims, till then they were playing the role of mute spectators and after this they protected the Hindutva people and provided them the safe passage to escape from that area. From there the violent Hindutva mob dispersed into different directions and created violence in different localities of Hyderabad. On this day the situation in Hyderabad was so tense and fearful that in the past, Hyderabad city never witnessed such kind of violence in its history. Police registered a large number of cases against Muslim youth and arrested many youth from this locality. The only crime of these youths was to defend and protect themselves and their families.
In this whole violence three people lost their lives, two died in stabbing and one was killed by throwing a huge stone on him. The team visited the deceased person, Narsimha’s family. Narsimha was the resident of Chatrinaka. According to the Narsimha’s statement recorded by the police, “I am residing along with my family members on the above said address and working as Mali at Imli Bun Park. Today i.e. on 28-3-2010 at about 9.00 P.M I am returning to my home on TVS champ after attending the function. When I am passing from New Road Shalibanda at about 9.20 P.M some persons stopped me at Near Gowtam School, suddenly the miscreants attack on me. One of the unknown miscreants stabbed me on my chest due to which I received stabbing injury. Police person came and shifted me to OGH, where I admitted as in patient vide MLC No. 10080, IP No. 9680. They burnt my TVS Champ”.
Narsimha is survived with a wife, two sons and two daughters. He was the sole breadwinner of the family. According to his family members, they never had any enmity with anyone. Muslims and Hindus always lived peacefully. One of his sons said that his father worked as a Mali and swept dargahs as well. He also said that the main cause of this violence were the flags, which were placed in competition with each other. They blame civic authorities for the irresponsibility in carrying out their duties. He also said that till date no one has visited their residence including local MLA, Home Minister, Collector or even MRO. Even Ex-gratia was not announced by the government. He complained that they were not allowed to perform even last rites and police forced them to perform the rites within two to three hours of his death. His wife was sitting silently in a corner with a heavy heart, tears rolling down her eyes. Their house atmosphere was full of sadness. The committee observed that the there is lot of anger among the family members on the government, society and on the politicians. They accused the MIM for this incident. They are very much angry on local MLA and Home Minister for not visiting them. They also expressed surprise over the visit of this committee in which they found Muslim activists visiting their house. At this high time they felt that Humanity is still in existence. They appealed to the committee to convey their feelings to the people, and to the government. They suggested that steps should be taken where no such kinds of incidents take place in future and government should take up the responsibility to protect the lives of the people. Politicians should not play with the lives of common people for their political benefits.
Findings:
After the fact finding, this committee comes to the conclusion that this violence is not communal riots between Hindus and Muslims, but were politically motivated and carried forward by anti-social political elements in a planned manner. There are many factors behind this violence.
1. Green and Saffron Flags were tied in large number first time in the city.
2. Hanuman Jayanti procession was taken out first time in the city.
3. During the curfew period of ten days, Hyderabad’s every house was turned into jail.
4. Continuous curfew for so many days is an inhuman act. People lives got affected badly; their health deteriorated because of unavailability of medicines, the daily wage labourers suffered badly.
5. First time in the history of Hyderabad, barbed wire fencing was used in every nook and corner.
6. First time in the history a number of Masjids have been attacked and demolished, in which real estate mafia is behind this attack.
7. Attacks were carried in a systematic manner and the stones used for pelting were in big size and were not from the local areas.
8. It seems that the mob was from outside the state; their language and appearance were unlike the locals.
9. It is first time that the bikes were used in Hanuman Jayanti rally. That day the city was under the control of Anti-social elements and Police became mute spectators.
10. To divert the people from Telangana movement. Many political leaders including ruling Congress party have stated that anti-Telangana forces are behind this violence.
11. Congress’s internal politics which has the history of creating communal violence to change the leadership. Many leaders have already given statements about this possibility.
12. There is an opinion among people that Lagadapati Rajagopal’s mind and money is behind this violence. They strongly feel the type of statements Lagadapati has issued saying, if Telangana is formed clashes will take place between Hindus and Muslims in Hyderabad, Naxalism will get strengthened and Hyderabad will become ISI breeding ground. People started suspecting about him when he got forcefully admitted in NIMS and later was shifted to Falaknuma Police station. Now people understand the reasons behind this act of his. People strongly believe that this politician is implementing his plans and statements which had given by using local anti-social political elements.
13 There is a complete failure of policing and intelligence.
14. There are complaints of police targeting innocent people by taking advantage of violence.
15. This has become a golden chance for the Police to earn money. They are demanding huge amounts for letting off the illegally detained youths.
16. Police informers played a big role in destroying the lives of innocent Muslim youths. They provided wrong information to the police for the sake of money and rewards and most of these informers belong to the peace committees or the Maitri committees.
17. New generation youngsters became the ultimate sufferers and their lives are spoiled in this whole violence.
18. Police opened the communal rowdy sheets of these youngsters, where by they will be targeted again and again for every small and big incident. Most of these youngsters are the new generation students.
19. In these whole period Illegal financers gained benefits. They are taking advantage of violence and curfew and spreading their business all over the city especially in the areas of old city of Hyderabad. Their atrocities have increased under the protection of police and politicians. The poor who had taken a thousand rupees, in the period of curfew it became 10 to 15 thousand rupees.
Demands
1. Judicial enquiry should be conducted immediately with the sitting Judge of High Court and report should be presented before the people within three months period. (Police Commissioner himself declared that it was a planned conspiracy, but did not mention as to who are behind this. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to conduct the enquiry and present the report before the people.)
2. We demand to grant ex-gratia of rupees ten lakhs to the families of the deceased and medical aid and compensation should be provided to those got injured in the violence.
3. Compensation should be given to the victims of violence, and to the people whose property was damaged in the violence.
4. Stop Illegal detention and mid night arrests of innocents.
5. The loss occurred to the temples and Masjid in the violence should be compensated.
6. Permission should not be given to place the religious flags in public places. Loud speakers should be strictly controlled.
7. Religious procession should not be allowed without proper bandobast whether it may be small or big.
8. Indefinite curfew should not be imposed because it affects the poor community.
9. Measures should be taken to minimize religious fundamentalism, so that secular values and peace and harmony is strengthened among people.
10. Hindutva religious leaders are continuously visiting the city for conducting the public meetings, and delivering the hatred speeches. Therefore this committee demands to take immediate action against this.
11. State Human Rights Commission should visit the city to protect and ensure the human rights of the people of Hyderabad. SHRC should take suo motto action on this violation.
12. Action should be taken against the police personnel who gave the permission or allowed to take out rally and against those who were on duty during the violence in different parts of the city. Action should be taken against the politicians involved in instigating violence.
13. Arrest the real culprits and punish them as per the law.
14. Immediate action should be taken against the illegal financers.
15. Withdraw cases against the students by considering their future.
16. Religious leaders should come forward to educate and bring awareness among people about the reality and facts of flags in their religion.
Conclusion:
This committee strongly feels that there is so much anger among the victims. A woman said, ‘Jhande toh laga liye, lekin gharon ko veeran kar diye, Aurton ko Sadkon par lekar aagaye, agar wohi paisa gareebon mein baat-te toh zindagiyan sanwar jaate’, (which means they decorated the lanes and by-lanes with flags and destroyed the homes, brought women on the roads, if that money had been distributed among poor, their lives would have been improved). They are feeling that they have become scapegoats in the political war. They lost confidence in government, police and society as well. We have observed this in Narsimha’s family members and among the Muslims of the Musheerabad’s Bholakpur area. If government fails to take appropriate measures, politicians can use these emotions to start fourth phase of violence, which can be more dangerous than this.