By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
Muzaffarnagar/Shamli: Within days of rape of two cousins in Uttar Pradesh’ Badaun district, police and administration was forced to act in haste after the mainstream media was abuzz and they arrested the culprits as also suspended the principal secretary (home). It’s been nine months now to the infamous communal riots in Muzaffarnagar-Shamli districts though, and there has been little – if any – progress made in the eight registered cases of rapes.
There are seven registered cases of gang rapes during the riot and later another girl from Jogia-Kheda camp was raped. In the seven reported cases of rapes during the riot, earlier 42 persons were named as accused by the vicitms, but the police later dropped about 20 names claiming that they were falsely named. There are still 22 persons named as accused together in all these cases, but so far only two persons – Ved Pal and Rocky – have been arrested. In the subsequent eight registered case, two accused persons Sachin and Sunil Kumar were immediately gheraoed by the people and arrested, as the victim’s younger sister had seen them dragging her and had immediately informed the villagers.
Her father, 54 year Rafique (name changed), who has five children, has not got the compensation that other rape victims are entitled to as she was not raped during the riots. He wonders that when the kin of victims in Badaun could get rs 5 lakh compensation, why was it denied to his daughter.
Seated in front is one of the victims, along with her young sister and her father, 54 year old at Jogia Kheda. At back is the 45 year old rape victim.
It should be mentioned here that there are reports of several rapes – some estimate it to be in 100 – but for fear of harassment and “shame it would bring,” most of them hence preferred to be silent.
Police claims that most of them are absconding or that when they raided they could not find them in houses, but many of these accused are openly found to be talking to media persons and issuing statements. In fact the day TCN visited Muzaffarnagar district, a Hindi daily had an accused demanding CBI probe.
When TCN asked Neyaz Ahmed (name changed), husband of one of the rape victims, if they too would demand CBI probe since there has been little headway, he said that he is not against any investigation, but added, “The accused persons are using all sorts of delaying tactics and want to buy time to coerce us into dropping cases.”
“Police should first of all arrest all the accused persons and then they can have any sort of probe they want,” he told TCN.
Of the eight rape victims, TCN met five of them on this trip alone and everyone echoed the harassment and threats they have been receiving. All the victims also questioned the dubious role of the woman Investigating Officer Mala Yadav, who they alleged has “good money from Jat accused.” Yadav, they claimed asked them several times to drop cases and used “all sorts of coercive tactics and harassment,” almost all of them said.
Although Yadav denies all charges, one of the accused petitioner, Shabana (name changed) has now written a letter to UP CM Akhilesh Yadav requesting to him to change the IO.
One of new colonies, Ansari Colony in Kandhala, where many of the riot victims have bought land from the compensation money and are trying to build their houses all over again.
In the extended family of Meraj (name changed) of Fugana itself three women, his wife, his nephew’s wife and another cousin’s wife were raped during the riots. They have all filed cases, and although recently they received the compensation announced for the victims of rape during the riots, they are worried for their security and fear they may never get justice.
Meraj (name changed) and all his family now lives in Ansari Colony that has come up in the outskirt of Kandhala, where several of the victims bought pieces of land to build houses. Many of these houses are still not ready, but they have no other place to live. Several similar such colonies have now come up in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar, where mostly victims bought land. There are many places where individuals and voluntary religious and social organizations have given land for free and helped build houses. (Related: When everyone else failed the community came forward )
Both Neyaz (name changed) and Meraj (name changed) said that they have received several threat calls. Six of the seven victims have got two security guards each – one female and one armed male constables. Mustaeem told TCN that recently when they were coming back from Delhi after meeting their lawyer, on train crossing near Kandhala they came across some of the Jats who were standing there. They even had country made pistols as they proceeded towards our vehicle, he said, still scared. “If not for our security guards, they might have killed us,” he said as one of the constables Ravi Kant was sitting next to him.
Constable Ravi Kant explained that when he found them coming towards car, he loaded his gun, came out of the car and shouted, “What’s the matter?” Besides, Kant there was another armed police constable in the car and hence they retreated.
Abdul Jabbar (green kurta) and Neyaz Ahmed (name changed) (name changed) (in spectacles).
‘Little hope of Justice, but will fight till end’:
Snajeev Baliyan, one of the Jat leaders, who was accused of participating in the Mahpanchayat and giving instigating speeches was not only given ticket by the BJP, but he has now become the Minister of State of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries.
“The day of the election result was announced, one Amar Pal called me around 12.50 PM and said that Baliyan has won, you still have the option of withdrawing cases or be prepared to face the consequences,” Neyaz (name changed) told TCN. Son of Amar Pal, Gaurav is a rape accsued.
Neyaz (name changed) also said that the current pradhan of Fugana village, Tham Singh at one point even offered him one crore rupees to “back-out,” since he is the one coordinating many of the cases, including these rape cases. He was provided security on the order of the UP CM but during election it was removed. He fears for his life, but says that he will fight on.
Immediately after becoming the minister, Baliyan said that he will see to it that cases against innocent persons falsely accused be withdrawn.
Abdul Jabbar of Jola village, who has been helping the riot victims fight for justice, says that in the wake of bias police and botched up investigation and now that their leaders are becoming Minister, he is losing hope of justice, but adds that they will struggle till the end.