WHAT IS LEFT SEVEN YEARS AFTERMATH GUJARAT GENOCIDE- 2002?

(A story of the existence of those who are internally displaced in Gujarat Genocide 2002)
Today on 27 february 2009, seven years have passed but the wounds refuse to heal. Sabarmati Train Carnage and the communal pogrom aftermath is an epoch and a massacre unprecedented in Independent Indian history. To recall from the pages of history of violence and mayhem, during riots around 2 lakh people are internally displaced and lived in the temporary relief camps. Many of them have never returned to their original place of habitual residence. Those who have managed a return that is only at the cost of withdrawal or compromise in court cases against the rioters. Many of them are still living in makeshift colonies constructed by NGOs/Charitable Trusts. No housing and other assistance is ever provided to any of the survivors by the State Government. The great irony for IDPs is State’s constant refusal of their citizenship and even their existence. It has established the politics of polarization and violence as a very effective tool for power.
The process of rehabilitation determines the strength of a democracy and its potential to redress injustice and to ensure rule of law determines the health of polity and therefore to evaluate our democracy and polity with reference to Gujarat genocide 2002 becomes a necessary (pertinent) task.

WHAT IS LEFT…?
Indian law presumes a person missing for 7 years, dead but for those who have survived have a different story of perpetual death and rebirth to tell. When one sees Muslims of Gujarat from a close angle, alienation and ghetoisation of Muslims has become a phenomenon.
Today, as per Government statistics, there are total 86 colonies in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Sabarkatha, Banaskatha, Bharuch, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Panchmahal, where 3644 riot affected IDP families are living.

All these colonies have very poor civic amenities, like water facility, sanitation, sewerage, roads, community centres, health centres etc. Also, only 5 of these colonies have government or government recognized schools, and only 4 served mid day meals to the children. Only 5 have ICDS centres, of which only 4 served supplementary nutrition to the children, and 1 to nursing and expectant mothers. Only 3 have PDS shops. Government of Gujarat has blatantly refused to provide any of these facilities except Antyodaya Ration Cards that is too for a limited period. Despite their poor condition, they are not included in the Below Poverty Line list, thereby denying other poverty alleviation benefits like housing under Indira Awas Yojana, sanitary complexes under total sanitation campaign to the IDPs.
None of them have municipal or Panchayat water supply services and very few of the colonies have their private water facility. They have to travel a long distance to fetch water for their household use daily. In some of these colonies the private water service is not in working condition due to some technical reasons or in some of the colonies, their private water supply system is not working n account of non payment of electricity bills because they have no money to either correct the system or to pay the electricity bills.
Sewerage facilities are completely lacking in these colonies, these colonies have mainly open discharge system without any confined open or closed sewer line. This leads to water logging resulting in to mosquito outbreak and health problems. No municipal garbage lifting vehicles and Panchayat Safai Kamdars (sweepers) ever visited any of these colonies despite the over publicized Nirmal Gujarat Campaign.
None of the colonies have a Primary Health Centre or even a sub centre, so for medication they are mostly dependent on private practitioners.
Because of the cheaper construction walls of some of the houses started cracking and leaking and some of them have no roof at all.
Most of the families living in a poverty ridden state with grave hunger and malnutrition, lower health coefficient and neglect.
Till date none of the National Human Rights Commission’s recommendation is implemented by the Gujarat Government, including inclusion of survivors in Below Poverty Line list, restoration of all religious buildings, place of worship, provision of trauma counselling of the survivors especially children, women victims of sexual crime.
No compensation is awarded to the family of missing persons and also there is no provision is made to include such persons in the new central compensation package. Further, Government of Gujarat has declined from giving any additional compensation to the death, injured and property loss in line with the new central government’s package. Also, compensation money is yet not released towards loss to uninsured commercial and industrial property under the new compensation package due to non co-operation in providing relevant records as to list of uninsured commercial and industrial property by the Government of Gujarat.
It’s a complete failure on the part of government to secure to Internally Displaced Muslims the identity as citizens of India, dignity as humans, the rights as citizen of India including protection against discrimination and protection against alienation.
To conclude the life of riot affected internally displaced persons in Gujarat is caught between existence and denial.

REFERENCES-
The uprooted, Caught between existence and denial, published by Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and ANHAD
Food Commissioners’ Letter to Supreme Court of India
Affidavit of Gujarat Government filed in Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No.196 Of 2001
Antrik Visthapit Hit Rakshak Samiti (AVHRS)
Photographs from CSJ and AVHRS

2002- GUJARAT RIOTS - LOFTY BUT UNMET PROMISES

Ironically, it took just 6 years to the largest democratic republic of India, when the united PROGRESSIVE alliance led Central Government has at last considered the Gujarat Riot- 2002 victims at par the victims of Anti Sikh Riots- 1984, whereby promised to provide compensation to 2002 riot victims. Technically, it meant that the State Government and Central Government have to share the burden equally i.e. for death state and centre has to provide 3.5 lakh each, but the BJP led Gujarat Government has out rightly refused to even acknowledge the pain and loss suffered by the victims and declined from giving its share of 3.5 lakh.
Though the Compensation promised was not equitable to the 1984 package keeping in mind the depreciation of value of rupees but even then it was a sigh of relief for the victims as well as the NGOs and meant more than just monetary compensation rather acknowledgement of their citizenship.
According to government data, 1169 people have lost their lives in the riots subsequent to the train carnage on February 27’ 2008, including 59 persons died in the burning of the train; 2548 persons injured during communal riots of year 2002 and many have lost their properties and suffered financial loss due to damage/loss to residential, commercial and industrial properties.
In February’ 2008 the Central Government announced that the riots victims of the Gujarat would be given compensation at par with that awarded to the victims of anti-Sikh riots in 1984. Accordingly, a package was released as per the description given below:
1. Rs. 3.5 lakh will be paid to the kith and kin of 1,169 riots victims in addition to Rs. 1.5 lakh, amount paid by the State Government;
2. A total of 1.25 lakh minus the amount already paid will be paid to 2,548 people injured in the riots; and
3. A total package of money equivalent to 10 times the compensation paid by the State after riots minus the amount already paid will be paid for financial loss due to damage or loss to residential, commercial and industrial properties.
It was also provided that entire process of distribution of this special package should be completed before October, 2008 and the report of the same has to be sent to the State government. The State Government has to verify the claims, distribute compensation and issue utilization certificate to the Central Government within 45 days i.e. December 15’ 2008.
Further, letter dated 14.5.2007, the Government has been informed by the Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in respect of additional Relief and Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots in Gujarat that the Central Government has approved to:
1. Give preference to children/family members of deceased victim in recruitment by giving necessary age relaxations.
2. Launch a special recruitment drive to accommodate eligible members from riot affected families.
3. Allow persons who had lost their jobs to rejoin by treating the period of absence as “dies-non”.
4. Give necessary pensionary benefits by relaxing the normal rules to the extent possible to those who had to leave their jobs due to riots and have already crossed the age of super-annuation.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PIL
On 15.12.08, Mr. Gagan S Sethi (Member Special Monitoring Team, NHRC) and Yusuf Sheikh (Convener- Antrik Visthapit Hit Rakshak Samiti) have field this PIL in the High Court of Gujarat (Special Civil Application No. 14664 of 08) before the Bench of Hon’ble CJ Mr. KS Radhkrishna and J Mr. Akil Kureshi seeking-
1. To complete disbursement of the compensation to the riot victims by the Government of Gujarat with respect to death and injury;
2. To release complete compensation package by the Central Government with respect to loss of residential, uninsured commercial and industrial properties; and

3. To set up institutional mechanism for age relaxation in recruitment, special recruitment camps, pensionary benefits and rejoining process.
Precisely, it was field against the inaction on the part of both State and Central Government in respect of the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet towards grant of additional relief package to the 2002- Gujarat riot victims.
http://gujarathc-casestatus.nic.in/gujarathc/casewise.jsp?ct=SCA%3DCivil&cn=14664&cy=2008
An illustrative list of injured person who were not given any compensation, was given to the Court urging payment of compensation to the listed injured persons and to set up a monitoring mechanism for the disbursement process.
A Notice was issued to the Gujarat Government as well as Central Government on 17.12.08. Meanwhile, the proceedings were adjourned 2 times. On 12.02.09, the State Government has filed a counter affidavit In the High Court of Gujarat, where it was argued that-
a) Disbursement on the part of Gujarat Government is complete to the extent of the funds sanctioned by the central government;
b) Disbursement of compensation package released for death and injury is completed and there is no discrepancy in disbursement; and
c) the process of payment of compensation for loss to residential property is initiated in line with the new funds released by the Central Government i.e. to the extent of 19.05% of the total entitlements.
But till the filing of this PIL i.e. December 15 2008, the Central Government has sanctioned package only towards the compensation for the death and injury but not for the loss of residential and uninsured commercial/industrial properties.
Just after 8 days on 23. 12. 08, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued an order for sanctioning Rs. 50 Crore towards the part payment of compensation for loss to residential property, which amounts to only 19.05% of the total eligible compensation. Further, no amount has been sanctioned for uninsured industrial or commercial property. Accordingly, 18,230 (urban) and 11,237 (rural) i.e. total of 39,467 cases of loss of residential property. In pursuance of the above Order, on 19.01.09, the Department of Revenue, Government of Gujarat has issued a circular for the said purpose.
UNMET DEMANDS
The issues here are that-
1. Why even after 2 years of the announcement, only 19.05% compensation is being paid and that is too only towards loss of residential property?
2. What about the rest of 80.95% of the compensation with respect to residential property? and
3. Why the Government of India has not released funds for compensation towards loss of uninsured commercial and industrial property?
4. What mechanisms have been set so far regarding age relaxation in recruitment, special recruitment camps, process of rejoining and pensionary benefits etc. ?
5. What is the mechanism for time bound disbursement of Compensation? and
6. What is the monitoring mechanism for ensuring information flow, transparency and accountability of the process?

A NEW WARFARE AGAINST MUSLIMS OF GUJARAT

(an illustrative story of discrimination and alienation of Muslims of Gujarat after seven years of Gujarat Pogrom- 2002)

27-28 February 2002 is seen by many of the believers of Secularism as an epoch in the hate history of the World and as a blow on the secular values and ethos. But there are many who celebrate it as a victory. But today after seven years of the Gujarat Experiment the question of identity and citizenship for Muslims of Gujarat remains as it is. An obvious question rises in my mind and in the mind of many others: Indians and foreigners, Muslims, Hindus, Christian, Parsis and men and women that- has the condition of Muslims in Gujarat and communal climate of Gujarat improved after seven years of Gujarat genocide 2002?
The answer to this question is obviously a big NO. To strengthen the argument one need to look in to the trends of discrimination and alienation of Muslims in Gujarat. Here, it is worth quoting Mr. Yusuf Shaikh, the Convener of Antrik Visthapit Hit Rakhsak Samiti (AVHRS) which describes very aptly the condition of Muslims in Gujarat: “Kis tarah se sudhari hai? Sudhar ka to koi sawal nahi hai. Kuch nai chizen aisi hui hain jis se Musalmanos ki halat aur bhi bigad gai hai. abhi nai-nai tarike se Musalmano ko dabaya ja raha hai. Waqf ki zaminon par kabza kar ke, madarson pe kabze ki ghatnae bina rok tok badh rahi hain” (How it has improved? There is no question of improvement, some new things have happened, which has further degraded the condition of Muslims. Now, new strategies are being used to suppress Muslims. Now the incidents of encroachment on the land of Muslim Waqfs, Madarasas are increasing unchecked)
It is just becoming an unchecked phenomenon, where in the name of development Muslim Schools are being demolished, Waqf lands are acquired, Madarasas are encroached. All this is happening with the explicit support of Government.

In Dabhoi Talluka of district Baroda, an ancestral graveyards of Muslims is encroached by the Hindus of the vicinity and it is now used as caring and rearing ground for cattle. Several complaints have made to local authorities but no one had given an head to the call. Similarly, in Tilakwada village of Narmada, the village Panchayat has encroached a Waqf land and made some illegal structure over the land. When questioned by Muslims of the village, they were threatened of life and expulsion from the village.
In another case is of Teen Talab village of Talluka Dhaboi Baroda. Here the land of an old Madarasa and the village mosque became the reason of discrimination and alienation. Both the mosque and Madarasa were built on Waqf land and were in a dilapidated state. So, seeing the bad condition of both the religious structures, the Muslims of the village decided of repairing them and for which, they have got the permission from the Village Panchayat. For the same intent, the old Madarasa building was razed and construction of new building was started with the community’s contribution. But the Panchayat had withdrawn their permission under the pressure if local BJP/RSS leaders. 25-30 BJP workers assembled there and forced Muslims to stop construction and on the same evening the newly built Madarasa was bulldozed illegally by Police Inspector Patel. The Muslims of village went up to the IG range to complain about the illegal conduct of the Police but nothing resulted out of it.
In August 2008, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to demolish the boundary walls and some portion of the two medieval age Mosques, namely, Rani Sipri and Siraji Saiyed Masjid in pursuance of its road expansion plans. It was only after the stay of the Gujarat High Court the very old mediaeval mosques are preserved. The Mazar of Wali Gujarat was razed during riots but here it is a blatant misuse of office and power to wipe Muslim heritage from the map of human history.
A similar step taken by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, a school catering the educational needs of Muslim children of Narora Patia came in the way of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project. Accordingly, a Municipal Primary School was on the verge of demolition and closure by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for the proposed construction of a Bus Depot for Bus Rapid Transit System. The school is located on the Delhi-Mumbai High Way No. 8 (Narol Road, behind Chandroda Talab near Old Toll Naka), around 1 Km away from the Bombay Hotel, where the riot affected residents of Naroda Patia had been rehabilated. It has nearly 2000 students and all of the students are from the post Gujarat carnage- 2002 dispalced families. It has also class rooms made under Sarva Shiksha Abhian. It is important to note that adjacent to the school there is a huge vacant land, which could have acquired for the same purpose, but the AMC was only interested in the school. Several representations were also made to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to change their plan. Initially, the AMC Commissioner promised the school board of trustees and assured that the school will not be demolished. But the AMC was destined to demolish the school, so they have passed a fresh order to immediately seal and demolish the school.
These are only illustrative of what the Muslims of Gujarat facing in their day to day life. These examples 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 a multiheaded demon, difficult to identify and defeat.

RIOTS AFTER RIOTS AND …

(An illustrative study in the riots of Gujarat after Gujarat Pogrom-2002)

When we see minorities of Gujarat, in particular Muslims, from a close angle, the Gujarat Genocide 2002 would just seem a tip of an iceberg and as their alienation and ghetoisation has become a phenomenon. This paper is to bring to the attention the perpetual story of violence, discrimination, alienation and ghetoisation.
A chronology of riots and atrocity against Muslims in Gujarat would help us in understanding this phenomenon and help articulating discrimination and alienation of Muslims in Gujarat in particular and India in general.
Here are the stories of ethnic violence from Gujarat.
MASS ATTACK ON MUSLIMS BY POLICE- NANDENPADA- DANGS
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). It was 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 form 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 are registered against the police and right wing leaders who are involved in 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.
RIOT DURING HOLI 2008- VILLAGE GAJAPURA OF HALOL, PANCHMAHAL-
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 remain admitted in the Halol Referral Hospital for more than 15 days but the remaining injured persons have not given even 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 wise their women would not be left safe. The Muslims have to purchase everything form 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.
BARODA RIOTS-SEPTEMBER 2008
During Ganesh visarjan, Baroda was caught in to communal fire. While Kalupur Ganesh Mandal taking out procession from the Muslim vicinity of Champaner Darwaza, some of its volunteers started pelting stones on the Muslim Shops and houses. Realizing the threat and sensitivity of the time, all Muslim shopkeepers of this area have kept their shops closed. It was a one sided act of violence and religious extremism when the mob of Hindu extremists have looted, ransacked and burnt shops of Muslims. All of this was happening near a police post. The Mob has also razed a mazar built near the police post. The similar violence had also erupted on the same day in Yaqutpura, where several shops and houses of Muslims were looted, ransacked and burnt. Police instead of controlling the rioting mob, started firing on the affected Muslims. During the police firing one Muslim boy named Junaid was shot dead and many of them have sustained bullet injuries. Noteworthy that all bullets were targeted near heart. In this incident Police acted host to the rioters and instead of filing FIRs against the rioters, FIRs have filed against the innocent Muslims who caught in the police firing. The Police have filed an FIR against Junaid, a minor who was killed in police firing.
The riots continued for three days in different parts of Baroda. Next day, a mob of Hindu extremists have looted and burnt several shops in Fatehpura. Similarly, on third day, Muslims of Nalbanwada were attacked. On this day, Muslims were resting after roza and evening namaz. A mob entered in to the area shouting slogans ‘ganpati bappa morya’ and attacked them with sword and sticks. Hoses, shops, godowns were looted and burnt. A masjid was also attacked. Even women were not spared, many of them got sword injuries.
All of the FIRs were lodged by the police themselves quoting minor injuries and loss to the properties.
No arrests were made by police and also no compensation was given to any victim and not even to the boy killed in police firing
It was only after the intervention of Centre for Social Justice and All India Quami Mahaz, NGOs working on access to justice in Gujarat, the Division Bench of High Court of Gujarat, a compensation of Rs. 50,000/ was awarded to Junaid’s Mother by over ruling the earlier order of Single Bench.
RIOTS DURING GUJARAT ASSEMBLY ELECTION- HIMMATNAGAR-SABARKATHA
Chhaparia, which is a Muslim locality and Mahavir Nagar, which is a Hindu locality, shared a common polling both. On the day of Gujarat Assembly election in Himmat Nagar, in the afternoon supporters of BJP threatened Muslim voters of Chhaparia and started slogan shouting and abusing Muslims. Within a spur of time, they started attacking houses and shops of Muslims. A large scale looting started. Several shops, motor vehicle of Muslims were burnt to ashes. Stone pelting from both sides continued for long hours. Later, curfew was imposed in the area but no arrests were made
KOSAMBA- SURAT-GUJARAT- 17, 18, 20, 21 July 2007-
On 17th July, 2007 between 8 to 9 am, an elderly woman Aminaben Shadiqbhai Kureshi and Subhanbhai Kureshi were carrying meat in an auto-rickshaw number GJ 5 Y 8305. One Kishore Mahadev Rabari alias Jangabhai, head of the Gorakshak Samiti of Taluka Mangrol, nephew of Mohan Rabari (President of BJP, Kosamba) and Amrut Rabari, Dharmesh Rabari, Sartan Rabari, Sagar Rabari with around 20-25 other persons beat up Aminaben and Majidkhan Sardarkhan Pathan the rickshaw driver with slaps and punches, in which he sustained serious injuries on his head and hands and the auto rickshaw was badly damaged by the mob led by him. Majidbhai, the auto rickshaw driver begged to hand him over to the police rather than beating him but they followed him to the Police Station and beat him right at the gate of the police station but none of the police personal come to his rescue. Janga Rabari had threatened them that he has direct links with the Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Police will do nothing if they complaint.
The Police arrested Majidbhai instead and no FIR was registered against the attackers for rioting and beating. Further, nor the grounds of arrest was disclosed to him and neither any document related to his arrest was given to him and also no medical aid was given to him, precisely, none of the legal requirements of arrest have been complied with.
On the same evening some of the persons from Muslim community went to the Police Station to lodge an FIR against the attackers, but the Police refused to lodge the FIR and arrested Aminaben instead. Later on she was released on bail later on July 22, Sunday.
Next day, on July 18, a mob of Rabaris went on rioting and looting and they extensively damaged property belonging to Muslims like Dr Anvar’s Hospital, Maharaja Medical Store, Aavkar Provision Store, Ronak Provision store, Royal Laboratory .The glass of a Mosque window was also broken. On the same day at around 10.30 am, the house of Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Hessian Sheikh of Sahyog society was attacked by a mob of around 250 persons from Hindu community. At that time, he and his wife were out of the house. The mob looted Rs 50,000/- and some important land documents and ransacked the whole house including furnitures, utensils, and even fans were broken. Police refused to lodge any FIR of rioting, looting and dacoity and also no arrest has been made.
Janga Rabari has been routinely spreading nuisance in the Muslim localities and annoying Muslims of the vicinity, even if standing in big groups or near mosque on his motorcycle by sounding horn which has the recording of Jai Siaram continuously in menacing manner and using abusive and sexist language for Muslims especially women on their faces. In every 2 to 3 months Janga Rabari and police fabricate a case of someone carrying cow’s meat and then extort money from the person to cover up the matter. The similar case has happened 2 months earlier also, when Sabir Kureshi was caught and arrested in the same manner. This is a routine trade flourishing there in the collusion with the Police.
On Sat, 21st July, at 2.00 am around fifty persons of Rabari community had come with swords, sticks and carboys of kerosene to burn down the houses but were prevented from attacking them by the Police which continued till 4 am but at 6 am the police returned and attacked the villagers under the pretext of a combing operation to fish out the suspects in the case of beating Janga Rabari. The combing operation was done under the command of B M Patel, PSI Kosamba Police Station, without any lawful ground.
At 6 am on July 21, 2007, the Kosamba Police surrounded 400 houses of Muslims of Dadri and Chistinagar where more than 2000 people lived and forcing Muslims into their houses, abusing and beating women and children and taking away men all the ages.
Nor any FIR is filed against any of the rioters and erring police officer neither any arrest has been made.
VELACHA RIOTS AND FORCED DISPLACEMENT-SURAT
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. 26families 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 petition is pending in the High Court demanding adequate compensation for the riot victims.
The nature of these riots is not just to gain but 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.

REFERENCES
Account of Nazma, lawyer from Gajapura village
Account of Kadir, lawyer from Janadhikar
Account of Yusuf Shaikh, Convener, AVHRS
Account of Azima, CSJ
Accont of Mahendra, CSJ
Account of Ashwini