(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
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
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