INDIA: Stop communal violence in the state of Madhya Pradesh

Dear friends

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from civil society groups in Madhya Pradesh who have forwarded a fact-finding report regarding another incident of communal violence against Muslims in Khirkiya Nagar Panchayat, Harda District, Madhya Pradesh. The incident, which resulted in numerous people losing movable and immovable property, occurred on 19 September 2013. In an arson attack, 20-25 houses and about 30 two-wheelers were set on fire. A mob attacked the town’s cleric, Mr. Imam Hafiz Saukat, and vandalized the local school and mosque. It is alleged that the riot was pre-planned by Hindu fundamentalist groups, though what has been projected so far is that the riot started when some Hindu fundamentalists accused Muslims of cow slaughter. Reportedly, the skinning of a dead cow by the member of an oppressed caste in the premises of his Muslim landlord sparked the riot. The police could not control the large mob that resulted. While trying to bring the rampaging crowd under control, Additional Superintendent of Police Mr. Malay Jain and Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Mr. C. Herald were reportedly injured. Three other persons are reported to have been injured when the police fired warning shots to disperse the crowd. The police later arrested 35 persons in connection with the event.

CASE NARRATIVE:

The incident of communal violence took place in Khirkiya Nagar Panchayat on 19 September 2013. One third of the population in Khirkiya is Muslim. Out of the 15 wards of the Khirkiya Panchayat, ward number 14 was the worst affected by the riot. The people who reside in this ward, along with those in wards 12 and 13 are those who were displaced due to the construction of dams in the Indira Sagar Project. These people have no documents to show their property title.

On 19 September 2013, at about 9 a.m., Mr. Kalu, a sharecrop farmer and partner of Mr. Taj Khan and Niyaz Khan, had beaten up a cow that was grazing in their paddy field. Kalu is from the Korku tribal community and the members of this tribal community live in acute poverty. The animal reportedly died later.

Soon a rumor spread that Muslims have slaughtered a cow. Very soon members of Hindu fundamentalist groups like the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and the Go-Raksha Commando Force (Cow Protection Commando force) loaded another cow carcass in a truck and placed it at the Maharana Pratap square at Chhipawad on the Hoshangabad-Khandwa highway and blocked traffic. In no time, a large number of people gathered at the spot and started shouting slogans against the Muslim community and demanded that the ‘culprits’ be handed over to them so that they could judge them according to their religious beliefs.

Then the mob reportedly divided into two separate groups. One group attacked Mr. Imam Hafiz Saukat and ransacked the mosque nearby. The other group set fire to around 20-25 houses in Chhipawad. They also set on fire to about 30 two-wheelers and two four-wheeler vehicles. Eye witnesses allege that even though the police were present in the locality, they did not initially intervene.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr. Deepak Varma, reportedly said that the police did not intervene as they lacked adequate strength. At about 4 p.m., the District Collector of Harda and Varma reached the spot. The mob reportedly attacked them and chased them away. By that time, a prohibition order was issued by the district administration for the locality to prevent people from ganging up. The police also fired shots to disperse the crowd, which resulted in three people being injured. Later, the police arrested 30-35 people. The prohibition order was lifted on 23 September.

From the nature of the riot, it is highly probable that it was premeditated. Bottles and kuppiyo (funnels) filled with petrol were used in the attacks. Muslim households were looted before being torched. The mob was composed of people from other districts as well. It cannot be ruled out that some locals helped the mob in locating Muslim houses and properties. During the riot, children were in schools. The mob attacked the schools as well. However, Muslim children were unhurt due to the presence of mind of school teachers, who locked the children in one room to hide them from the attackers.

The date of the riot appears to have been decided beforehand to coincide with a public meeting attended by the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister in the neighboring district. A large number of police personnel were sent to Betul district for security related to the Chief Minister’s speech. Hence the rioters outnumbered the police and there was hardly anyone left to control the mob.

It is reported that the masterminds behind the incident are Mr. Surendra Purohit (alias Tiger) and Mr. Sadeep Patel, son of local Member of the State Legislative Assembly, Mr. Kamal Patel. Mr. Purohit had reportedly been stationed at the place for the past two months.. He claims to be the chairman of Go-Raksha Commando Force and also the Secretary of the local Charuwa (cattle shed). He has been absconding since the day of the riot. It is alleged that he incited the mob though hate speeches.

The situation remains tense even after the riot. People affected by the riot were previously displaced internally due to dam construction on the river Narmada and are poor. The administration has provided compensation ranging from Rupees 5,000 to 20,000, i.e. far less than the actual loss suffered.

This incident of communal violence has left a deep scar and fear among children, irrespective of their parents’ religion. Many children in the district complain about scary dreams and some have stopped attending school fearing more violence.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The state of Madhya Pradesh in India is perennially beset with communal violence. Hardly any month passes without some incident of religion based violence. The worst communal violence hit districts of the state are Indore, Ratlam, Devas, Khandwa, Harda, Betul, Sagar, and Nimach. It is reported that from 2005 to 2013, about 965 incidents of communal clashes occured. In 2012, a total of 89 incidents of communal violence took place in which 9 people and 241 injured. During this period Madhya Pradesh topped the list of communal violence hit regions in the country. According to the information provided in Parliament, from 2009 to 2013, 432 incidents of communal violence took place in Madhya Pradesh, ranking it third on the list of states affected by communal violence.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

1. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to remedy the loss of property by reconstructing the burnt houses. The administration has disbursed a pittance in the guise of compensation – between Rs. 5,000 and 20,000 – which is insufficient to meet the loss occurred;

2. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to provide land pattas in lieu of the lost houses of the victims, as soon as possible. An internally displaced population affected by communal violence has been re-displaced in the village and has no land documents in their possession now that their houses are burnt to cinder;

3. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to provide the victims with interim food and basic supply for at least four months. Due to the riot, the families have lost their provisions for meeting basic needs;

4. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to immediately address the psychological trauma and fear psychosis created among children. And the children, who are unable to go to the school outside their villages, should be provided with a temporary school to re-engage them with their education;

5. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to carry out a proper investigation and identify the perpetrators and initiate a trial at the appropriate court. Eye witnesses have stated that petrol was constantly supplied from a nearby petrol pump during the riot. This aspect must be investigated as well and the perpetrators must be brought to justice;

6. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to investigate the roles of Mr. Sadeep Patel, son of local MLA Kamal Patel, and Surendra Purohit (alias Tiger), as, reportedly, they were inciting the mob. If they are found guilty, they must be prosecuted. Surendra Purohit is missing and police must trace him and arrest him to continue the investigation;

7. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to investigate how such a large group of people got together ‘spontaneously’, as it appears the incident was a pre-planned conspiracy. Survivors state that the mob was composed on 3,000 – 7,000 people;

8. Urge the Government of Madhya Pradesh to investigate the roles of Hindu fundamentalist groups like Bajrang Dal and Go-Raksha Commando Force.

The civil society fact-finding team that investigated the incident was comprised of Lajjashankar Hardenia (Rashtriya Secular Manch), Yogesh Diwan (People’s Research Society) Javed Anis (New Socialist Initiative Bhopal), Vijal Kumar (CPI, ML) Deepak Vidrohi (Krantikari Naujawan Bharat Sabha), Upasana Behar (Nagrik Adhikar Manch), and Azam Khan (Advocate). For further details Lajjashankar Hardenia ( +91 9425301582), Javed Anis (+91 9424401459), Upasan Beher (+91 94244014669), and Vijay Kumar (+91 9981773205) may be contacted.

The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and on Adequate Housing, the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues and the UN Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, calling for their immediate intervention into this matter.

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