What Led To The Muzaffarnagar Communal Riots
The administration passed orders for an indefinite curfew was imposed in certain areas of Muzaffarnagar city - Nayi Mandi, City Kotwali and Civil Lines on Saturday
September 8, 2013
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Lucknow, Sept 8: The Army staged a flag march in the riot-hit curfew bound areas of Muzaffarnagar, where the death toll has risen to 19. Eight columns of the Army were deployed at the request of the district authorities in the late hours of Saturday, following the communal riots which erupted in Muzaffarnagar and its adjoining rural areas, after those going to participate in the `Bahu Beti Samaan Bachaoi Mahapanchyat’ were attacked and fired upon. The panchayat was organized by the Jat community at Nagla Mandaur, 20 km from Muzaffarnagarcity, where over 1.5 lakh people from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi participated. The situation in Muzaffarnagar worsened on Saturday following incidents of firing, stone pelting and violence in which IBN7 journalist Rajesh Verma and a part-time photographer of the state police, Israr, were killed.
In the last two decades, this is the first incident of a communal riot in Uttar Pradesh, when the civil administration has had to bring in the armed force to grab control over the law and order situation. The last time such an incident took place, where the army had to be called for, was in December 1992, where communal forces erupted after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
The district magistrate said, “The death toll could further rise as several people were still missing”. “34 people were also injured in the clash and so far more than 40 people have been arrested”, he added.
The administration passed orders for an indefinite curfew was imposed in certain areas of Muzaffarnagar city – Nayi Mandi, City Kotwali and Civil Lines on Saturday. The orders continued today and no fresh incident of violence has been reported since last evening. 38 companies of Army, paramilitary and Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in violence-hit western UP. The district administration in an unprecedented move stopped the distribution of the newspapers in Muzaffarnagar city. Defending the move, a district official said, “Newspaper distribution has been banned to prevent the spread of rumors in the city”.
The twin districts of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli have been witnessing sporadic violence for over a month. Shamli was carved out as a separate district by the Bahujan Samaj Party regime in October 2011. The foundation of the communal conflict was laid in Shamli around August, after a dalit women was allegedly gang raped by youth members of the minority community. The local people protested against police inaction. Everything was under control until earlier this month, when people from both the communities came to blows after a sanitation worker was killed in communal clash, in Shamli.
The situation in Muzaffarnagar started deteriorating since 27 August, when two youths of the Jat community were beaten to death in Kawaal village, under Jaansath tehsil ofMuzaffarnagar. One youth from the minority community was also killed in the clash. The clash occurred over the alleged incident of eve teasing. The Jat community, to protest the incident organized a `panchayat’ at Jaansath town on 31 August. Thepanchayat demanded action against the culprits responsible for the murder of the two Jat youths. The panchayat also demanded the removal of the Superintendent of Police of Shamli district for his allegedly partisan conduct. The Khap panchayat then announced to organize a `mahapanchayat’ on 7 September, at Nagla Mandaur, if their demands were not met. On 5 September, the BJP had also given a call forMuzaffarnagar bandh.
To prevent the `mahapanchyat’, the Muzaffarnagar district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144, of the CrPC, in the entire district. Armed forces and the Rapid Action Force were deployed in Muzaffarnagar. Heavy deployment of PAC and RAF was made in Muzaffarnagar and the city remained tense but peaceful till Saturday. On Saturday, as soon as the attack on the participants of panchayat occurred at Basee village, the police and the para military forces were rushed to the village and Nagal Mandaur, the venue of the Mahapanchyat. The rioters in city of Muzaffarnagarhad a field day for several hours.
Sudden eruption of violence created anarchy like situation in the city. The police had to beat a hasty retreat in many places as the well armed rioters outnumbered the police. The district administration immediately imposed curfew in the city.
Meanwhile Azam Khan, the urban development and minority affairs minister, who is also in charge of the district of Muzaffarnagar has held the district administration and the organizers and participants of the ‘mahapanchayat’ responsible for the communal riot in the city. He told the media, “The participants in the panchayat raised highly provocative slogans”.
“The district administration should have taken measures to prevent the people from Haryana and Delhi from reaching the venue of the Mahapanchayat. The district magistrate should not look at Lucknow always for instructions. He should have exercised his discretion and prevented the people from other states from reaching Muzaffarnagr’’, said Azam Khan. “India is a free country and there is no restriction on people from other states coming to UP. However, they should have behaved responsibly”.
Firstpost India
IBN7 journalist killed in UP communal riots, Army clamps curfew
by Adrija Bose Sep 8, 2013 #
At least six people including a journalist and a photographer were killed on Saturday and 34 injured in clashes between members of two communities in the district, where tension has been simmering since violence in Kawal village 10 days ago. IBN7 Lucknow correspondent Manoj Rajan speaking to Firstpost said that a 10-column contingent of the army had been moved in to control the violence in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. “The UP government has imposed an indefinite curfew in Civil lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi area of Muzaffarnagar. The situation is under control for now,” he said. The state government has also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased. Image: ibnlive A freelance journalist associated with IBN7, Rajesh Verma, was shot dead in the Kotwali police station area. In another incident of violence, a photographer, Israr, who was hired by the police, was beaten to death in Thana Sikhera area. Both the media personnel were killed while covering the clashes. Verma was attempting to shoot footage of the unrest in Abupura area when he was shot in the chest, IBN 7 Lucknow Bureau Chief Shalabh Mani Tripathi told Firstpost. Tension has been running high since three people were killed in Kawal village on 27 August. Five companies each of the PAC and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in the area. ADG Law and Order Arun Kumar confirmed the death of six people during the clashes while maintaining that the situation is under control. “All the senior officers are at the spot and curfew has been imposed in three police station areas. We have taken ample precautions. Additional PAC force has been sent. The situation is tense but is under control,” Kumar said. The violence in Muzaffarnagar is steeped in a clash between two communities in Kawaal village on August 27 and a fake video that went viral after it was uploaded on the internet. It began with a petty quarrel on 27 August between Gaurav, a Jat, and Shahnawaz, a Muslim.”The quarrel deepened and Gaurav called a cousin, Sachin, for help. According to the FIR, the duo attacked Shahnawaz with knives and killed him. But then members of the other community caught Gaurav and Sachin and lynched them,” a police officer told Indian Express. IBN7 Lucknow Bureau chief said that Saturday’s incidents occurred as a meeting was being held in Naglabadhod where around 1.5 lakh people had gathered in defiance of prohibitory orders to demand withdrawal of cases registered in connection with the 27 August Kawal violence, whose probe has now been handed over to a Special Task Force (STF), Five persons were injured when members of two communities pelted stones at each other in Basiakla village. In Ilmanspur village, a mob set a vehicle on fire. Meanwhile, crime branch today arrested ex-Jansath block head, Virender Singh, for an alleged provocative speech during the last meeting on 31 August. Singh is a cousin of Shashank Shekhar Singh, who was former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Secretary in the previous Mayawati government in the state. According to DSP JR Joshi, the ex-block head was arrested for allegedly participating in an “unauthorised meeting” while prohibitory orders were in force in the area. Calling the incidents of clashes unfortunate, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the culprits will not be spared. “All senior officers are working to bring the situation under control in Muzaffarnagar. We have given order to take strict action if required. Curfew has also been imposed in certain places. I appeal to the people to maintain peace and do not believe in rumours. Action will be taken against those who try to disturb the peace and order,” Yadav said. There are unconfirmed reports that two people have been killed in clashes in Meerut too.
Samajwadi Party ruling: Over 3 dozen riots reported in UP in less than 2 years
By Manmohan Rai, ET Bureau | 9 Sep, 2013, 04.00AM IST30 comments |Post a Comment14
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READ MORE ON » Uttar Pradesh | samajwadi party | riots | Mulayam Singh Yadav | Mayawati government | Digvijay | Congress
Police records show that 39 communal riots have happened between March 2012, when Akhilesh too over as CM, and August 2013.
Police records show that 39 communal riots have happened between March 2012, when Akhilesh too over as CM, and August 2013.
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LUCKNOW: The simmering tension in Muzaffarnagar has come to a boil with 19 people being killed over the last few days. The violence is showing few signs of abating despite the Army being called out. Five more people were reported killed on Sunday, even as tension spread to neighbouring districts of Meerut, Shamli, Bijnore, and Saharanpur.
With the administration seemingly helpless and violence spreading to villages, the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav took matters in his own hands and convened a meeting of top officials and leaders from the violence-hit districts. Muzaffarnagar district had been sitting on a powder keg since August 27 when two youths in Kawal village, incensed over eve teasing of their sister, killed the accused who belonged to another community.
In retaliation, the other community killed the two youths. The incident saw the area being engulfed into communal tension with clashes in a few other places, but the administration did not fully comprehend the gravity of the situation and claimed that things were back to normal.
On Saturday, the Jat community had convened a 'Bahu Beti Bachao Mahapanchayat' at Nangla Mandaud village in Muzaffarnagar to condemn and seek compensation for the killing of the two youths. Despite prohibitory orders being in place, the district administration could not control the gathering of about a lakh Jats.
Tempers rose when the crowds learnt that a vehicle bringing people to the village for the meeting was attacked on the way. After the meeting, those retuning were attacked at different places fueling clashes and killings, which had a TV stringer and a police cameraman among the 9 dead and 34 injured.
With the administration helpless, the Army was called out on Saturday midnight. State authorities said 5 columns of the Army were pressed in rural areas and 3 columns in Muzaffarnagar city. However, on Sunday violence continued and five more killings were reported, taking the toll to 14 dead in the last two days. The state government sounded an alert throughout the state.
Twenty eight companies of para-military forces were deployed in the area. The union home ministry sought a report from the Akhilesh Yadav government over the communal riots. Congress leader DigvijayBSE 1.11 % Singh has said the Akhilesh Yadav government has failed to control communal clashes. He added the track record of the Mayawati government was far better than that of SP.
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh and BSP's Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya called for dismissal of the UP government and imposition of President's Rule. Ajit said the Akhilesh government is unable to control the situation and on Saturday a senior police official deserted Muzaffarnagar fearing for his life. He said more than 100 communal riots have taken place since Akhilesh government was formed in March last year.
Samajwadi Party ruling: Over 3 dozen riots reported in UP in less than 2 years
The increased frequency of communal riots, especially, in western UP has startled political observers in the state. "There have been a spate of communal riots over the last few months. Western UP in particular is sitting on a powder keg.
People are being polarised on religious lines which would suit party's like the SP and the BJP that are identified with the Muslims and Hindus.
The SP government's pro-Muslim policies and appointment of Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case accused Amit Shah as incharge of BJP's state unit has provided fodder to both party's to polarise voters," said Prof Sudhir Panwar of Lucknow University.
Police records show that 39 communal riots have happened between March 2012, when Akhilesh too over as CM, and August 2013. That makes it more than two riots a month though Opposition party's say many more riots have taken place which the police has suppressed. Even as Muzaffarnagar burned, last Tuesday saw one man being killed in Shamli in violence.
Muzaffarnagar itself has seen three cases of communal riots in 2013 including the latest one. In June last year too, Muzaffarnagar had seen clashes which left 20 people injured.
Muzaffarnagar riots: Who said what?
TNN | Sep 9, 2013, 01.04 PM ISTThe violence in Muzaffarnagar has evoked sharp reactions from all quarters. The Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh is in the line of fire with politicians quick to play the blame game.
Here is what leaders and activists have to say about the clashes.
Manish Tewari, Union minister
UP govt must make efforts to restore normalcy in Muzaffarnagar. Govt must take action against those responsible irrespective of their political affiliations.
UPA govt has zero-tolerance towards any alleged attempts to spread communal problem.
Mayawati, BSP supremo
The violence in Muzaffarnagar has shown that there is a need for Presidential rule in the state. UP govt took action in Muzaffarnagar only after the situation spiralled out of control.
Life for people in UP has become even more difficult in the Samajwadi Party. The state government is fully responsible for what happened in Muzaffarnagar and nearby districts. I see the hand of the BJP and SP in the violence.
Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP spokesperson
11 years of no riot, Gujarat being kept alive for reasons other than justice seeking! Shame! Since March 2012, unabated riots in UP under SP.
Rashid Alvi, Congress leader
Narendra Modi not yet declared as PM & such incidents are already happening, people fear whether BJP is trying to turn UP into Gujarat. Whatever BJP is doing in Muzaffarnagar & its surrounding regions is highly condemnable.
He added, "Uttar Pradesh government has failed to maintain law & order & communal harmony in state."
Farooq Abdullah, Union minister for new and renewable energy
I am extremely sad as to what happened in Muzaffarnagar. Elections are near, some parties will try to create communal problems. I appeal to all that communal harmony must be maintained.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP leader
Immediate steps should be taken to stop violence in the riot torn area in UP. It's not right time to play politics on the dead bodies.
Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP spokesperson
I appeal to the people of Muzaffarnagar to maintain peace.
Ajit Singh, RLD chief
Priority is to visit Muzaffarnagar, talk to officers & find all means to restore peace in region. Ready to take responsibility of people who have fled from affected areas.
Kalraj Mishra, Senior BJP leader
If UP Govt is holding officers responsible for Muzaffarnagar riots, then it doesn't have moral right to continue.
Digvijaya Singh, Congress leader
All non BJP ruled States have to be more careful. I appeal to all in Muzaffarnagar and other areas in western UP to bring peace and communal harmony to fight communal forces.
Taking a dig at the Akhilesh Yadav-led government, he said, "SP govt's track record in this tenure is bad. They haven't been able to control communal forces in Uttar Pradesh. Even Mayawati-led BSP government was better."
Kiran Bedi, Social activist
Which SDM or a Durga Shakti has been suspended by UP Govt for a communal riot in Muzaffarnagar in which 14 have died?
Central govt is committing a grave mistake by being like an Ostrich in UP communal incidents. It's indicative of 'any cost for its survival'. With repeated Communal riots in Uttar Pradesh, it won't be wrong to call it, 'Tinder' Pradesh.
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