On April 8, 2022, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, Home Secretary Abhay Kumar Jain and Director General of Police (DGP) ML Lather, seeking immediate disciplinary action against a section of administration and police of Karauli district in Rajasthan, for their crimes of omission and commission during the recent outbreak of communal violence in the region.
Brief background of the case
A right-wing Hindutva group had organised a rally on April 02, 2022, and when it passed through Hatwara, a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, the participants allegedly hurled communal slurs and offensive swear words at the residents. All this appears to have been carefully timed to coincide with the Asr namaz.
Shortly thereafter, communal violence ensued. Instances of stone pelting, arson and property damage were reported. The only silver lining in this deeply disturbing story is that there was no loss of life in the clashes, though some publications have reported how a few Muslims picked up after the incident were allegedly tortured in custody by the police.
It is alleged that it was inaction by the police and local administration that allowed the clashes to escalate further. In fact, in wake of the clashes news and social media were replete with instances of acts of omission and commission by the administration and police in Karauli district.
It is noteworthy that even though it is located near communally sensitive areas such as Hindon and Gangapur that have seen communal violence in the past, Karauli was hitherto untouched by such violence, but it all changed on April 2.
PUCL’s appeal for action against errant officials
PUCL got notified about the on-ground situation in Karauli by two journalists – Ghazala Ahmad who works with the digital news organisation The Cognate, and Ahmed Kasim who works with The Clarion India. At 12 noon, when they were returning after completing their assignment from Karauli town, they were stopped at various locations by police and were even manhandled by the Kotwali ASI Nanua Singh at Ganesh Gate. They had waited for almost an hour to make their way out of the city. PUCL stated in its letter that they were subjected to such behaviour allegedly because they were Muslims.
The PUCL asked some tough and pertinent questions about the incident, that need further scrutiny. The questions raised in the letter are summarised below:
Bipin Behari Shukla, who is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was leading the rally of the Hindutva group. In light of this, the question arises that why did the local authorties such as the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and District Collector allow the rally to pass through a Muslim neighbourhood in Hatwara? Were they pressured to grant such permission, and if so by whom?
The motorcycle rally was carried with more than 700 motorcyclists, with more than one pillion rider that too without helmets. The motorcyclists were carrying big bamboo sticks, shouting the hate slogans like, “Topi wala bhi sar jhuka ke bolega, Jai shri ram, Jai Shri Ram”. (Translation: Those who wear a cap will also bow their heads and chant Jai Shri Ram). A DJ accompanied the rally and played songs with similar lyrics at a high decibel. But why did the rally choose a route through a Muslim neighbourhood, that too at the same time with Asr namaz during 5:00 to 5:30 P.M? Why was the rally not stopped by the police or SDM even after realising that the purpose of the rally appeared to be to humiliate and verbally abuse Muslims?
Why were the Police acting like bystanders when communal slurs and slogans were chanted or when a section of Muslims allegedly started pelting stones? Why did they not intervene when the Hindutva rally participants allegedly burnt the shops of Muslims and Hindus near Phuta Kot while on their way back from Hatwara?
Why did the police pick up young Muslim boys and allegedly torture them? A report published by The Wire was referred to in the PUCL letter which reported a 17-year-old minor was beaten up brutally by the police and being forced to say Jai Shri Ram. PUCL urged to take strict actions against these policemen who engaged in such inhuman acts. PUCL also prayed that survivors of said torture be given urgent medical attention.
The PUCL made some urgent demands in the letter which are summarised below:
Disciplinary action needs to be taken against the respective authority for granting permissions for the rally and they should me immediately removed from their respective positions.
Senior police officer, Superintendent of Police (SP) and Additional SP should be removed from their posts to letting the rally happen in the first place, despite their being ample signs pointing towards its communal intentions.
The police officers should be included in the FIR, lodged on the same day, as accused in the case related to stone pelting that resulted in one Amit Sharma getting seriously injured. He remains in hospital at Jaipur.
FIR has to be lodged against all the police officers involved in the alleged torture of a young Muslim boy torture. “Persecution of Muslims should be stopped immediately,” the PUCL letter stated.
Immediate arrest of all people involved in the rally, stone pelting, burning shops and other property damage.
Police must reject communalism and the law should be applied equally to everyone irrespective of their faith. “According to the CSDS and Common Cause Status of policing in India report of 2019, one in two police personnel feels that Muslims are likely to be “naturally prone” towards committing crimes (%), this needs to be dealt with and changed,” the letter stated.
During the upcoming 10 days of religious festivals, no rallies by Hindutva group should be allowed to pass though Muslim neighbourhoods. Even if it is allowed, heavy police deployment must be ensured with armed reinforcements in advance.
In conclusion PUCL suggested that April 14 be celebrated all over the state to build “an inclusive society with all the socially vulnerable and discriminated sections including the SC & ST, Minorities, OBCs, DNT & NTS, LGBTQIA treated as equals as envisaged by our Indian constitution.”
The letter may be read here:
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