On June 13, Nagpur Deputy Police Commissioner issued a notice to all police stations in Nagpur reiterating the court’s stand. The notice states that if any person comes to the police station and shoots a video of police personnel, it does not amount to an offence and that no police personnel should stop such a person from taking pictures or shooting a video. A similar notice was issued on December 28, 2022 by the Nagpur Police and yet the orders were not being followed. The June notice states that despite the December notice, they received information that police personnel were obstructing people from taking pictures or videos in police stations or of police officers on duty.

Nagpur Police Commissioner, Amitesh Kumar, addressing the media said, “the legal position is that a police station is a public place and the police personnel are public servants. In the interest of transparency, those who want to record videos of police officers, they can do so and nobody can file a case against them. Even when police officers are performing their duty on the streets, their videos can be recorded. Only in case of female officers, their dignity should be upheld and no such videos should be taken that would hurt the modesty of a woman. Apart from this, people have the right to record videos of police personnel in the police station or on the streets in the course of their duty and nobody should stop them or obstruct them”.

Bombay High Court’s stand

The order in question order was delivered by the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on July 26, 2022 whereby the bench of Justices Manish Pitale and Valmiki Menezes had quashed a case lodged against one Ravindra Upadhyay under OSA for recording a video inside a police station in March 2018. The bench held that a police station is not a ‘prihibited place’ as defined under section 2(8) of OSA. The definition is exhaustive, however, it does not include a police station in it. The court had clearly stated that shooting a video inside a police station is not an offence in itself under the OSA.

In another order, in December 2022, the Bombay High Court had quashed an FIR filed against a man from Solapur who was booked for spying under the official Secrets Act (OSA). The bench of Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan had held that the law cannot be misused to torment citizens. The court had expressed shock that the FIR was filed because the man was clicking a photograph of the police station in Akluj, Solapur.

The court even directed compensation of Rs.25,000 to be paid to the petitioner and the same to be recovered from the salary of the police personnel who lodged a complaint against the petitioner. “We are shocked and appalled, how the concerned police officer could have even lodged an offence… We cannot comprehend how an FIR could have even been registered on the basis of the said photograph, that too, for a serious offence under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act,” the bench observed.

The petitioner was clicking photographs of a police officer speaking in a friendly manner with the person with whom he had a family dispute.

“Invocation of Section 3 of the Act can have drastic consequences on the person against whom it is invoked. It could impact one’s reputation, job, career and so on. It cannot be lightly invoked, to jeopardise someone’s life and career. Law cannot be misused / abused and must not be used as a tool for harassing or tormenting persons. It is the duty of the police to protect people and act in accordance with law,” Justice Mohit-Dere had orally observed, reported The Indian Express.

Related:

Threat to human rights and bodily integrity highest in police stations: CJI NV Ramana

Publishing accused’s name on police station flyboards, violates privacy: Allahabad HC

Delhi HC questions absence of audio in CCTVs at Police Stations

Install CCTVs in police stations: CJP to Assam Police

The post Nagpur Police: People have the right to take videos of police personnel while performing duty, as police are public servants appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“The situation is still very worrying in Kashmir. Reporters are often harassed by police and paramilitaries and must cope with utterly Orwellian content regulations, and where media outlets are liable to be closed.”
CNN’s Mukhtar Ahmad, Reporters Without Borders

Fahad Shah, a prominent Kashmiri journalist detained on draconian charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), completed 500 days in prison on June 18. Shah, the founder-editor of ‘The Kashmir Walla’, was arrested by Pulwama police on February 4 last year under the colonial UAPA law for allegedly uploading “anti-national” content on social media. He was afterwards detained five times over the course of four months, suffering though a Kafkaesque experience where he was subsequently arrested after every bail. 

In the 17 months since his incarceration under many charges, jugging around in different jails, Shah has obtained three rounds of bail, including two in UAPA cases! An Order under the Public Safety Act (PSA) against him has been quashed! Yet he remains imprisoned in connection with a case stemming from an opinion piece published in Shah’s publication in the year 2011. 

His detention has been described as the “final nail in the coffin of independent journalism in Kashmir.” The arrest of Shah sent waves of shock through the already shattered and targeted Kashmiri journalism community, with many going into hiding or leaving the field entirely. Furthermore, the application of such harsh draconian laws by the police, blurring the line between independent reporting and “propagating stories that are contrary to the interests and security of the nation,” were another grave cause of concern. 

Misuse of law- charges filed, bails granted

Bail under draconian laws: On February 4, 2022, Shah was arrested by the Pulwama police under sedition and anti-terror law, after ‘The Kashmir Walla’ had reported the events of a gunfight between the government forces and militants in south Kashmir. He was granted bail by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) court in Srinagar on February 26, 2022. 

However, the Shopian police promptly detained him again in a case that was filed in January 2021 against his portal’s reporting. Shah was again released on bail on March 5, 2022, by a Shopian court magistrate, but Srinagar police later detained him again in connection with reporting for his news portal in July 2020.  On March 14, 2022, Shah was then detained under the PSA and lodged in the Kupwara Jail.

The PSA order quashed: In April 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court overturned the PSA order against Shah, calling the imprisonment “illegal” and the “non-application of mind” on behalf of detaining authorities. 

Terming the journalist’s imprisonment to be “illegal” and the “non-application of mind” on behalf of detaining authorities, the court had said: A mere apprehension of a breach of law and order is not sufficient to meet the standard of adversely affecting the “maintenance of public order”. In this case, the apprehension of a disturbance to public order owing to a crime that was reported over seven months prior to the detention order has no basis in fact.

A single bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, led by Justice Wasim Sadiq Narwal, had noted that the authorities “did not carefully evaluate and apply their thoughts while passing the detention order”. The bench has said that the apprehension of an adverse impact to public order “is a mere surmise of the detaining authority, especially when there have been no reports of unrest since the detainee was released on bail on January 8, 2021 and detained with effect from June 26, 2021”. 

The court decided that Shah was the target of “grave” charges. “However, the personal liberty of an accused cannot be sacrificed on the altar of preventive detention merely because a person is implicated in a criminal proceeding,” the order read. “The powers of preventive detention are exceptional and even draconian.” 

Detained for his opinion piece: Shah was being held at Kupwara Jail in north Kashmir under the PSA when the State Investigation Agency (SIA) arrested him on May 20, 2022, for questioning in a case. 

Shah’s custody was taken over from the Kupwara jail in order to investigate the SIA’s FIR number 01/2022, which was lodged at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Jammu, against an opinion piece written by Abdul Aala Fazili, a scholar from Kashmiri University, which was published 11 years ago in The Kashmir Walla and titled as “The Shackles of Slavery Will Break”. However, the agency issued a chargesheet in the case in which Shah and a Fazili are still imprisoned in Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal jail ten months after the arrest.

Fahad Shah not the lone Kashmiri in jail, remember Khurram Parvez?

In addition to Shah, Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez has also been languishing in jail since almost 1.5 years, arrested on November 22,  2021 under the draconian anti-terrorism legislation, and is currently detained in Rohini Jail, Delhi. Parvez is a human rights defender that has worked tirelessly to document human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 20 years. He is the Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), and the Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). 

Parvez was unlawfully, unjustly and arbitrarily detained by NIA officers after a 14-hour raid on his home and the JKCCS office in Srinagar, during which his electronic devices and several documents were confiscated. Since then, Parvez has been prosecuted on a slew of fabricated allegations relating to criminal conspiracy and terrorism, and his fundamental rights to due process and a fair trial have been repeatedly violated. In addition to the UAPA allegations filed against Parvez, the NIA filed another case against him and journalist Irfan Mehraj in October 2020, explicitly targeting JKCCS and anyone involved with the group.

In an opinion adopted on March 28 2023 and released on June 5 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) stated that the detention of activist Parvez was “arbitrary”. It called upon the Indian authorities to immediately release him and to provide him with an “enforceable right to compensation and other reparations.”

“The UN ruling on Khurram Parvez’s case authoritatively confirms that his detention is an act of reprisal for his human rights work, and an attempt to silence him and Kashmiri civil society as a whole. The Indian authorities must implement the UN’s recommendations and immediately release Khurram,” said Alice Mogwe, International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) President, as reported by the civicus.org.

It is essential to note that the WGAD is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged cases of arbitrary detention. The WGAD considers individual complaints and adopts opinions on whether the detention of a particular individual is considered to be arbitrary. This WGAD opinion was issued in response to a complaint filed jointly by FIDH, CIVICUS, FORUM-ASIA and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) to the UN body on behalf of Parvez on November 22, 2022.

“The arbitrary and unjust detention of Khurram Parvez is not an isolated incident but the result of India’s relentless attacks on those who expose the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s discriminatory and abusive policies. India must reverse its politics of silencing dissent and guarantee the right to defend human rights in the country”, said Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General, as reported by the civicus.org.

Additionally, the WGAD expressed serious concern about “the chilling effects” of Mr. Parvez’s arrest and prolonged detention on civil society, human rights defenders and journalists in India. Furthermore, the WGAD found that Parvez’s deprivation of liberty is in contravention of Articles 2, 7, 9, 11, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 2, 9, 14, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The WGAD also determined that the authorities failed to establish a legal basis for Parvez’s detention (Category I); that his detention stemmed from his “legitimate exercise of freedom of opinion, expression and association” (Category II); that the “violations of Mr. Parvez’s right to a fair trial are of such gravity as to give his detention an arbitrary character” (Category III); and that he was deprived of his liberty on “discriminatory grounds, owing to his status as a human rights defender and on the basis of his political or other opinion” (Category V).

FIDH, CIVICUS, FORUM-ASIA and OMCT welcomed the WGAD’s opinion and reiterated their calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Khurram Parvez and all other human rights defenders currently in prison in India, and for all charges to be dropped.

Conclusion

Activists, writers, students, academics, and journalists have reported an increase in intimidation in recent years, as well as attempts to silence any critics of the current government’s decisions on Kashmir, the deployment of the army under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), and the repeal of Article 370. 

Sedition charges, legislation dating back to the British colonial era, have been on the rise. The application of these harsh and severe rules has grown so lax that hundreds of people, including poets, political organisers, activists, and human rights advocates, have been imprisoned under an antiterrorism statute, the UAPA and the PSA. 

Kashmiri journalists have long been caught between deadly militants deploying arms and terror tactics and the repressive Indian government, which has tried to maintain a tight control this region of Kashmir. 

Related:

Media freedom in Kashmir after Art.370 abrogation

14 months on, Kashmiri journalist, Fahad Shah’s detention under PSA quashed

KP slain member cremated, Muslims neighbours grief-stricken, help with last rites: Pulwama, Kashmir

Shutdown Observed in Parts of Kashmir Against Ongoing ‘Eviction’ Drive

Jammu and Kashmir on Edge as Fear of ‘Eviction’ Haunts Residents

Delhi: Pulitzer awardee Kashmiri journo barred from travelling abroad, again

The post Kashmiri journalist, human right defender languishing in jail under a draconian law appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The day before, on Sunday, June 25, the Shahu Salokha Manch will be organising a Peace March in the city where different parties and social organisations will participate.

Sabrangindia has consistently reported on the recent violence perpetrated in Kolhapur, a city closely associated with the values of Shahu Maharaj and more recently with Dr Govind Pansare. Tensions had simmered in this southern Maharashtrian town, after Hindutva groups and representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), egged on by rival Shiv Sena factions sought to escalate tensions over a controversial social media post (June 6) valorising Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan. Despite appeals by the Muslim community and citizens not to allow one incident to spread tensions and terror between ordinary people, attempts were made to “enforce a bandh and at least two three stray acts of targeted violence against Muslims was reported. Efforts by the local police and citizens helped restore some calm on June 7.

At the time, speaking to Sabrangindia, SP Mahendra Pandit had stated that the whole town of Kolhapur was under curfew presently, peace had somehow been ensured and added that all those guilty of the bandh-instigated violence would be prosecuted. FIRs were also registered against those who attacked a Muslim vendor on June 6 and six arrests have been made.

The meeting last Friday, was held at the office of the Farmers Labour Party. City President of the Nationalism Congress Party (NCP) R. K. Powar said, everyone should come together and give a fitting response to rioters. Then participants should march to the city square and tell speak on the vision and ideals ofd Shahu Maharaj.

CPI (M) State Secretary Uday Narkar said, Kolhapur is progressive land built on the thoughts of Shahu Maharaj. There is an outcry among the people against recent communal riots (June 5-6). Dr. Megha Pansare, district secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI), Satishchandra Kamble, Vasantrao Mulik, Atul Dighe, City President Sachin Chavan of Indian National Congress (INC) , Baburao Kadam of (Peasants and Workers Party-PWP), Ravi Jadhav of Janata Dal, Bharti Powar, Dilip Pawar (CPI), Subhash Jadhav, B. L. Barge, Babasaheb Deokar also spoke. Vasantrao Patil, Dilip Jadhav, Sanjay Salunkhe, Rafiq Bhai Sheikh Dildar Mujawar were also present in the meeting.

Maharashtra has seen a spate of instigated attempts at targeted communal violence over the past two months including Ahmednagar, Shevgaon, Trikambeshwar and Nanded. The brutal killing of one Lukman Suleman Ansari near Nashik has sent shockwaves. The Nashik rural police arrested six cow vigilantes for allegedly murdering Lukman Suleman Ansari on suspicion of transporting cattle for slaughter. These accused, Pradeep Adhole alias Pappu (34), Bhaskar Bhagat (28), Chetan Somawne (26), Vijay Bhagade (26), Rupesh Joshi (39) and Shekhar Gaikwad (22), were associated with Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, founded by hate offender Pravin Togadia. The accused have been remanded to police custody until June 17 and the police are in the process of recovering weapons from the accused, reported Indian Express on June 15.

Ansari, a resident of Padgha, Bhiwandi, was earlier reported to be missing. Ansari along with Pappu Atiq Paddi (36) and Aqueel Gulam Gavandi (25) bought two cows, a bullock and a calf for Rs 18,300 from a woman in Kharegaon, Shahpur. They were transporting the animals in a pick-up tempo to Padgha in Thane district.

Kolhapur June 5-6, 2023

Reports then of a group of Hindutva inspired extremist youth thrashed a Muslim minor for reportedly sharing a social media status hailing Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan. The status (social media) simply valorised Aurangzeb and Tipu and did not in any way attack another community or contain any words to offend or hurt the religious sentiments of any individual.

A video showing a mob of at least 8-10 men abusing a Muslim minor has surfaced online. Incidentally, organisations representing the Muslim community specifically wrote to the SP, Kolhapur Pandit urging that the truth behind the social media posts be established and the entire community not be held hostage.  Former corporator from the city, Adil Faras who was alleged to have been the “author” of the controversial posts clearly distanced himself from the post and has publicly asked the police to get to the bottom of who the real culprits are. SP Pandit and the IG, according to reports from the ground obtained by Sabrangindia, patrolling the streets and urging that the bandh call given by extremist organisations not be adhered to.

Following the tensions since June 6 in Kolhapur, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had in a strong statement said that the ruling party “encourages” instances of communal violence, as has been reported by the Indian Express. “Incidents of communal clashes in Ahmednagar and Kolhapur have taken place over some mobile messages. What is the meaning of hitting the streets over such messages? Today’s ruling party encourages such things. Rulers should ensure peace and law and order. But if rulers start hitting the street and create enmity among two communities, that is not a good thing for the state,” Pawar said, addressing a press conference in Ahmednagar on Wednesday morning. He also said that the tensions were a result of the ideology of the ruling dispensation at work and that this must be deplored. (Reports in ABP Marathi and Indian Express)

On June 9, a Friday, senior activists and citizens active in public life met the Collector, Rahul Rekhawar pressing the civil servant to assure that those guilty of fomenting communal tensions in the southern Maharashtra town be promptly prosecuted. While deploring the social media post (valorising Aurangzeb) that had allegedly stoked the fires, they asked the administration why the entire city of Kolhapur, especially the Muslims held hostage to this one act?

“We expect that the administration (police and bureaucracy) to be governed strictly according to the law. After the incident (of the social media post) in Kolhapur city, fuelling a ‘reaction’ how were illegal assemblies and mobs allowed to gather and terror spread?”

Deploring strongly this attempt to spread and create riots, the delegation has in a written statement released thereafter pointed out that, “This is in the city of Kolhapur, which has a tradition of religious harmony between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rajshree Shahu Maharaj. The incident is condemnable.”

The issues raised by the delegation in the written memorandum submitted are:

1.        The events that took place dated on June 6 and 7, 2023 have violated the secular principles of the Constitution and the values of equality and reconciliation of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj. Also according to these values administration and police more strict action is expected from them.
2.         Criminals should be prosecuted by law. But why was the entire society under siege?
3.         How could thousands of people gather in the city despite the ban? Who exactly were these people? How did they stockpile stones, bricks, glass bottles? How could the police not have an idea of this? Why was no action taken before the riots? When there was no response to the call made by the police to withdraw the bandh, why did not an urgent meeting of the representatives of both communities be called for peace?
4. By all accounts this riot seems to have been premeditated. It is the responsibility of the Hindutva organizations that called for marches and bandhs to control them. Failure to do so will cause the entire city to go through stress took The poor suffered. Why was no strict action taken against the leaders of these organizations? Why are they not being compensated for the damage?
5. It is illegal to demand the release of people involved in rioting and violence when they are arrested. On the contrary, the masterminds of this riot and the people who incited the mob to become violent by giving provocative speeches should be severely punished.
6. On June 7, at the peace meeting organised by the police and administration, the presence of the guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar and representatives of Hindutva organizations was avoidable Meetings with these representatives shd have been separate from the peace meeting. When the meeting one was organized by the administration and the police, why were the office bearers of the political parties present on the stage?
7. Proper Panchnama should be prepared for computing the loss of injured and damaged people in this riot and get them immediate compensation / government assistance.
8. What plan is the administration going to implement to prevent such incidents from happening in the future? How will violent, fanatical organizations be controlled?
9. It has been published in the newspaper that a report has come to the state government that there will be systematic efforts to create such kind of riots in the state. Do you know anything about it?
10. The police and the administration should try to create harmony and harmony by removing the prejudice created by this riot in various caste-religious communities.

Related:

Kolhapur Citizens meet Collector Rekhawar question impunity of Hindutvawaadi organisations

The post Reconciliation conference in presence of actor, Amol Palekar on June 26: Kolhapur appeared first on SabrangIndia.

There is a complete breakdown of law and order; a scarcity of essential commodities with the prices of the little available, sky-rocketing! Fear, despair and helplessness have gripped vast sections of Manipur, particularly the poor and vulnerable! The violence continues, unabated!

One does not need too much of intelligence, to know and to understand who is responsible for this current spate of unbridled violence: without doubt, the BJP and their henchmen, who today rule both the Manipur State and the Central Government, are behind what is happening in Manipur today.

Political analysts, social scientists, human rights defenders and all those concerned about what is happening in Manipur- are unanimous and unequivocal in their conclusion. How else can one explain that the Union Government has not deemed it appropriate to dismiss the State Government and impose President’s rule in the State?

How come that people in the valley have such easy access to loot Government armoury with sophisticated weapons, despite top security? How come the Prime Minister has not said a word in condemning the violence? Above all, why has the violence been allowed to escalate despite the might of the military being present?

These and many more obvious questions, which clearly point out to those culpable and complicit for what is happening there!

Voices of concern have been pouring in from all sections of society through public rallies, solidarity marches and protests; there have been incisive editorials, op-eds and public statements; social media is flooded with comments, pictures and videos of the ground reality (plenty of ‘fake’ news doing the rounds too!).

A former Indian Army Chief, General (retd) VP Malik has called for “urgent attention” to the situation in Manipur. He was referring referring to a tweet by Lieutenant General L Nishikanta Singh (retired), a resident of Imphal who tweeted, “I’m just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now ‘stateless’. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?” His tweet came a day after the house of Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh was set on fire in Imphal by a rampaging mob.

When the violence began in Manipur both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister were busy campaigning for the Karnataka (State Assembly) Elections: they were then busy criss-crossing Karnataka State, holding road shows and ferrying people to their rallies at enormous costs to the tax-payers and putting the ordinary citizens to great inconvenience. They were determined to win power in that State by hook or by crook.

The violence which had erupted in Manipur was not their concern; besides, they were not interested in stopping the terrible violence, they knew that at the receiving end were the tribals, particularly the Christians.

Finally, Amit Shah did make a belated three-day visit to the place; a so-called ‘peace committee’ which he put together to apparently restore normalcy, was outrightly rejected both by the Meteis and Kukis. After his visit, violence has escalated in the State.

There is the blatant role being played by Meitei groups like Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol and their all-out efforts to annihilate the Kukis. Pramot Singh – the chief of the Meitei Leepun – has said in a widely publicized national interview that, “if the government, either in Delhi or in Manipur, does not intervene quickly, there will be civil war and the Kukis will not be able to defend themselves”.

On April 28 (almost a week before the violence) he tweeted “Let’s annihilate our traditional rival on the hills.” There is recorded evidence that Singh’s organisation and the Arambai Tenggol have both played critical roles in the present troubles in Manipur and there are several accusations on both, of violence, looting of armouries and burning of churches. It is so obvious that both these Meitei organisations are heavily protected by the state in Manipur by Biren Sigh and at the Centre with the obvious blessings of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister

The Union Government is of course is uncaring, turning a deaf year and blind eye to the people of Manipur!

Recently, the Chairman of a Kuki militant outfit alleged in a letter to the Home Minister, Amit Shah that his organisation and another Kuki group rendered help to BJP candidates in winning Assembly elections. He alleged that an agreement was made with Ram Madhav and Assam CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma. He also alleged that they rendered help to the BJP even in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Shocking allegations indeed!

Equally significantly in his much touted and widely publicised, ‘Mann-ki-Baat’ weekly radio programmes, the Prime Minister has not uttered a word on Manipur; interestingly, a video clipping has been going viral showing how Manipuris have been destroying their little transistor radios and shouting anti-Modi slogans, whilst the ‘mann-ki-baat’ programme was being radioed.

Politicians across the party divide have been doing their best to get the Government to stop the violence.

Senior Member of Parliament (MP), Derek O’Brien (who is also a leader of

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), has written to the chairman of the Standing Committee for Home Affairs demanding a discussion urgently on the situation of violence in Manipur. O’Brien writes, “The recent incidents of violence in Manipur have raised concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the people residing in the region. Reportedly, many are dead and thousands have been displaced. Shoot-at-sight orders have further added to the atmosphere of fear in the State. It is imperative that we understand the ground reality, and assess the extent of the violence. In this regard, holding a standing committee meeting to discuss the ongoing violence in Manipur would provide first-hand insights into the situation;” adding, “I urge you to call for a meeting of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs to immediately address the issues that Manipur is facing. I remain hopeful that, together, we can work towards ensuring that normalcy is restored.”

Obviously, there has not been a positive response to this urgent call for discussion and action.

 Some days ago, more than 550 civil society groups and concerned individuals, in a powerful show of solidarity, from all corners of the nation joined forces to denounce the escalating violence in Manipur. In a joint statement, they called for an immediate end to the divisive politics perpetuated by the state and security forces while urging all parties involved to declare an immediate ceasefire. The statement, born out of deep concern for the ethnic violence that has plagued Manipur since early May 2023, emphasises the need for the Prime Minister to break his silence on the ongoing civil war in the hills and valley areas of the state.

The signatories demand an immediate halt to the violence, which has caused significant disruption, displacement, and loss of life. More than 50,000 people are in over 300 refugee camps, while countless others have been forced to flee their homes.

The statement unequivocally holds the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its governments, both at the central and state level, responsible for the prevailing situation. It accuses the BJP of playing divisive politics, deepening historical tensions between the Meitei community and the tribal Kuki and Zo communities without making meaningful efforts to facilitate dialogue and resolution.

Concerns are raised over the violence perpetrated by armed Meitei majoritarian groups like Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun against the Kukis. Reports of genocidal hate speech, supremacist displays of impunity, and the urgent need to verify claims of mobs chanting violent slogans, including threats of rape and torture against women, have surfaced.

The statement demands several key actions from the government, including the Prime Minister’s accountability for the current situation in Manipur. It calls for a court-monitored tribunal to establish facts, promote justice, and foster healing between the communities. The signatories also insisted on the establishment of a fast-track court to address cases of sexual violence perpetrated by both state and non-state actors, as recommended by the Verma Commission.

The demands include:

• The Prime Minister must speak up and take accountability of the current situation in Manipur. 
• A court-monitored tribunal must be formed to establish facts, and prepare the ground for justice and healing of the gaping wound that separates communities of Manipur to mitigate the divisiveness and hatred being engineered.
• A fast-track court be set up for all cases of sexual violence by state and non-state actors, as recommended by the Verma commission that ‘personnel guilty of sexual offences in conflict areas should be tried under ordinary criminal law.
• Provision of relief by the government to those forced to flee and guarantee their safe return to their villages; rebuild their homes and lives. Provision of ex-gratia compensation to those who lost loved ones, suffered injuries and loss of home, grain, livestock and so on.  This process of return, rehabilitation and compensation should be overseen by a panel of retired judges who know the region closely, perhaps appointed by the High Court or Supreme Court.  

Since those mostly affected are the tribals and particularly the Christians, it is imperative that Christian Leadership (representing the three major Christian organisations of the country: the CBCI, the NCCI and the EFI and others too) should come together:

• to hold a joint Media Conference immediately: this has to be done in the National Capital Delhi and also simultaneously in every State Capital. The Media Conference in the Capital must be addressed by the main Office bearers of the CBCI, NCCI and EFI and demand:

– the restoration of law and order and peace in Manipur immediately;

– the safe return of all tribals/Christians ousted from their land and homes;

– an adequate and just monetary compensation for rebuilding homes, Churches, institutions destroyed;

– the booking and appropriate punishment for all responsible for the violence (even if they have powerful connections)

• to go to Manipur NOW (at least one hundred and more Christian Leaders); together, at the same time. Be in the midst of the affected people- hear their cries: take a visible and vocal stand on their behalf!
• to organize a National Protest Day in order to highlight what is happening to the minorities, the Adivasis, the Dalits and the other vulnerable groups of the country. Have a huge gathering in a public maidan in New Delhi – with as many Church Leaders (Bishops and others) as possible and people coming from all over the country.  Request other civil society groups. /Movements to join in; On this National Protest Day – let there also be public protests in all Dioceses/States of the country.

Peace must come back to Manipur immediately. Several civil society groups and individuals, human rights defenders, academics and writers and a whole range of concerned citizens, are doing their part, often at great risk! Much more needs to be done immediately!

Tokenism and cosmetic acts will only add fuel to the fire!

The Government has abdicated its responsibility and clearly does not have the political will to resolve the problem. In fact, both the Centre and the State is responsible for this violence.

The Prime Minister has already gone to the US; he will certainly not have a press conference there; besides he will not be able to answer any question on the Manipur violence or for that matter, the state of the minorities in India today!

What is happening in Manipur today is a foretaste of tomorrow: a sign of possible things to come! The citizens of India (particularly Christian leadership) must wake up now – before it is too late! Manipur is burning: the fires there must be extinguished immediately!

(Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer)

Related:

Bishops of India must protest & speak out for peace, against injustices in Manipur & India: Jesuit priest

Freedom of Expression: Driver for All other Human Rights

Political Opportunism and the Indian Church

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Manipur has seen a series of violent incidents since early May, leading to loss of over a hundred lives and property worth lakhs and tens of thousands displaced, PM Modi has not spoken a single word about the issue. Despite pleas and even taunts he has ignored both the people and the state.

Things have deteriorated to the extent that reports of armed civilian mobs belonging to Meiri and Kuki communities appear to be ruling the streets of Manipur, and hence, the PM’s continued silence on a state governed by his own party, the BJP, is being questioned by political opponents, civil society groups and locals.

Social media posts show that people’s anger with Modi’s studied silence and the state chief minister N. Biren Singh’s inability to control the law and order situation has manifested in posters decrying the PM as ‘missing’. In places, radio sets were broken as Modi’s programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ aired.

According to local news reports, two sets of BJP MLAs from Manipur have been camping in New Delhi since June 15 to meet the PM.

An Imphal Free Press report said at least nine Meitei BJP MLAs opposed to the Biren-led government over its handling of law and order in the state (the CM is also the home minister), sought an appointment with Modi on June 15. They received an acknowledgement on the same day, the report said.

“But, as the PM is leaving on June 20 for an international tour, in the larger interest of Manipur, the delegation submitted the (a) memorandum (to the Prime Minister’s Office) on Monday (June 19),” it said.

The MLAs included Karam Shyam Singh, Th. Radheshyam Singh, Nishikant Singh Sapam, Kh. Raghumani, P. Brojen, Wangjing Tentha, T. Robindro, S. Rajen, S. Kebi Devi, Naoriya Pakhnaglakpa and Y. Radeshyam.

Their memorandum has highlighted “the complete breakdown of law and order in the state, loss of faith by the public in the present state government and restoration of the rule of law so that the trust and confidence of the general public is restored”, it also pressed the government to not tamper “at any cost” with the integrity of the state and agree to the Kuki leaders’ demand for a separate administration of their areas.

Also, another set of BJP MLAs had also sought an appointment with the PM but were able to get a meeting instead with defence minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the party’s in-charge for the state, Sambit Patra.

Incidentally, this delegation too comprised of Meitei MLAs of the party besides including one MLA each from Janata Dal (United) and the BJP ally National People’s Party (NPP). One of the important appeals of this delegation too was to not consider a separate administration for the Kukis.

An Indian Express report quoting a delegation member said, “Sambit Patra spoke to home minister Amit Shah over the phone…the home minister has reiterated and assured [us] that the territorial integrity of the state will be maintained.”

This delegation, which also had MLAs that support the chief minister, sought the Modi government’s withdrawal from the tripartite talks with the Kuki armed groups under suspension of operation (SoO). Weeks before the Meitei-Kuki conflict broke out in Manipur, the Biren Singh government had unilaterally withdrawn from the peace talks and recommended the same to the Union home ministry. The latter refused to entertain the request.

One significant query that this delegation raised with the party’s Union ministers was about Kuki armed group UKLF chief S.S. Haokip’s claim. Haokip has said that the group had helped the BJP grab power in the state by winning the elections. This is a serious claim that has been ignored by the union government.

“This has been in conversation in Manipur and needed to be clarified,” an MLA told Indian Express, adding that, “They (the Union ministers) assured us that there is no such tactical understanding or arrangement between the party and SoO groups and that a clarification will be issued by the party in a day or two.”

In response to the Prime Minister not taking out time even for his own party’s MLAs coming from a violence-hit Manipur, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Today, one group of BJP MLAs from Manipur met the Raksha Mantri. Today, another group of BJP MLAs from Manipur went to submit a memorandum to the PM, which said that the people had completely lost faith in the state administration – essentially saying the CM has to be replaced. He did not see them of course. The BJP itself in Manipur is not united. That is why the state is bitterly divided today. And the PM simply doesn’t care!”

Aside from the BJP delegations, a Congress delegation led by former state chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh has also been camping in New Delhi for days now to have an audience with the prime minister. The PMO has not even thought it fit to give a response,

Functioning in parallel and ignoring the plight of all Manipuris, the PM has flown out of the country today for a four-day visit to the United States and Egypt. In the US, he is scheduled to meet not only the American president Joe Biden and top names from his government but also about two dozen “thought leaders” and CEOs including Elon Musk. He will also be meeting delegations from the Indian diaspora and celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21 at the United Nations headquarters in New York

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The post Despite efforts, three delegations from violence-struck Manipur failed to meet PM Modi appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A video from a Ganga ghat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand is going viral, in which a young man is seen driving some people of the Muslim community away from the ghat. In the video, the young man can be heard saying that “only Hindus are allowed on the Ganga Ghats”. The video is said to be from Agrasen Ganga Ghat in Jwalapur area. The man can be seen and heard fighting with a few Muslims standing near the ghat, rudely and sternly asking them to leave. 

The video can be viewed here:

In India, even Rivers have now religion – In Haridwar, a Muslim family is being driven away from going to the Ganges River, saying “Only Hindus are allowed here” pic.twitter.com/jEJBeYKxYt

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) June 19, 2023

After the video went viral, CO (City) Juhi Manral has been investigating the case, as provided by the Quint. Police officials have also stated that all information about the video and the incident is being collected, and action will be taken as per rules. The officers also provided that there have been many such cases in Haridwar in the past, in which some Hindu organizations have removed non-Hindus from the Ganga Ghats, as provided by the Quint. 

Superintendent of Police (City) Swatantra Kumar Singh, said that “The matter is being investigated, appropriate action will be taken as soon as it is confirmed. Earlier also, such incidents had taken place, the police acted promptly and in this case the police will take action in the same way,” as reported by the Quint. He further said that those who are coming to Mother Ganga should act keeping in mind the dignity. Strict action will be taken against anyone who acts against the dignity of Mother Ganga.

Rishabh Gaur, one of the people who were present at the scene of the incident, has alleged that the Muslim family was rinsing in the Ganges and washing their undergarments. “Our mindset was not to drive them away, only to tell them not to rinse them in water. Someone keeps coming there, our mothers and sisters are bathing, so they make videos from above. While doing all this, there is no one to stop them. That’s where things like blackmail start,” Gaur said, as reported by the Quint. 

He further claimed, “We went there with the family to take a bath. There I saw that they were taking a bath, I had no objection to it. After bathing, the woman rinsed, so I stopped her that it is a symbol of our faith. After this, the young man with him washed his undergarments, so I said please do not do all this. After that, they started arguing,” as reported by the Quint. 

While the above-mentioned is being alleged by Gaur, it is essential to note that in the video, no clothes could be seen in the hands of the Muslim people being asked to leave. The woman and the man made to leave were dressed properly and were fully clothed. it is also essential to note that bathing, washing clothes, and immersion of the ashes of the dead by the Hindu community are one of the most common activities that are performed in river Ganga, something that has also led to increasing water pollution. 

Holy river Ganga- a unifying tie

In the past, the holy river Ganga had played the part of a unifying tie between the Hindu and Muslim communities. When it came to conservation of river Ganga and the campaign to clean it, Muslim religious leaders have now come forward to extend a helping hand to sadhus and seers who had been protesting for it. 

Maulana Saeedur Rehman, principal of Centre of Islamic studies, had said that it is well known that Ganga is associated with the faith of Hindus but it is not any less important for Muslims. Terming the drive to clean the river as a “holy campaign”, Rehman had said that he would not only extend support to it but would do whatever was required in achieving it. Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahli, had said that Ganga is a national river and it is not just the Hindus but also the Muslims who live on its banks and earn livelihood through it so it is the duty of all to protect and save it, as reported by the Zee News.

People cutting across political and religious affiliations had taken part in these campaigns to save and clean River Ganga. “If a Hindu takes a dip in the ‘holy Ganga waters’ for salvation, the ordinary Muslims also use the water for Wuzu (the act of performing ablution or washing oneself up before standing in prayer,” Shahid Saleem, a trader, had said, as reported by the Deccan Herald.

When this river used to stand for unity and harmony, then why is a religion being associated to it?  India exhibits and has always exhibited religious syncretism. The constitution gives that right to every individual in India to access all public places, and yet, these tales of discrimination, religious fanaticism and islamophobia come up now and again to remind us of the rising anti-Muslim sentiments in India. 

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The post “Only Hindus allowed”: Hindu man drives Muslims away from Ganga Ghat appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The petitioners claim that the respondents engage in illegal activities in the temple without permission from the appropriate authorities. The petitioners argue that the RSS and other members of the organization are using tobacco products on temple grounds, endangering the cleanliness, purity, and divinity of the sanctum. “The unpleasant smell emanating by the usage of the above products by the 6th and 7th respondents along with their henchmen is causing great discomfort to the devotees visiting the temple, especially senior citizens, women and children,” the plea stated, as reported by the LiveLaw.

Furthermore, the petitioners claimed that the respondents yelled loud slogans as part of their mass drill/weaponry training, disturbing the temple’s tranquil and serene ambience.

The petitioners also claimed that on March 30, 2021, the Devaswom Commissioner had issued a circular ordering all officers of the board involved to stop/prevent mass drills/weaponry training on the board’s premises. Following that, the petitioners filed a complaint with the temple’s Administrative Officer, but no action was taken, as provided by the LiveLaw.

It was further submitted that the Devaswom Commissioner issued another circular in unequivocal language demanding for strict enforcement of the previous circular, but violations continued, according to the petition.

The petitioners have thus asked the Court to hold the respondent authorities’ duty bound and responsible for ensuring that the temple and its premises are only used for devotional purposes and to protect the petitioners’ right to worship, which is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Hindutva outfits- firearm training, sword fighting and trident distribution

Far-right extremist and fascist outfits have been indulging in organizing various arms training camps, sword fight event and trident distribution event since many year all over India. Several reports have surfaced where RSS backed and related fringe outfits, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, have been organising such illegal event and camps in different parts of the country, disguising them as self-defence activities for Hindus. It is essential to note that it’s not just the men who are trained in “self-defence”. Durga Vahini, another unit of the VHP, organises similar camps for women. 

In the beginning of June, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) had reported upon the military style parades being organised in Rajasthan, all of which were allowed by the Rajasthan police. As per the CJP’s report, out of the total of 33 districts in Rajasthan, in at least 13 districts the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad had been hyper active, organising their brand of Trishul Diksha Samaroh. In the last few months, multiple reports on such incidents have surfaced:

1. Chittorgarh, Rajasthan: On May 30, a video surfaced on Twitter whereby Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini had organized the firearm training for Hindu girls. In the video girls were seen donning an orange dupatta and firing from rifles at empty glass bottles and towards the end of the video the girls in training were seen chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’.
2. Jodhpur, Rajasthan: On May 26, a training session was organised by Durga Vahini, aimed at training young girls in self-defence and martial arts. In the video the girls can be seen using rifles, sticks as well as being taught martial arts. The representative of Durga Vahini, while speaking to the reporter of ABP Live, said that the training was being conducted in using sticks and rifles as well and that the training session would last for 7 days in Saraswati Vidya Mandir and was being imparted to 200 girls.
3. Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Durga Vahini organised a weapons training camp for minor and young girls calling it “Shourya Prashikshan Varg” (Bravery training class) from May 7 to May 14.  It could be seen on the video that these young girls were given a rifle in their hands as well as long sticks and taught to fight with them on an open ground. This was organised on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hostel ground in Shujalpur and more than 500 girls were given the training.
4. Nagpur, Maharashtra: On May 2 and May 9, two trident distribution event were organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal extremist outfits, where the participants had owed allegiance to Hindutva. At these events, in addition to distribution of tridents amongst men, hate speeches where delivered exhorting Hindus to take up arms. In one of the hate speeches delivered here, the speaker had given openly giving calls for using the said trishuls to stop “love jihad” and religious conversions.
5. Multiple cities and districts, Rajasthan: A total of 7 incidents came to light in the month of April where tridents were distributed at events organised by Bajrang Dal and VHP.
6. Mount Abu, Rajasthan: A weapon training program was organised by the Bajrang Dal from April 13-15, 2023 known as the Rashtriya Shikshak Prashikshan Varg (National Teachers Training camp). Videos also surfaced from the camp, showing men getting trained in how to use a rifle. It was alleged that the training was being given under the leadership of far right leader and known hate offender Pravin Togadia.
7. Vadodara, Gujarat: On February 28, VHP and Bajrang Dal distributed trishuls to over 130 young men. Viral Desai, of VHP Southern Gujarat, while speaking to the media, said that the trishuls were distributed to Hindu men after giving them complete information about it and what is the necessity of a trishul in Hindu homes. The organisers further said that the young men were administered an oath to use the trishuls responsibly and to worship it at home and use it to protect Hindu society, women, cows and saints.

VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders have often said that Indian democracy “needs to be run by Hindu values, though all communities are welcome to live in India”. These Hindu extremist groups have an infamous track record of unleashing brutal violence against Muslims, and have been illegally conducting firearms training camps for their members across Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh states since many years. Giving weapons is the hands of those violent Hindu supremacists who have been threatening the minority community of Muslims with mass slaughter and genocide is a grave cause of concern.

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The post Plea in Kerala HC alleging illegal encroachment in temple by RSS appeared first on SabrangIndia.

–        Ramesh Nathan, general convener of the National Coalition for Strengthening of SC/ST PoA Act

This was the opinion of the convener of the National Coalition for Strengthening of SC/ST PoA Act and it appears he was right.

A rather horrific incident has been reported in Hasanpur village, Kotwali Dehat, Etah. The incident took place on June 1 where a Dalit man was maimed in his private parts by two Caste Hindu men who even kicked his pregnant wife in the stomach, merely over an issue of cutting a tree.

The FIR states that on June 14, accused Vikram Singh and Bhure Thakur started cutting the Babool tree which was on the victim’s land. When the victim protested, they started abusing him calling him “Ch***r” and then angered by his protest got a knife and attacked him in his crotch, thus cutting off more than half of his penis, says the FIR states this account. When the victim’s wife came out hearing her husband’s screams, Satendra attacked her with the axe in his hand. When both of them rushed to their home, scared for their lives, the accused ran behind them and pushed the victim’s pregnant wife on the floor and kicked her on her stomach. Hearing their screams, other villagers gathered on the scene and saved the victims from the accused. The accused while leaving the spot threatened them that if they complained to the police, they would kill them.

Etah Police has said that they have registered an FIR and the investigation is in progress. However, DSP Vikrant Dwivedi has stated that the allegation that the accused stabbed the victim in his crotch was wrong and that the injury was caused during a scuffle between the two.

The Dalit woman has said that when they approached the police immediately after the incident, they refused to lodge a complaint and they had to take a lawyer with them to get the FIR registered. She further said that they are not living in the village anymore since they are being threatened by the family of the accused and she also said that she does not know the condition of her unborn child, reported Navbharat Times.

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has been around for years and yet there has been no decline in crimes against Dalits.

On the other hand, the crimes are increasing instead and the nature of these crimes and the reasons for provocation of these crimes keep getting bizarre  by the day. Especially Uttar Pradesh sees crimes on Dalits more regularly. Since 2018, as many as 49,613 cases of atrocities and attacks on Dalits have been registered in Uttar Pradesh and these are only the cases that have been registered. The ones that don’t get reported for either being deemed trivial or due to the Caste Hindus influence on the Police are still unknown figures.

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The post UP: Dalit man allegedly maimed, his pregnant wife beaten by Caste Hindus in Etah appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The video itself is heartbreaking as the men surrounding him (who cannot be seen in the video) are clearly having fun as they can be heard at his condition. The man can be seen looking miserable and helpless. The young man was being subjected to such torture on suspicion of theft.

In UP’s Bulandshahr district, a Muslim man named Sahil was tied to a tree, shaved bald, and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” on suspicion of mobile theft. The police sent Sahil to jail for theft.

Sahil’s family reached the SSP office today. Gajendra, Saurabh, and Dhanni have been… pic.twitter.com/pYY8BX92Ys

— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) June 17, 2023

His father, Shakeel, while speaking to some local news media narrated the incident, trying to control his tears, “He was returning from work to have food but he never came home. He was tied to a tree and was thrashed with a belt mercilessly. Nobody is listening to us. We went to the police and they instead arrested our son. We have given the name of the culprits but now they are threatening us to compromise.”

He said the accused belonged to Mali, Thakur and Pandit castes. He said that the video was shot by them. With tears in eyes, with no hope in sight he said, “We just want justice”.

Sahil’s distraught father, Shakeel, alleges that their son was imprisoned. Furthermore, he added, “We named all the accused, but now we are being threatened to strike a compromise or face consequences.” pic.twitter.com/VSuYXedp2h

— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) June 17, 2023

Bulandshahr police have said that they have arrested two accused connected in this matter.

थाना ककोड क्षेत्र का सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल वीडियों जिसमें गावं के ही 03 युवक चोरी के शक में एक व्यक्ति को बंधक बनाकर पीटते हुए दिखायी दे रहे हैं। इस सम्बन्ध में थाना ककोड पर अभियोग पंजीकृत करते हुए 02 अभियुक्तों की गिरफ्तारी के सम्बन्ध में अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक नगर की बाइट।@Uppolice pic.twitter.com/uzeB4bCfUI

— Bulandshahr Police (@bulandshahrpol) June 17, 2023

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“There were attempts from the first hour to make this a communal issue. Right-wing activists even prepared a police complaint for us on their own, but the police didn’t accept it. It was never a love jihad case, but a regular crime. Those that committed it, are behind bars. The judiciary will now decide,” he reportedly told the Hindustan Times. The identity of the man is being withheld to avoid identification of his niece, the report said.

The man also said he has been approached by several right-wing groups, but he is firm on not joining the agitation being led by the Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). “I have turned them down every time. Their attempts to reach me have made my life hell. I can’t even go out. I understand all they want to do is to create communal tension and their only aim is raising slogans. I have stopped responding to calls from unknown numbers and have even bought a new number,” he said.

Close to a month ago, on the afternoon of May 26, the man’s niece sought directions from Ubed Khan, 24, and Jitendra Saini, 23, when they allegedly attempted to bundle her into an auto-rickshaw, the Hindustan Times reported. “They took the girl away from the main market area near a petrol pump and called an auto-rickshaw to the spot. Locals saw the girl being made to sit in the rickshaw and raised an alarm. The accused then fled from the spot,” Purola police station in-charge Khajan Chauhan said.

A case was registered on the same day at the Purola police station under sections 363 (kidnapping), 366A (procuration of minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the POCSO Act, and the next day both men were arrested.

This act, a simple crime, was used to single out the identity of one of the perpetrators and unleash an unholy month of terror on the lives of Muslims of Purola and neighbouring towns.

While the man remains grateful to the police for the prompt arrest of the two men, the man said he was unhappy that the incident was “used” to make Muslims leave, the report said.

“I wanted to extend my support for Muslims but was afraid that it wouldn’t be taken positively in this atmosphere. Every time I open Facebook, most news-related videos say this was a case of love jihad. It makes me depressed. Nobody asks me what the real story is,” he said.

Over the past fortnight, over 40 of the 45 Muslim families among Purola’s 8,000 residents have either left for Dehradun or Uttar Pradesh, the Hindustan Times reported. “Those who left should have never gone. I want them back. The whole community shouldn’t be targeted for the offence of one,” the girl’s uncle said.

The motivated communal strife in Purola and neighbouring areas ensued after right-wing groups began calling the incident a ‘love-jihad’ case and forced Muslims to shut their shops or flee the town.

Uttarakhand police were stark in their inaction when these developments took place. In fact only after concerned citizens moved the Supreme Court and then the High Court, was Section 144 imposed to stop the potentially harmful and inflammatory Mahapanchayat planned and announced by extreme right wing groups on June 15.

According to media reports, at least 30 shops owned or rented by Muslims were attacked on May 29 and four days later, on June 3, another procession was carried out with at least 25 more shops attacked in Barkot, the Hindustan Times reported.

A letter by these organisations actually threatened and declared their intent. Besides, sinister posters warning Muslim shop owners to leave the town by June 15 or face consequences surfaced ahead of a proposed ‘mahapanchayat’. A case was registered on June 5 under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The mahapanchayat was not allowed to be organised but there have been no arrests at all so far, of those making hate speeches and promoting communalism, the report said.

The 40-year-old man also said that the law had taken its course but now believed that he may not even have filed a complaint if the accused had apologised. “We now keep her (girl) inside the house. It has left a psychological scar on her. She is good academically, but now remains concerned all the time about her future,” the girl’s uncle said.

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The post Family of Purola minor denies religious motive, says it never was a ‘love jihad case’, Uttarakhand appeared first on SabrangIndia.