Demand in wake of Afrazul’s murder
Update:
Deplorable Act, criminal to be prosecuted in the shortest possible time – Chief Minister
Jaipur, 7 December: Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has condemned the gruesome murder committed in Rajsamand on Wednesday, videos of which went viral on social media. She appreciated the prompt action by the police and directed that the criminal be prosecuted in the shortest possible time. She stated, “This is a deplorable act which needs to be condemned in strongest possible terms”.
In a joint statement released on 7th December 2017, prominent Civil Rights bodies in India have demanded the immediate resignation of Rajasthan Chief Minister VasundharaRaje and Home Minister Gulah Chand Kataria and urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn the “cold-blooded murder” of Mohammed Afrazul, a 48 year old migrant from West Bengal in Rajsamand, Rajasthan.
The groups demanding this include Peoples’ Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), MazdoorKisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), NagrikManch, Dalit ShoshanMuktiManch, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) and others.
The statement said, “All organisations of Rajasthan are shocked at the recent developments of what is happening in the State in terms of lynching of Muslims, the latest one being carried out on the 25th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition, a murder in cold blood of Mohammed Afrazul” Mohammad Afrazul was hacked to death before being burnt. This came to light today when a video where attackers can be clearly seen hacking Afrazul to death, was circulated today on social media.
In the video, the prime suspectShambhu Lal Regarjustifies his actions saying, “People with Islamic belief systems are all around use. They wear black clothes outside Masjids, in public places and around, they are a threat to our cultural heritage and are destroying it. Just like MaharanaPratap had decided to fight Islamic Jihad, we too have to eliminate the present Islamic Jihad. So I have done it, it may be good or bad, but I have done it!” He also speaks about the Babri Masjid demolition in a bid to strengthen his claim. “25 years ago the Babri Masjid was demolished but even that has not changed anything,” Regar is heard saying.
Their other demands of theCivil Society groups include clear and unambiguous condemnation of this and other hate attacks by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, the immediate arrest of all the killers and attackers in hate crimes in Rajasthan, provision of absolute security to all the Muslims in the State, an end to the culture of hate and violence against Muslims and stopping the protection to such killers by BJP in power in the state with 160 MLAs out of 200.
Activists from the organisations who signed the statement also urged the police to arrest those who encouraged and aided Regar and his accomplices. “Although the police have arrested the murderer Shambhu Lal Regar and the nephew who had shot the video, but it is important to reach the people who motivated him to carry out this murder,” the statement said.
The statement goes on to list other lynchings and religious violence in the recent months in Rajasthan including the brutal murders or Pehlu Khan, Zafar Khan and Ummar Khan. It draws attention towards the disturbing pattern of systematic and premeditated violence against minorities in the state.
Complete list of Organisations that have signed the statement:
Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan,
MazdoorKisan Shakti Sangatha,
Rajasthan NagrikManch,
Dalit Shoshan MuktiManch,
National Federation of Indian Women,
All India Democratic Women’s Association,
Jan VicharManch,
Dr.Ambedkar VicharManch,
Welfare Party, Jamait
Islami Hind,
Zari Handloom Work Union, SIO,
Rajasthan SamagraSewaSangh,
AkhilBhartiyaKisan Sabha,
SFI,
MazdoorKisan Shakti Sangathan,
SuchnaevamRozgarAdhikarManch,
Dalit Adhikar Kendra,
National Muslim Women Welfare Society,
Vividha, Mahila, PunarvasSamooh,
NAPM,
SDPI,
SamtaGyanVigyanSamiti,
RUWA,
Pink City Zari Handloom Work Mazdoor Union,
Aaritari Zardoz Ekta Sangathan,
HRLN,
ZamayteUlema Hind,
JDU,
Samajwadi Party,
Rajasthan Kacchi Basti Federation,
Jaipur Kacchi Basti MahaSangh,
Jaipur district unit of CPIM,
CPI,
CPI ML, Liberation,
MCPI,
Banjara Yuva Shakti Sangathan,
AIDMAM,
Rajasthan MahilaKamgaar Union.