Violence

Riot effected Trilokpuri fact finding team report by NCHRO

December 5, 2014 by Nasheman

After the riots in Gujarat communal riots has taken a different mode in the country. Now, instead of rioting at mass level sponsored are made on a small scale. Then used for disturb the communal harmony. Recent trilokpuri incidence was not communal. But it was later given communal color. For this incidence only BJP is not responsible but every one playes his roll in it. Who had stoped the Congress and AAP to handle the situation? And AAP also did not take any platonic stand in this matter.

Riot Effected Trilok Puri Report

Fact Finding Team Members: Ansar Indori, Siddique kappan, Sunil Kumar

Date:- 30, 31 Oct. and 3 Nov. 2014

Delhi:- In 1976 Triloke Puri J J Coloney had been rehabilated after removing the slum jhuggi area of Ashram, Moti Bagh, Dhoula Kuan, INA, Lajpat Nagar, Kanchan Pari etc. There are 36 blocks in Trilokpuri. 500 houses had been allotted in every block . This area also effected in anti sikh riots 1984 and near about 250 peple from sikh community had been killed. Localitie’s current elected MLA is from AAP and MP from BJP.

There was a commotion in block 20 after a verbal spat on October 22, 2014, which these communal outfits spread into entire neighborhood. It’s said that the sparking incident of this fight was about drinking and consuming beef near the Mata ki Chowki installed temporarily.

There is a public park (Central Park) in block 20 where the garbage of block 20 dump. There was a toilet 5 or 6 years back at same place. Last year a Jagran was organized here and on 31 Oct. 2014 it was second time. First time after cleaning the garbage Mata ki Chouki placed for 37 or 38 days here.

It’s been said by hindu residents that after drinking alcohol Rizwan passed the urin at Mata ki Chouki, when we resist, then he began to abuse and slapped a boy. There were 10-15 youths standing in block, having talk with them Gourav Talwar tells that Samir Jain sitiing in the car with his friends and having a drink and Seenk Kabab. Samir has two Santro car with taxi No. he took them.

After passing 10-15 minuts stone pelting was started from Babloo’s home. Police arrived but unable to do anything, then heavy stone pelting began to start.

Gourav (Complainant) and five others (4 Hindus & 2 Muslims) were arrested by the police on 24 Oct. but after 2 days ACP released them on 10,000 personal bond. Further Gourav stated that he and his brother joint with RSS, when police arrested them his brother called acquaintance joint commissioner (After asking the name of that Joint CP, who was from outside of Delhi, Emphasizing mind he disclosed his name Rathor Sahab.) who was in Triloke Puri Police Station that time, and he said to Gourav’s brother that, ‘’if you earlier informed me, I could manage here but now Kalandara (case Report) prepared. There is no such a big case, ACP will release on bail.

When asked the Gourave that how a little quarrel spread to other places? he replied that this time Hindus were united. We asked that, be united so quikely that next day stone pelting in other blocks started? He told us two facts, first due to Mata ki Chouki friends came from other localities, as friends organized Ganesh Puja in block 18, I used to go there, and they also want to organize Mata ki Chouki, but we refused for this year and conviced them to organized next year. Due to this unity riot spread. Until today we were being beaten up. Second point he stated that an announcement was made from Mousque of block 27 that ‘all muslims are being killed, get all the muslim brother together.’ Further he said that there is central park in block 20, in which children could play cricket but captured by muslims only. No any Hindu can go in this park. Asking the population ratio of Hindus & Muslims he replied that there are 65% Hidus and 35% Muslims. He introduce himself as a minority and said that there are 8 house from the Punjabi community.

There are 95-96% Muslims in sector 27. and there is a road between 27 and 35 blocks, on this road, a heavey stone pelting was reported on the eve of 24 Oct. and 25 Oct. Babbi a resident of block 35 stays on first floor of his house and he is running a grossery shop under his home, stated that stones and bricks were pelted between 27 and 28 blocks. Which were taken after breaking drain’s wall. Few stones were also hit at my shop. We were afraid and hide in the house, even unable to looking outside. We had to bear a big loss due to 6 days closing the shops.

A resident of Block 27, 60 years old Israr khan belongs to Pathan community and retired from Electricity Dept. (DESU) in 2005. After retirement he opened a 3 story garments & shoes shop, in which his 8 workers with his two sons worked there. Israr khan’s shop was burnt at 4 AM on 25 Oct. on which Israr khan invested his whole income and 40 lakhs borroing money. Near about 80 Lakhs Material was burnt. He had no insurance, which was guuted his entire fortune. Israr Khan told that police was present at a little distance but did not help him. Fire brigade arrived two hours late, while both fire stations are only 2-3 k.m. away from my shop. Israr Khan tried to log an FIR but did not success. SHO told him that he’ll log in riot’s report. Israr has sent his complaint to DCP and other concerned officers by a registred mail, in which he mentioned the BJP worker’s names, no FIRs were registered as yet and no action taken against them.

A resident of 27 block 55 years Guntu Khan from Mansoori community runs his scrap and vessel shops in block 28. His scrap shop burned at 2 AM on 26 Oct. while the vessel’s shop was tried to rob by breaking the locks. He also tried to log an FIR but SHO did not register.

40 Years Meena Devi has been living for 40 year in 27 Block and has a son and two daughters. Son namely Prem Prakash is working as electritioan in Laxmi Nagar and if someone called him for personal electrical problem he also sort out in the area. They did not have any problem in these years. When asked her that has he seen this situation before? After recalling her mind Meena Devi told that in Indra’s time 1984 it happened, after that nothing ever happened. We Hindus and Muslims all live together peacefully.

Munni Devi has been living here since 1980, she sells women’s garment in weekly market. Her husband is a tailor and works in Pandav Nagar. She has a son and three daughters, all are studying in school. She stated that yet we have no problem. All the families are living peaceful here, only this time such quarrels happened. Due to it shops are not being opened and my husband could not work even for 3 days.

We met with some social workers who works for Hindu-Muslims unity. They stated that ‘’we were going to arrang a meeting for both communities. After some time we came to know by someone that meeting will be held in P.S. Trilok Puri. When we reached there duty officer refused to give us any information about it’’.

A resident of block 26 Kanta Mahra has a tea stal outside police station. Mrs Mahra had a Jhuggi in INA New Delhi. During the partition her family had come from Lahor, Pakistan. Her husband Hans Raj Mahra also used to sell the tea here. She stated that after 1984 there was no any problem here, everthing was cool. Due to cufew I was not able to open my tea stal. But when led to starve I opend the shop. At the same place we met a resident of 27 blocks Mr. Paltan who was retired from DESU and has been living here for 35 years. He stated that he is the only Hindu in his street But he did not seem to ever live in the Muslim neighborhood. We use to celebrate each other’s festivals. All muslim brothers participate in our children’s marriges with very heartly. A big tragedy happened in 1984 after that there were little quarrels taken place, but it was not happened even 10-15 years.

There are 80 % Muslims & 20 Hindus in block 15 and one mousque and three 3 temples. Heavy stone pelting reported in this locality and several people were injured. Several Muslims were also arrested from this block. Shabana’s nefew’s Aqika (Birth Ceremoney of a Child after 7 days) canceled due to riots. Police forcefully entered into the house and arrested Bilal (19), Irfan(32), Azhar(19) and Sajid(35 ). They were brutally beaten up by the police due to it Bilal’s finger, Irfan’s hand and Sajid’s ankle got fracture. Further Shabana said that even police did not allow us to meet with them, we met in Tihar Jail and police shown their arresting from block 27.

Block 15 resident Mohammad Shamshad said that I called police 25-30 times but police was not receiving the call. Same block’s another resident Alimuddin belongs to Bulandshar UP, and he is a E-Riksha driver. He was brutally beaten up by the police, due to it the black marks on his body could be seen. He said that many outsider people were throing the stones around his locality and police was standing 100 mtrs away but not coming. When local residents informed the ACP then he came with force.

Block 15 resident Mohammad Akhtar lives with his family and he is a motor machenic. Police arrested him between 2-2.30 pm. Akhtar got injuries in his hand and back. He has four chindren. His wife borroed some monety from someone then went to meet with him. Police has arrested a persone who was not a local resident, he came here to distribute the ceremony cards in their relatives. As the same police arrested Khurshid (60) and his son Jabir(17 a Garment Selesman).

Ramjan Mishra a DESU retired is a resident of block 15, who is known as a Panditji in the locality. When the rioters proceeded to throw stones in their street then he closed the street’s main gate and stood with folded hands in front of rioters and said to violent mob that “hit us first then go ahead”. By doing this Panditji save his street. Now Punditi is the subject of discussion foh his bravry in the locality. When Panditji was asked that he recognizes the rioters then he replied that “all were outsiders (from other blocks)”.

15 Block’s residents say that after surrounding the area rioters were throing the stones and headed by Ashok of 14 blocks. Who is a motor mechanic.

A residence of block 20 Nafisa is a widow. And survives with her children by selling polythene. On 23 Oct. at 8 pm she was coming to her home, at that time stones were thrown due to it she got injured and then her hand was fratured due to brutally beaten up by the police.

Mohammad Mohsin (22) S/o Mohammad Raees lives in block 20 working as motor painter. Mohsin got married 7 months back and time of arresting he was coming from in-law’s home in Meerut. Police did not allow family to meet him. Then they met him in Tihar Jail. Mohsin’s both hand were injured.

20 years Sonu S/0 Khurshid have an agg’s shop. He has been arrested from mousque and brutally beaten up there by the police till unconsciousness. Sonu recently got married and had a reception that time.

A resident of block 20 Wahidan (70) unable to speak clearly. Becouse of her old age she is unable to walk properly. Police forcely entered into her house no 410 and beaten up her and brock the stuffs. When her douther in law tried to resist them, police (5 Male, 3 Female) also beat her again.

Another resident of same block Sangita said that Muslims objected to set up the Chouki. We planned to set up Mata ki Chouki and clean the place so this place remain clean. When garbage was picked up, heavy smell spread. There were bugs in rainy weather. There is a Staue of Bajranbali, Muslims eat buffalos and intentionally throw his shit here to annoy us. Some Muslim women came and said that “if Mata ki Chouki would be put, then we’ll remind you chourasi (Sikh Riots)”. Muslim boys fired three round. In whom two were arrested and one fled. Our street resident Rizwan had drink and meat and he was going to touch our temple and abusing. There was a commotion in block 20 after a verbal spat. He slaped a 15 years boy after that we resist, then his wife came and took him. We called the police, and police made a compromise, but did not register the complaint. Bricks and bottoles were recovered from Roof of the Muslim’s houses, they had the whole planning. We used to off the loudispeaker at the time of their prayer(Namaz). Deepu’s wife got fractured in her hand. When we asked her “how she got hurt?”, she replied ‘at the time of stone pelting she got hurt’. Where were the people’s representatives? Snagita said that Ex. MLA Sunil Vaidh and Ramchandra Gujrati came and helped us. Today (Oct. 31) current AAP’s MLA came, whom we turened around. Sangita and Monu said that from childhood we had been beaten up, and never rised a voice but this time we awoke on Mata ki Chouki issue.

In a video clip near about 300-400 youth are shouting the ‘Bam Bam bhole, Har Har Mahadev, and Balmiki Shakti amar rahe’. These youths were mobilized behind the Balmiki Mandir which is 50 mtrs away from Ex BJP MLA Sunil Vaidh’s home. (There was a hording dispaying a massage about completion of 50 Years of Vishv Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal on 17 Aug. followed by Shobha Yatra from Trilokpuri’s 1 Block to 36 Block.) Sunil Vaidh reached in this violent crowd and hardly stayed 25-30 mnts, at the same time he received a call and talked for 7-8 mnts (Due to lot of noice Sunil Vaidh’s voice was not cleared) and he left.

In another video clip, 150-200 youth(some had Stick put a Tilak on forhead and some had sword in hands) can be seen shouting the slogans ‘Pakistan Murdabad, Pakistan ki Ma ki…..’ and sprinting arrond on the road.

Conclution:

If block 20’s qurrel was not organised then how did it reach in other blocks?
Where were the elected representatives (MPs, MLAs and councelers) ?
What did Sunil Vaidh say to the violent mob in a short time that took ?
27, 15 blocks didn’t indulge in stoning, then where were the actual perpetrators from, and who were they actually?
Why only Muslim’s shops were burnt, if a Muslims mob was instigated by so-called Masjid announcment?
Why did police release the miscreant who started all this by creating a fight in Block 20? Who was behind this release?
Who is Joint Commissioner Rathore, who spoke to Gaurav Talwar’s brother?
What was police doing during the continued arson and why did the fire brigade vehicles reach after two hours?
Why did the police not register FIRs regarding the burnt shops?

National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation

(Delhi State)

Add: N-44- Hilal Homes, 2nd Stage, Ground Floor, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi -110025

w w w. n c h r o . o r g

Six out of 10 Indian men admit violence against wives: UN study

November 11, 2014 by Nasheman

Reporting by Nita Bhalla, editing by Alisa Tang, Reuters

New Delhi: Six out of 10 Indian men admit to having perpetrated violence against their wives or partners, with men who experienced discrimination as children or faced financial stresses more likely to be abusive, said a study released on Monday.

The report – by the United Nations World Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Washington-based International Center for Research on Women – polled 9,205 men, aged 18 to 49, across seven states in India to understand their views on masculinity, partner violence and son preference.

Violence was defined as emotional such as insults, intimidation and threats, or physical and sexual such as pushing, punching and rape. It also included economic abuse in which a man did not permit his wife or partner to work or took her earnings against her will.

“Many men in India act in a manner that is fairly predetermined by their gendered roles and expectations, socio-economic characteristics and childhood experiences,” said the “Masculinity, Intimate Partner Violence and Son Preference” report.

“Men who experience economic stress were more likely to have perpetrated violence ever or in the past 12 months. This may be because of norms related to masculinity, which reinforce the expectation that men are primary economic providers for their households.”

The study – across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra – found that men who had experienced discrimination as children were four times more likely to be violent towards their partners.

The highest reports of violence came from Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, said the report, with more than 70 percent of men in these regions admitting to being abusive towards their wives and partners.

More than 38 percent of all crimes committed against women in India in 2013 were those registered under the charge of cruelty by husband or his relatives, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Such crimes make up the largest proportion of crimes against women in the country – with 118,866 cases of cruelty by husband or his family reported from a total of 309,546, says the NCRB.

Physical violence most common

The study, which also polled 3,158 women, said more than half – 52 percent – of women said they had experienced some form of violence during their lifetime.

Physical abuse such as being kicked, slapped, choked and burned was the most commonly reported, with 38 percent of women saying they had faced such abuse. This was followed by emotional, sexual and economic violence respectively.

The reason less women reported being victims than men reported being violent was a feeling of shame or fear of social stigma, said the report. They may have also believed such acts were normal in a relationship and expected men to exert some control on their lives, it added.

Women who were discriminated against as children were three to six times more likely to experience violence.

“Women who experienced and observed discrimination or violence growing up are more likely to justify it as adults and may therefore not resist circumstances that may trigger intimate partner violence,” the report said.

The head of UNFPA in India, Frederika Meijer, said that this research into the causes of violence would help to structure programmes to engage men and boys more effectively.

“It identifies triggers that could enable them to become change agents in addressing gender discrimination,” Meijer said at the launch of the report on the sidelines of the MenEngage conference aimed at getting men involved in gender equality.

Statement on the recent communal disturbances in Trilokpuri

November 5, 2014 by Nasheman

by People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (P.A.D.S)

(Members of P.A.D.S. have been interacting with and visiting residents of Trilokpuri ever since the communal disturbances started on Oct 23. Along with many other citizens we are involved in efforts to re-establish peace and in providing legal aid to those wrongfully arrested. This statement is based on our experiences.)

The inhabitants of Trilokpuri, a densely populated neighbourhood of working people in Delhi, went through a harrowing week after Diwali night on 23 October. A brawl around two places of worship that night proved to be the first event. Although the situation appears to have settled down that night, some motivated planning and mobilisation must have taken place that night itself, because the next day it was a full scale communal clash. Armed mobs from outside the locality are reported to have joined the rioting that involved brick throwing. Firearms were also used and two boys suffered critical bullet injuries. Inhabitants are emphatic that the police fired into the crowd. The police first denied firing at all. Its latest claim is that it fired only in self defense. One apparel show room owned by a Muslim resident was gutted. Police intervened in force only two days after the clashes started. It turned the neighbourhood into an occupied war-zone. More than fifty men and minor boys were arrested randomly, many picked up forcibly from their houses amid verbal abuse and physical violence. Road intersections were barricaded and entry and exit points were closely monitored. Drones were used in surveillance and houses systematically searched. Essential supplies were in short supply. Daily wage earners, contract workers, and self employed who could not go out lost their source of livelihood. Seriously wounded and ill had no access to medical aid. While the entire neighbourhood suffered in one form or another, inhabitants of three blocks in particular, nos 15, 27 and 28, and attached jhuggi clusters, mainly occupied by citizens who are Muslims bore the brunt of police action.

All this happened at a distance of less than ten kilometers as the crow flies from the center of state power in India’s capital. National elections five months ago were won by Mr Narendra Modi who projected a ‘strong man’ image and promised that he would provide ‘achhe din’ of decisive and effective governance. In reality, the face of the Indian state in Trilokpuri these days is ugly. First, institutions of the state, its police, bureaucracy, and all political parties associated with it failed to prevent a localised scuffle from flaring into a violent riot. And second, when the state did show up, only its authoritarian jack boots were seen on the ground. It further terrorised people already battered by rioting and public violence. It did not take any steps to initiate dialogue between affected communities, and provided no relief or medical aid. Its social institutions like schools, anganwadis, health centers, or the police organised peace committee, etc. simply collapsed. Three fourths of the arrested people are Muslim citizens. Some of them are migrant workers. Arrested people were abused and beaten up while in police lock up. Many of them had visible injuries when presented in front of a Magistrate in the Karkardooma court on 26th October. They were not provided any medical aid or food for nearly two days.

The Trilokpuri neighbourhood has a traumatic past. It was established in the mid seventies of the last century during Emergency. It is a so-called resettlement colony, in which people forcibly displaced from inner city were settled and given land titles. The displacement and settlement process was often violent. The most gruesome massacres of Sikh citizens in Delhi in 1984 took place in Trilokpuri and neighbouring Kalyanpuri. Despite the fast economic growth and massive urbanization in the past two decades in India, settlement patterns in cities continue to be segregated by religion. Most of Trilokpuri is inhabited by Balmikis, a scheduled caste, classified as untouchables in the orthodox Hindu varna order. After the Sikhs migrated out, Muslims are the other community, who are concentrated mainly to three out of thirty blocks. Recent migrants in search of work form a significant part of the population. They are also settling along community lines. The twenty five square yard plots originally alloted have now risen to three-four storey pucca structures, providing a decent rental income to original owners. There are also occasional cars parked in narrow streets. The little prosperity that has trickled into this neighbourhood has however not brought secure peace. Residents often complain of brawls and other forms of every day violence. The area reportedly also suffers from petty crime syndicates operating under police protection. Nevertheless, for thirty years since 1984, the neighbourhood escaped communal violence. Even the weeks following demolition of Babri mosque in 1992 passed peacefully.

Recent events in Trilokpuri reveal the character of Indian society and state that do not portend well at all. All experiments in Fascism, that involved selective violence against minorities to consolidate a nation, have relied upon mass support. The India of 2014 can not be said to be impervious to such schemes. The political success of BJP in the national elections has emboldened Hindutva elements to openly target religious minorities and mobilise aggressively around sectarian demands. The ex-MLA from the BJP is reported to be part of the communal organising in Trilokpuri. Communal polarisation is proving to be a successful electoral strategy for the BJP. It is exploiting economic, political, gender and caste anxieties in a fast changing society which has not developed a strong popular democratic consciousness. The tragedy of politics at the moment in India is that none of the competitors of the BJP have a clue about how to counter its dangerous mix of religion and politics with a leader enjoying mass support. The Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi had succeeded in getting the support of Muslim and Dalit voters in the last assembly elections and currently holds the Trilokpuri seat, but it is afraid to come out publicly against communal violence lest it disturbs its electoral calculations. Congress is in severe decline and absent from the scene. No mainstream political party in India has had the wisdom and ideological clarity to realise that treating society in terms of the majority- minority framework actually validates communal agenda, and that the counter to communalisation of politics is an unequivocal assertion of citizenship rights of every one.

It is also obvious that the Indian state, while seemingly democratic in some aspects, is also undemocratic in some fundamental ways. It does not consider the protection of democratic rights of its citizens as its prime responsibility. It regularly attacks rights of the poor and socially marginal, which at present also include religious minorities. Indian state still follows the colonial authoritarian policy of treating moments of deep social strife like riots as a ‘law and order’ issue, and its first action is to enforce its brutal authority over people, rather than help the victims. Further, over time the Indian state institutions have been communalised. None of the victims of communal riots in India, including the most gruesome ones, of 1984 in Delhi, 1992-3 in Mumbai and 2002 in Gujarat have received justice. Commission after commission on riots in India have found the police and administration to be authoritarian and partisan. Yet, if nothing has changed, there obviously are powerful social and political forces that wish to use this character of Indian state for their own ends.

The social ideological environment of neoliberalism has encouraged religiosity and public assertion of religious identities, while weakening mass based mobilisations against oppression and exploitation. This is happening in all communities. Right wing political forces claiming to represent specific religious communities are using the opportunity to develop new kinds of aggressive religious practices that lead to social strife and communalise the society. This is a new challenge which democratic and secular forces have to contend with. Barring a few exceptions, the media in the capital has played a partisan role during recent developments in Trilokpuri. English language newspapers and TV channels that cater essentially to consumerist aspirations of urban propertied and professionals have spread the police version of rioting, which blames Muslim residents of the neighbourhood. They are more interested in sustaining a consumerist utopia unencumbered by social disturbances, rather showing the sufferings of the marginal and the physical abuse of people arrested by the police. Many residents of Trilokpuri work as maids, drivers, security guards and provide other services to the upper middle class residents of neighbouring Mayur Vihar. Yet life in the latter went on as usual.

P.A.D.S. appeals to the citizens of Delhi to disregard aggressive sectarian demands, provocations and rumours by communal forces and defeat their plans to communalise society. Secularism of the state and society is necessary for everyone, believers of different religions and non-believers, to lead a peaceful life without discrimination and persecution. Before succumbing to calls for their so-called ‘community’ interests all citizens should ponder over what kind of society they wish to live in. The one based on hatred, religious discrimination, national chauvinism, or the one which is inclusive and respects citizenship rights of everyone. We appeal to the working people of the city, who constitute the overwhelming majority of its population, to organise and fight together against their economic exploitation, caste oppression, price rise, police extortion, and deplorable condition of public services like hospitals, schools, and transport, rather than against each other.

P.A.D.S. demands following from Delhi state administration.

All administrative and police officials who failed in their duty to prevent rioting, made random and wrongful arrests, and physically abused citizens should be punished.
All residents who suffered physical injury, mental trauma, wrongful arrest and loss of livelihood and property during riots and subsequent police occupation of the neighbourhood should be adequately compensated.
All citizens arrested should be granted immediate bail. Cases against those arrested wrongfully withdrawn immediately, and other cases settled expeditiously so that arrested people and their families can lead a normal life as soon as possible.
A judicial commission of inquiry should be constituted immediately to find out culpability of state administration, and of the political leadership of any party in fanning the communal violence.
The ‘official’ peace committee established by the police has proved completely ineffective. It should be revamped and representatives of the organisations working in the area should be included in it. Its meetings should be held regularly and publicly.
Many areas in Delhi are potential flash points for communal violence. There are many reports of aggressive sectarian demands made by ‘panchayats’ and ‘mahapanchayats’. All those making illegal demands and spreading false propaganda about others should be dealt with firmly, so that citizens of other parts of the city do not suffer what Trilokpuri residents are going through.

Communal tension and violence in different parts of Delhi – Citizens letter to the National Commission for Minorities

November 4, 2014 by Nasheman

New Delhi: A delegation of social activists, citizens and academics met the National Commission for Minorities regarding the communally volatile situation which is developing in and around various resettlement colonies across Delhi.

The following representation was submitted to the NCM and later to Police Commissioner’s office and LG’s office.

The Chairperson
National Commission for Minorities
The Police Commissioner
The Lieutenant Governor
Delhi
November 3, 2014

Dear Sir,

We are writing to you to communicate our concern regarding recent spate of communal tension and violence in different areas and the rising sense of insecurity in the Muslim community of Delhi. At several instances, organized campaigns have been taken to spread hatred and create tension centering religious festivals. Trilokpuri riot is the latest instance of such violence. Since 1st November we are getting news of communal tension being created in Bawana. Several of us have communicated our concern regarding that to concerned authorities. Here we would like to point out these concerns as well as our appeal for proper steps to be taken in that context-

A mahapanchayat was held in Bawana on the eve of Mohurram on 2nd November with a clear intent to create communal tension and polarize communities on religious lines. The Mahapanchayat didn’t have permission from any authority. The administration allowed it to happen in spite of several requests to stop it.
In the above mentioned Mahapanchyat threatening language was used and it was announced that Tazia procession during Mohurram should not be allowed to happen.
Muslim community in Bawana is under tremendous pressure and is feeling threatened.
We have information that the leaders from the ruling party at the Centre are working in tandem with the organizers of the Mahapanchyat.
The unlawful nature of this whole campaign against Muslims is evident from the poster announcing the Mahapanchayat which has been used to mobilize people for the same.
There are reports of communal tension from Nandnagri, Majnu ka Tilla and Timarpur while the wounds of Trilokpuri are yet to be healed.
In the context of Trilokpuri, the role of the police has raised several questions. Initially, the lack of action from the police emboldened the rioters to unleash violence. When the police acted, rather than arresting well known instigators of the riot, the police has arrested people and filed FIRs arbitrarily. It is also a matter of concern that most of the arrested people belong to the minority community. We have also reports of police brutality on the arrested people in Mayur Vihar police station. Those who are arrested right now are in Tihar Jail ( Jail no 8). We have come to know from the relatives of the arrested persons that several of them who are injured because of the police brutality in Mayur Vihar police station are not getting proper medical treatment. This is a request to you to ensure that all the arbitrary FIRs are cancelled, proper medical facility is given to those imprisoned in Tihar jail and action is initiated on those Police personals that are responsible for violence on arrested persons.

In view of the above mentioned events and facts, we would request you to kindly ensure that organizations and individuals indulging in communal mobilization are restricted and proper vigilance and security is in place and the religious rights of Muslims are safe guarded.

We would like to point out that in the wake of communal tension in Trilokpuri, Muslim community faced violence and arbitrary arrest at the hand of police. It is important that the trust of the members of minority community over administration is not shaken further.

We are also attaching the poster announcing the Mahapanchyat and recordings of speeches spreading communal hatred in Bawana along with this letter.

Thanking You,
Yours sincerely

On behalf of:

Devendra Bharti, Dhruv Sangari, Kiran Shaheen, Mohd Aamir, Naveen Chander, Nayan Jyoti, Om Prasad, Onkar Mittal, Ovais Sultan Khan, Prof Apoorvanand, Rakhi Gupta, Shabnam Hashmi, Subhashini, Sucheta De, Viren Lobo

AAP sees political design behind violence in Trilokpuri, demands probe into BJP’s role

October 27, 2014 by Nasheman

New Delhi: While demanding the probe into the role of former BJP MLA Sunil Kumar Vaidya in the Trilokpuri riots, the Aam Aadmi Party has alleged on Sunday that the communal violence in Trilokpuri area of East Delhi was a pre-planned act in order to polarize the society on communal lines for political ends. The party said it is an unpardonable act which has been committed in a pre-planned manner to polarize the society on religious lines. It appealed to the people of the area to maintain peace and clam, and no attention should be given to rumours being spread by vested interests to create discord between communities.

The AAP had sought a report from its MLAs – Raju Dhingan and Manoj Kumar, representing Trilokpuri and Kondli assembly constituencies about the reasons behind the communal flare-up and the prevailing situation. It said that both of them have been spending their nights in the affected area to prevent any further disturbance. The first-hand account narrated by them has brought out very disturbing developments, which makes it clear that there is a political design behind this communal tension in Trilokpuri and its adjoining areas.

AAP demanded that Delhi Police should probe the role of former BJP MLA Sunil Kumar Vaidya in the entire incident, since there are credible reports that he had convened a meeting on Diwali night and trouble started only after that. It needs to be investigated what was the purpose of inflammatory meetings on Diwali night and where did the group led by this BJP leader go after their controversial meeting.

The attempts to create communal discord need to be nipped in the bud and the Delhi administration needs to fully wake up before it is too late.

The party said it has been reported in the media that the union home ministry had alerted the Delhi Police about the possibility of communal tension around Diwali in some parts of the capital, since neither the home ministry nor the Delhi Police have denied the existence of such an advisory, the people of Delhi have a right to know what preventive steps were taken.

Slamming the Center, AAP said that exchange of information is meaningless if there is no political will to take action and when precedents of Uttar Pradesh are already there, the central government which is controlling Delhi by proxy has a lot to explain.

Concerned civil society members petition Lt. Governor, Delhi Police over Trilokpuri riots

October 27, 2014 by Nasheman

New Delhi: Concerned members of the civil society have petitioned to the Lieutenant Governor, Delhi Police over communal riots in Trilokpuri and expressed deep concerns about the “role and steps taken by the police” in the process of restoring communal peace and harmony, and ensuring legal justice.

They wrote that they are worried by reports that many young men are being illegally detained for long periods, and political representatives of one segment of the young men are being permitted to enter the police stations, whereas other lawyers and senior activists are not being permitted to enter the police stations.

“Rightly or wrongly, this has created an impression of communal and political bias and a lack of fairness. This is not conducive to restoring peace in the area,” the petitioned.

They demanded that the local police are firmly instructed to function in ways that are transparent, bipartisan and fair. “We further demand that all persons who are detained in connection with the violence are presented before a magistrate, and due and fair process of law not only followed but seen to be followed by all affected people,” the petition read.

The following petition signed by activists, academicians and citizens have been sent by email and fax to the Lieutenant Governor and the police commissioner today over communal violence:

Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
&
Police Commissioner, Delhi
October 26, 2014

We the undersigned and many other citizens of Delhi are deeply concerned about the role and steps taken by the police in the process of restoring communal peace and harmony, and ensuring legal justice, following the recent communal tensions in Trilokpuri, Delhi.

We are worried by reports that many young men are being illegally detained for long periods, and political representatives of one segment of the young men are being permitted to enter the police stations, whereas other lawyers and senior activists are not being permitted to enter the police stations. Rightly or wrongly, this has created an impression of communal and political bias and a lack of fairness. This is not conducive to restoring peace in the area.

We therefore demand that the local police are firmly instructed to function in ways that are transparent, bipartisan and fair. We further demand that all persons who are detained in connection with the violence are presented before a magistrate, and due and fair process of law not only followed but seen to be followed by all affected people. We further demand that medical tests are done of all injured persons, and that family members and lawyers are permitted to meet the detained persons.

Yours sincerely

Signed on behalf of

Amit Srivastava
Anam Khan, Advocate, Human Rights law Network
Apoorvanand, academician
Areeb Rizvi
Asad Ashraf, Aman Biradari
Ashok Kumar Boudh
Ashutosh Kumar-JNUSU
Aslam Ahmed
Asrarul haque Jeelani
Chunni lal
Devendra Bharti
Dipak Dholakia
DR Rahul
Dvijendra Nath Kalia
Farhan
Ghazala jamil
Harsh Mander, writer, social activist, Centre for Equity Studies
Imkar Mittal
Jamal Kidwai
Jameer Abbas
Jaya Sharma, NoMore campaign
Jitendram- JNU
Kavita Krishnan
Kiran Shaheen
Kripal Singh
Lesley Esteves
Lokesh
Manisha Sethi, JTSA
Manoj Kumjar
Mohd Zakir Riyaz
Mukul Dube
Mukul Priyadarshi
Naveen
Nayan
ND Pancholi, advocate
Nusrat jahan
Poorva Bhardwaj, social activist
Prashant
Rajni Tilak
Rakhi Gupta
Sandeep
Santosh Kumar- sanhati
Satosh
Satya Sidhartha Pawar
Saurabh Naruka
Shabnam Hashmi, social activist, ANHAD
Shaoor Khan
Shefali & Sanjeev
Shipra Nigam
Subhash Kumar
Sucheta de
Sundaram, CNDP
Syed Mujtaba Athar
Tabish
Tanweer Fazal
Tara Negi
Tariq Adeeb, Advocate, Human Rights law Network
Varsha Mehta
Vipul
Zafar Eqbal
Zulekha jabin, Social activist

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Concerned civil society members petition Lt. Governor, Delhi Police over Trilokpuri riots

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