Communal riots in India: Jalgaon, Bhiwandi killings and failure to act on Commission's reports

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

As lynching incidents and hate crimes continue, we talk about the failure of institutions, particularly, the inability of police and agencies in promptly dealing with violence. 

Also, we talk about how police often fail to act on mob and often the victim gets harassed or framed due to the street power of the goons and their political associations. 

But we have reached the state not in a few months or years. It has been a weakening of institutions over decades. Decades ago, when riots occurred, it often happened that the officials didn't act promptly and excesses or biased action took place.

Imagine, just a year after the horrific Ahmedabad riots of 1969, there were communal riots in Jalgaon, Bhiwandi and Mahad in Maharashtra. Over 120 persons were killed in the riots in these three places and property was destroyed.

The riots had again drawn attention of the nation. Muslims suffered heavily, in terms of loss of lives too. After the riots, justice DP Madon was given task for judicial probe in Jalgaon. Running into six volumes it was a very clear report. 

The role of police had come up in debates. In Jalgaon, out of 43 persons killed, 42 were Muslim. One of the most heart-rending incidents was the killing of Hajra Begam's children in front of her eyes. This had prompted Nida Fazli to wrote the famous verse. 

But, as usual, communal riots were seen as a regular feature in those days. After a few days, news would not be on front page and then focus was lost. The Madon Commission report was voluminous, it had brought out everything in open. 

There was documented evidence, commission report told everything. Evil should have been nipped in the bud. Government should have acted. The names of organisations, their role, their entire planning and all other information was there in the report. 

In Lok Sabha, Mohd Ismail had tabled adjournment motion. Speaker said that he was not sure that the motion could be allowed as it was state subject. The point is that if governments were serious, they could have taken banned the outfits that were involved in large-scale rioting and killings, then only. 

But this didn't happen. The will was missing, there was no intent. If government acts tough, there is fear among the lawbreakers and rioters. These organisations continued to function and there was no serious action. Neither the special acts or tough laws were invoked, nor there were steps taken to stop these organisations from expanding. 

As a result, they were emboldened and within a decade--by 1980s they were able to mobilize so many people that violence spread across India during Rath Yatra. So today when talk about how institutions collapsed, it's not that suddenly in the last five or ten years this has happened. 

Two decades later, the deadly Mumbai riots too witnessed the same pattern. The Justice Sri Krishna Commission report kept gathering dust for years and its recommendations were not acted upon. Role of Congress was perplexing and the major changes that were needed in administration, forces, composition of police and implementation of laws, couldn't take place.

Successive governments played a role and the decades of softness towards fundamentalist and radical groups, made them so powerful that it became almost impossible to stop them in later years. Photo is just for representational purpose. Courtesy. 

The history of communal riots in Aligarh, Hyderabad and Meerut: How violence stopped and intensity, frequency of killings came down

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

The recent horrific killings in Delhi have once again brought alive memories of the brutality during communal riots in several cities in India, in the past.

Historically, cities that saw communal riots had a similar pattern and the victim's grievances were also similar.

The police or provincial armed constabulary i.e. PAC (in case of UP) were accused of high-handedness and allegations of complicity with the right-wing leaders in the local towns.

The cities that were once most affected include Aligarh, Hyderabad and Meerut (apart from Kanpur and Ahmedabad). From the decade of 1960s till 1980s and even later, these cities remained vulnerable to such killings, though situation improved later.

In the case of Aligarh, there were several factors. The role of traders belonging to a small community (Baraseni Vaishya) has been the most significant factor and discussed in several studies. Unfortunately, it is not remembered or even talked about now.

No analysis or any serious understanding is possible unless this aspect is remembered. As this is a post, I would not delve into the detail and the readers can themselves get a fair idea. The intensity and frequency of riots came down after major changes in the town.

KK Navman, a right-wing leader, was known for his inflammatory speeches and statements. After the eighties, BSP emerged as a power in the district and the electoral alliances (the Muslim support for the party in civic election or assembly or parliament), also had its affect on the local society.

The rise of in Muslim population--from around 33% after independence, it crossed 40% (due to migration from rural areas and nearby villages) was also a factor in this change. The Dalit population too doubled in Aligarh in terms of percentage.

And, the result was that Aligarh was no longer a city that was witnessing riots (unlike past when it was a regular occurrence). Having suffered repeatedly, Muslims are aware of their vulnerability (due to hostile officials and police), hence, behave more maturely and act responsibly in areas where they are strong.

This is also reflected in the way that cities that are Muslim majority don't witness communal riots--either it is cities like Rampur or Burhanpur, or regions of West Bengal around Murshidabad or Mewat.

Ultimately, the issue is lack of representation of Muslims in police--a community that accounts for nearly 15% of population, is hardly visible in the forces. For more, read other posts on the issue viz. How communal killings can be stopped and Had Congress been tough on rioters in 1992-93, Gujarat pogrom won't have taken place.

[Image: Courtesy, Indian Express, screenshot of paper's front page]

Delhi killings: Can communal violence, orchestrated riots, anti-Muslim pogroms ever be stopped in India?

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Delhi is in flames--nearly 20 persons have been killed, hundreds injured, settlements burnt and mob marches on the streets shouting slogans.

It all happened in Delhi, when the security was high, Donald Trump was visiting, yet, police failed to stop the rioters. The photographs and videos of youths taking pride in the attacks, arson and killings, are all over social media.

But this is just one in the series of such communal killings India has witnessed for decades. Delhi is the national capital, hence, we see more images. But the total failure of political class, the lack of will on part of opposition leaders and role of police show how law-and-order crumbled and this is the story of every riot in India.

Indian Express report on the front page on February 26,2020, had the headline ''Mob, courtesy Delhi police". It said, 'Right under the police nose, men with rods, sticks assault, set homes ablaze, check ID cards, smash CCTVs..."

The question once again stares us in the face: Can such killings, violence ever stop in India?

We often see how cops choose not to act, remains mute spectators or there are allegations how they side with mobs. One of the most important factors it the lack of Muslims and other minority communities in the police. The share of minorities in police is barely 5%.

If there are 12-15% Muslims in Delhi, but you don't have even 2% in Delhi police, it is a clear lack of representation of the society. *When riots are engineered or mobs are out on streets, its impact is visible, most clearly.

There are videos of attacks on mosques and madarsas, people forced to take off pants, journalists allowed to go when it was found that they were from the majority community. But many would still make false equivalence, justify. They will use one example or two to claim that it was not a pogrom or mass killings that had the nod of the authorities, rather, a clash.

When you work in a society or serve it, you have to be representative of the society, at least, there should be some attempt to act fair, appear fair. If not 12%, at least get 5-6% minorities! But no, there is no discussion on the subject, in fact, the figures are no longer made public. May be less than 2% now in Delhi

In reports of numerous commissions on communal killings, role of police has been criticised. When even in national capital, people have to approach High Court to get police to let ambulances carry victims, you see how deep is the rot. Nothing will work until police is inclusive.

Police is the arm of the State on the ground--the most visible and potent symbol of power on the street. You want to keep it as such, reform is not the intention, never, no government is keen on in. Besides, narrative is created in such a fashion that if there were no police, then majority would have been in trouble!

Further, there is no accountability, action. Political class has no interest in stopping killings, it helps them. After every riot, the politician who made hate speeches or got accused of orchestrating the riot, gains in stature--that's the irony of India.

Communal riots continue because politicians benefit, role of society as well

When riots begin, there is always the call to bring Army. This is because army is seen as more neutral and that its arrival does scare the rioter who can't take all the liberty, which otherwise he gets.

But, the Army is never called timely because public posturing apart, leaders too come from the same society & many of them want to 'teach lesson to other community'--basically the same inherent violent streak in our society where riots, bloodbath is not an aberration.

Violence is just a 'tamasha' (sic) in this society, it doesn't really bother or upset masses. For politicians, it helps them achieve the status of a masculine big leader. Publicly everyone won't say it but message goes--'this leader can bring them on their knees'. That's reality.

It was after the killings during Rath Yatra that LK Advani became 'the leader'. It was after 2002 that Modi conquered hearts of the majority. And earlier SS supremo too got respect for this reason. So that's the tried and tested formula in our politics.

What can be worse in a society when you know the politicians are aware of the benefits of killings--Count bodies, conquer hearts! And why should any politician one bother about law-and-order! For riots, politicians don't go to jails in India, our judiciary is known for letting these cases continue for decades.

No jail terms, it's perfect system. Riots, killings ensure rewards. 24 people were shot dead dead in UP only recently. Large sections of society felt it was the 'tough message' that was needed and as the monk's rule was giving competition in hardline Hindutva, the competitor had to strike back andshow he can get it done in national capital.

The figure of deaths, the scale of violence. All this could have been stopped much earlier but no one bothered. BJP leaders' role well-known. Aam Aadmi Party did nothing. And, Congress leaders! Nothing. All are responsible for this bloodbath.

Shouldn't Opposition leaders have reached President House last night, sat in front of it when Delhi was burning? This is a question even committed voters of these parties and supporters are asking. In the worlds biggest democracy, no system works and nothing could save Delhi. Innocents perished, property destroyed and dreams died.

[Photo: Front page of Indian Express]
Tweets also available at @indscribe
LINK: Percentage of Muslims in Police in States

Communal riots in India: Had Congress been tough on rioters in Mumbai 1992-93 rioters, 2002 won't have happened

In 1992-93, Mumbai was rocked by riots--in two separate phases. Congress' Sudhakar Rao Naik was CM & there was no serious attempt to stop riot-killings.

Still, we remember role of police, helplessness in the era. Congress was ruling party in Maharashtra & also in Delhi., then.

Mumbai was burning for weeks. The role of Shiv Sena cadre in this period is well documented.

Muslims were getting killed and remember it was Congress government in Delhi that remained oblivious to the plight of the Muslims. The police officers who were involved in violence were never prosecuted.

The firing on Hari Masjid in Mumbai, is one such case. There was unprovoked firing by police on the Namazis. Seven persons were killed and those who were injured were booked for rioting. Farooq Mapkar fought a legal battle for years against the policemen involved in it but govt didn't act on the guilty.

Seven persons were killed and Mapkar had also been critically injured with the bullets. Worse, those who didn't die in the firing, were charged by the police of rioting and murder. This extraordinarily heinous crime of police has been reported widely in the past but justice eluded the victims.

The constables, the DCP's driver and other officials apart from residents had testified that Kapse for reasons known to him only, entered the mosque and shot those in the prayers, though there was absolute peace in the area.

The Sri Krishna Commission had also found that there were Hindu houses and properties around the mosque and they were neither harmed nor touched. It was an unbelievable case of hate crime, yet, the atrocities didn't affect the ruling party.

For 15 years, Mapkar has been waiting to see the group of policemen led by Sub-Inspector Nikhil Kapse get punished for the crime (rather he got promoted sometime back). Even FIR was not registered for the death of these seven persons while 57 persons including the injured were booked for 'rioting'.

Over the years, all efforts were made by successive governments including the Congress to bury cases like the Hari Masjid firing. The Sri Krishna Commission report was shelved and despite repeated assurances by the Congress leaders, whenever the party came in power it ignored the recommendations.

In 2006, soon after Malegaon blasts, admin-police were just not willing to believe that any 'other' group could be involved in it. CM announced compensation was Rs 1 lakh for dead victim's kin, even though by then Rs 3 lakh & 5 lakh were being announced for victims in other cases.

Mosques were targeted at several places--Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded then but despite role of Naresh Rajkondwar or Himanshu Panse, the seizure of explosives or S Chaudhary's arrest, probes was stalled. We talk about Malegoan 2008 but Malegaon 2006 & role of perpetrators forgotten.

Mosques were targeted at several places--Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded then but despite role of Naresh Rajkondwar or Himanshu Panse, the seizure of explosives or S Chaudhary's arrest, probes was stalled. We talk about Malegoan 2008 but Malegaon 2006 & role of perpetrators forgotten.

Had they been tough in 1984, there won't be any 1992-93. Or if Congress had taken real tough action in 1992-93, then 2002 won't have happened or 2008 Odisha or 2012 or any other massacre. No party can claim moral high-ground. Naik and his party's riot taint for 1992 can't go.

It is important to remember the extent of injustice, the manner in which the regimes favoured rioters, harassed victims & set precedents. Just that BJP has an openly right-wing agenda, Congress' role can't be whitewashed.

*Role of Congress, PV Narasimha Rao in Babri Masjid demolition and later Mumbai riots

*Sudhakar Naik whose failure in controlling Mumbai riots, indifference is forgotten

Hashimpura massacre, major communal riots took place during Congress rule in UP

One of the oldest pending cases at the Tis Hazari court in Delhi, the killings of innocent Muslims by UP police, has seen a verdict. 

The judge, Sanjay Jindal, has acquitted all the policemen who had herded Muslims from Hashimpura, forced them into trucks, only to take away to deserted spot where they were all shot in cold-blood. 

The bodies were later thrown in canal. A few persons survived to tell the tale.  For 28 years, the families of the victims were waiting for justice. But justice hasn't come. 

Vir  Bahadur Singh

The judge stated that he acquitted them because of lack of evidence. We will come on this issue later, but first going back to Hashimpura. The killings took place in the decade of eighties--1987, to be precise. 

It was the era when Ram Janmabhoomi [Babri masjid dispute] movement was at its peak. But even before the Ram Mandir movement, the notorious PAC was involved in mass killings, city after city. 

This was happening in other states too. Just a few years ago, over 3,000 persons were killed in Neilly. Congress was the ruling party in the country.

 In UP also, Congress was in power. But communal riots in which police readily opened fire, kept occurring. Some party leaders used to say in those days that communal riots and killings can never be stopped in India. 

                                             WHAT HAPPENED IN HASHIMPURA

Congress leaders were disinterested in checking communal riots. But they were very efficient in cover-ups and in protecting the policemen or other police personnel. The 'secular' state was nowhere to protect its minorities. 

After Hashimpura killings, the policemen involved in this massacre, remained in service. There was no action against them. The state police machinery and successive governments fully protected them. 

Muslims were fed up with this attitude of Congress. It claimed to be saving the minorities, but the most horrible riots took place under Congress rule. 

It was this attitude that slowly drove Congress out of UP-Bihar. As the options came, Muslims switched en bloc to 'Third fronts'.

Either it was Hashimpura-Maliana or Muradabad-Firozabad, Neilly-Bhagalpur or Mumbai riots 1992-92, they were all under the Congress rule. 

Congress had opened the locks of the disputed site too. How can it get vote. It claimed to be secular, but beat the BJP at the same game. It could get away with big massacres, with minimum accountability.

Court's judgement, citing lack of evidence. 

While Indian courts are held in high esteem, the fact is that courts are increasingly getting sensitive to cases that are hyped, that affect the affluent or the middle-class, that are taken up as 'causes' by the media. 

When cases drag for decades, how much evidence can last? In this case, the trial was shifted from UP to Delhi, but no fast-track court was set up. When a case continues for a quarter century, how many victims or witness will survive? 

In other cases, there are quick judgments despite lack of evidence. Courts punish to satisfy the 'collective conscience' too. Hashimpura judgment is a clear lesson that Indian state has failed its poor, ordinary citizen.

LINKS:

1. Read what VN Rai, who was SP Ghaziabad in 1987, saw when Hashimpura massacre took place
2. Read the Wikipedia page on Hashimpura massacre
3. SEE PHOTO GALLERY in INDIAN EXPRESS. WHAT HAD HAPPENED in HASHIMPURA. Photo credit Indian Express.

Communal riots in Uttar Pradesh: Transferring officers not enough, take tough action against bureaucrats who fail to control law-and-order

The first seven months of Samajwadi Party (SP) government has seen nearly half-a-dozen communal riots. Naturally comparison with the nearly riot-free BSP regime are inevitable.

To Mayawati's credit, communal elements were reined in during the five years she was in power at Lucknow.

After Congress was shunted from UP in late eighties, the SP governments were known for being tough on communal elements.

We still remember, how when a riot had begun during an earlier SP stint, helicopter was sent to bring back officers and their replacements were sent. But the present regime has failed to control riots. One after the other, there are communal conflagrations.

In Faizabad riot, it took 12 days for government to take action and shift DM and SSP. But is this enough? Why is the government not stern enough on bureaucracy. Fact-finding commissions reports suggest that violence was pre-planned.

Similarly, you will find Rihai Manch's Mr Rajeev Yadav's observations here in The Hindu's report. Even as there were inputs about impending trouble and even when rioters gathered, police hadn't taken action and remained mute spectators.

FIRSTLY, it's clear that no riot can occur if the district administration and police are really serious about maintaining law-and-order. There can be an exception. But generally, it is not possible.

Secondly, bureaucrats must be made accountable. They should be punished if they fail in their job. Why actions are not taken on middle-level officers. Why top officers are just shifted [a euphemism for transfer] or given a new posting?

1. Accountability must be fixed immediately. Transfer is no punishment. There should be immediate suspension.

2. Don't give a posting to tainted officers or those with poor record in any department for at least six months or year. This will send a strong message to the bureaucracy.

3. Suspensions in police are a sham. They are revoked a few months later. This shouldn't happen.

4. If the IAS officers who are in-charge, have failed to take stock of situation properly and are unable to run the district efficiently, it should reflect in their ACR. Once it starts getting into Annual Confidential Report, they will learn the lessons.

After all, DMs who basically have the responsibility of district, shun law-and-order part totally to SSPs or SPs for convenience sake. Forget checking corruption or implementing schemes, if you can't keep law-and-order, you are good for nothing. Such officers must get the boot.

5.  It is common knowledge that a tough administration can't allow riot to take place. Cops know troublemakers of their area of jurisdiction and when they know the message is not to let anything happen, nothing happens. Intelligence wings at all levels also collect information and send regular inputs. Troublemakers sense the gravity of situation.

They know when its safe to do a bit of rowdy acts or when even going out would lead to action under tough acts. But if there is a loose command, then it shows through the hierarchy. Citizens also sense that rumours are floated regularly and situation is not behind handled well because the officers are lax. 

In the light of above points, UP government must take serious steps to improve law-and-order, which is important not just for citizens but also for the overall image of the SP government.

First, Kosi Kalan in Mathura, then Asthan (Pratapgarh), followed by Barelli, Masuri town in Ghaziabad, Allahabad and now the latest is Faizabad.

Clearly, there is a pattern. Someone is responsible and if there is mischief, why local intelligence, police, administration fail to anticipate.

When it is openly said by top SP leaders that there is a conspiracy, why there is no action on conspirators.

DGP had also made a comment that his sub-ordinates didn't listen. Isn't it all an indication of the lapses that are occurring repeatedly.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that there are attempts to discredit the government. If it is true, then those who are responsible for these acts, should be caught. Law-and-order must be top priority.

Congress and Communal riots in India

The anti-Christian violence in Orissa claimed 35 lives but not one person died in the riots in Karnataka.

Still, the UPA has issued warnings to both the state governments under the Article 355 of Indian constitution--a rare thing.

In sharp contrast, Assam where Congress is the ruling party, no action was taken though the figure of death went past 60 and 150,000 people had to fled their homes.

The riots at Rabori and later the Dhule communal clash which claimed dozens of lives, didn't stir the Centre [which was quite perturbed over Karnataka violence]. The riot in Congress-ruled AP's Adilabad where an entire family was burnt alive is also a case in the point.

Isn't it strange that 27 mosques were attacked and vandalised in Dhule* and over 20,000 people living in refugee camps but the UPA didn't issue any warning to Vilas Rao Deshmukh's government?

True, Muslim countries don't put up pressure [for good, though] the way France and Germany embarrassed our Prime Minister by taking up the issue of Kandhamal. But isn't it the clearly hypocrisy of Congress.

Its clear bias when it rebukes Karnataka CM but doesn't bother about the dance of death in Bhainsa town of Adilabad [Andhra Pradesh] where Congress government rules the state apart from similar incidents in Maharashtra and Assam.

It is quite a fashion to brand the BJP as communal, but I must say that the Congress is solely responsible for the situation where communal riots are not treated seriously. Except the short breaks in the last twenty years, Congress has ruled the nation for most the time since independence and its attitude has been the same.

Terming a BJP leader as murderer is okay. But what the Congress' role is? That of Nero! Our bureaucracy turned immune to riots during Congress regimes. As a result, today town in four States in various parts of the country are witnessing the deaths of innocents--Burhanpur (Madhya Pradesh), Adilabad (AP), Assam and Dhule (Maharashtra).

[*The horror tales of Dhule didn't get proper mention in the media also. Apparently, a state like Karnataka that has been identified with software gets attention at the slightest incident but massacres in far-flung rural areas get ignored.]

Anti-Sikh riots and lessons for Muslims: Community, Communal riots & Compensation

Do we feel to raise our issues properly?

The report of the second commission on the anti-Sikh riots* is out and has been tabled in the Parliament.

It is a lesson for the Muslims who constitute 15% of Indian population and have also endured horrific riots but compensation remains a dream for them. 

Far from compensation, umpteen reports on anti-Muslim riots have never seen light of the day. Compensation to the tune of lakhs was received by each victim of Sikh riot in compensation but Muslims in the most gruesome riots never received a penny. 

Except Mumbai riots all other anti-Muslim pogroms saw the reports of the commissions go to dustbins. In fact, there was hardly any commission of inquiry instituted in the most riots that were directed against Muslims. 

The brutal killings of Muslims in Hashimpura and Maliana by PAC, the Bhagalpur, Ferozabad, Muradabad, Meerut, Ahmedabad (1969) and Surat riots saw no inquiries. The lack of interest of the Muslims in taking up the case of riot victims and the shameless apathy of the Muslim MPs have been responsible for the gross violation of the human rights of Muslims.

Muslims were targeted again and again because there was no effective opposition. Neither courts were approached, nor social crusades launched. The leadership was either asleep or busy in individual gains at the cost of community.

The Muslim MPs of the Congress are the worst traitors of the community because they never raised the issues of the Muslims, particularly regarding the riots and carnages. The Sikhs have not been content with one Commission and compensation and then the second commission, they still want more.

That is a slap on the face of the Muslim leadership. Sikhs constitute less than 2% of India's population and except Punjab and to an extent in Delhi and Haryana, the community has no electoral importance but they have got justice for them.

[After Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's death in 1984, mobs had targeted Sikhs across the country. Nearly 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the national capital, Delhi, alone]