Homes of Religious Minorities burnt in Madhya Pradesh of India

A series of communal incidents in Madhya Pradesh has raised the question about the security of Muslims. In all these incidents Muslims were the main targets.

According to the findings of a team of All India Secular Forum more than 40 houses and about the same number of shops owned by Muslims were set on fire. Besides destroying the houses and shops the culprits also looted the belongings in houses and various commodities stored in shops.

The destruction was total. According to the report submitted to the Director General of Police the scene in the burnt houses and shops was such as if it was the handiwork of army of an enemy country.

The two villages of Dhar district where arson and loot took place are Gandhwani and Pipalya. The incidents of arson and loot took place on October 12. The affected families related the sequence of events. According to villagers there was a disputed ground which was used by Hindu right wing organisations for religious activities. Some Muslims organisations objected to the misuse of the area. In order to close the controversy the administration in consultation with people belonging to both the communities a police chowki was set up on the land. Despite this the RSS, Bajrangdal installed Ganesh idol later Durga idol on the disputed land. Representatives of Muslim organisations objected recalling that the decision to set up a police chowki was taken at the meeting of "Shanti Samiti". It was also pointed out that Ganesh and Durga idols were installed on a government land where police chowki was already set up. It was also violation of the unanimous decision taken at the meeting of "shanti samiti".

The local administration ignored the objection and the misuse of the govt. land. On the muharram day a tajia procession was taken out. The procession stopped near the chowki. During its stop a rumour was spread that some Muslims insulted the "Havan Kund" which was still there. After this Hindu group started attacking the people of tajia procession. The other party retaliated. During the clash a Hindu young man received serious injuries on his hand. Some Muslim also received injuries.  After this clash thousands of Hindus belonging to the RSS affiliated groups started attacks on Muslims shops and houses. After setting shops on fire in Gandhwani the violent crowd entered Pipalya village and set many houses on fire.

In order to escape the fury of the violent crowd residents left their houses to the destiny. This gave freehand to the crowd which burnt everything in the houses and took away T.V. set, refrigerators and other valuable things like ornaments, food grains, clothes, beddings, children's, books, furniture, Quran Sharif. In fact nothing was left. Valuable clothes and ornaments stored for the forthcoming marriages of young girls were either looted or destroyed. The most interesting thing is all this happened in the presence of police. The team noted that Hindu organisations have adopted a unique method to collect crowd at a short notice. A siren was installed in a multi-storey building.

That night also siren was blown thrice which alerted residents of the nearby villages. The team was informed that night a poet-gathering was on in a nearly village. Hundreds of people were enjoying the Kavi Sammelan. The moment they heard siren they rushed to Pipalya and Gandhwani and started attacking Muslim houses and shops. Many women and children who were still under shock told the team members sordid stories of the violent mood of the crowd. The crowd attacked every Muslim they came across. One woman told that it War like situation. Members of the crowd were hurling choicest abuses like "why you are here go to Pakistan, you traitors".

Another interesting development is that the police officer who did make sincere efforts to control situation was punished. A team of two BJP members of Parliament was sent to these villages and also to Petlawad where earlier communal violence was let loose. It was also on the basis of their report that police personnel were punished perhaps because they did not allow situation to take explosive turn.

A local newspaper (DB Post) carried a special report contributed by N.K. Singh former editor of Hindustan times and Bhaskar with the title "This govt. needs more spine". According to this report "A series of incidents over the past few weeks have sent alarm signals in administrative circles. The RSS, the “social, cultural” organisation, has come into direct conflict with the police on several occasions. With the RSS winning every single round of the skirmish, the consequences are disastrous for the morale of the force. The Congress has lost no time in alleging that the RSS has become an extra-constitutional authority.

"The RSS, in its role as the moral watchdog, has a larger than life presence in MP as in other BJP ruled states. After all, it is linked by umbilical cord to the Sangh. Those ties are so important for the BJP that it had sacrificed power in the 70s over the issue of “dual membership”. In its role as housekeeper, the RSS manages BJP organisation through its full-time workers.

"Hence, although it was unprecedented, but not a huge surprise when nine policemen were booked for attempt to murder, robbery and rioting after they allegedly beat up a RSS Pracharak at Baihar in Balaghat district last month. Many of these policemen are now absconding to avoid arrest. A Pracharak, a whole-time worker, is as important as they come in the Sangh parivar. Balaghat case is a bit different. The police seem to have exceeded its brief. There was no serious charge against the Pracharak, who had been picked up from the Sangh office, dragged out and beaten up just for posting an offensive comment on what’s app.

 

"But what happened at Petlawad in Jhabua district was ominous. There was a communal flare up in the small town on the night of the Muharram. The police registered cases against 400 persons and arrested several of them, including some with RSS background. The RSS has alleged that that action was one-sided and exerted pressure on the administration. The administration responded by suspending and transferring police officers involved in the action.

"It is not the first time that this has happened. Earlier, Anuradha Shankar, one of the most intrepid IPS officers in the State, was transferred after the police had beaten up Bajrang Dal hooligans at Dhar. In July this year the SP of Raisen was transferred because the Sangh was annoyed over "excessive" use of force during a communal flare up."

The quotes from the above report establish the fact that the communal situation was alarming in the state. In view of this the team demanded that those who are guilty of committing acts of communal violence should be punished. The team led by LS Herdenia also demanded hundred percent compensation to the victims of organised attack.

It was pointed out that besides houses and shops the crowd also destroyed vehicles, tractors and two-wheelers owned by Muslims. The team also demanded that the affected Muslims should be assured adequate security.