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Dhule: A week after violence broke
out in Dhule – the North Maharashtra city some 350 kms from
Mumbai, the victims are without any relief and aid from the
government, and are living under constant fear and anguish with
the trauma of about two hours of horror still haunting most of
them. The two hours of horror unleashed on them in broad daylight
by the aggressive police whom the victims found not as their
saviours and rescuers but as assailants, killers and looters.
“Is this how police treat fellow citizens? I admit that our boys
were pelting stones and strongly condemn what they did. But was it
the first time such a thing had happened? Then why the police was
so brutal and fired as if they were fighting a war and in front of
them were their enemies”, Abdus Sattar Shah said while talking to
ummid.com.
“I want the government to answer these questions. If the
government thinks that the police aggression was justified, it
should announce that whenever and wherever in the country such a
thing would happen, the police would act with the same aggression
and in the same manner as it did in Dhule”, he added in a choked
voice with tears rolling down his eyes.
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Shamsunnisa Mohammad
Shaban... |
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“When we saw the policemen involved in
the looting, some of us came on the streets and tried to stop
them. However, the policemen called women police personnel and
ordered them to beat us", she said. |
Abdus Sattar Shah is the person who worked day in and day out for
communal harmony after the 2008 communal violence that kept the
city paralysed for 12 days. But now he said that whatever happened
on the ‘Black Sunday’ was beyond his imagination. “The material
damages and the loss of life that we saw in 12 days of the 2008
riot is nothing in comparison with what we saw in just two hours
on Sunday”, he said.
Abdus Sattar is not alone in criticising the police. Arif Naseem
Khan, Minister of Minority Development Department too expressed
displeasure over the police action and said that he was not happy
with the way police handled the entire incident. Mufti Mohammad
Ismael, a legislator in the Maharashtra assembly, in his first
comment made after visiting the riot affected areas and meeting
the victims, refused to accept it was a riot. “Whatever happened
in Dhule on Sunday was not a communal riot. It was a police
action”, Mufti Ismael said while talking to ummid.com.
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse of
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) too said there was no communal angle
or any political agenda behind the incident. He said that police
should have special mechanism to handle trivial issues breaking
out of minor disputes between traders of two different
communities.
President of Dhule Shiv-Sena unit Bhopendra Lhamge also echoed
similar feelings. Expressing concern over the casualties to such a
large scale in the police firing, he said, “It was a minor issue
and could have been successfully handled had the police were
properly trained.”
He also said that the police in India were still to be trained in
mob handling especially in the areas concentrated by the
minorities. He also suggested using water cannons and other
non-lethal weapons to control the mob. “If water cannons are used
in Delhi and other places in the world, why not here in Dhule”, he
said.
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Saira Bano... |
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“I came outside of my house to see my
children after learning about the riots. Suddenly, something
struck my left arm. I was profusely bleeding. It was only in the
hospital that I learnt what struck my arm was a bullet", she said. |
What happened on Sunday?
Officials said violence broke out in Dhule on Sunday June 06, 2013
at around 02:30 p.m., after a small dispute arising out of
non-payment of food bill turned into a big row and soon clashes
started between members of two communities. They said there was a
fracas at a food-stall in the Macchi Bazaar area when a youth
argued with the owner and refused to pay the bill. Enraged, the
owner of the food-stall assaulted the youth, who ran away only to
return with some friends shortly.
The ensuing arguments and fisticuffs led to widespread rumours and
within minutes, there was full-scale rioting in the vicinity
having a mixed community population, and surrounding areas of
Machhi Bazaar, Pala Bazaar, Tasha Galli, Maulvi Ganj and
Madhavpura. When police rushed to the spot, they were unprepared
to handle the situation and remained busy protecting themselves
from stones, bricks, acid and soda water bottles being flung
around liberally.
Besides, rioters indulged in arson, stoning of
vehicles and attacks on homes and shops. After reinforcements were
rushed to the scene, police first resorted to baton charge,
followed by tear gas shells, firing plastic bullets. They finally
opened fire at the rioters.
However, Abdul Moeed Qasmi, president of Dhule Jamiatul Ulema,
while talking to Minister of Minority Development Department Arif
Naseem Khan said the person from the minority community after
being assaulted by the owner of the food-stall went to the nearby
police chowky to register a compliant but the police refused to do
it.
He said that if the police had registered the complaint and
had rushed to the spot immediately, the situation would have been
controlled without causing the damages. He alleged that the police
not only came to the spot very late but they fired without
following the norms and before first resorting to baton charge and
tear gas shells.
The Macchi Bazaar area where the violence first broke out is
described by the Guardian Minister of Dhule, Suresh Shetty, as the
“trouble spot”. Umesh Chuadhary, who runs a gymkhana in the same
area, said that hundreds of people come and passed by the area
everyday as it being in the middle of the main market. He said
small disputes between traders and passer-bys were regular in the
area. “Despite this, just two police constables are always posted
at the police chowky. In the last two years, we have sent many
representations - in writing as well as in person, to the local
administration requesting them to deploy more police force in the
area to tackle such disputes. Had they accepted our requests,
situation would have been controlled within minutes”, he said.
Besides the alleged failure by the police and local
administration in understanding and controlling the situation
before it turned ugly, there were more serious accusations against
them by the local residents especially by the Muslims and those
becoming victims of what they termed as the blatant police
excesses and brutality. They blamed the police of not only acting
in a biased manner but they also accused the police of firing
without warnings and using excessive force against them.
Six people had been killed allegedly in the police firing and more
than 200 others were injured in the violence that continued for
about two hours. Official figures put the total of injured as11
police officers, 102 policemen and 100 civilians. Guardian
Minister Suresh Shetty however on Monday said that only 16
policemen had serious injuries and they were admitted in local
hospitals.
The dead were identified as Imran Ali Qamar Ali (25), Aasim Shaikh
Naseer (21), Saud Ahmed Raees Patel (18), Hafiz Mohd Aasif Abdul
Haleem (22), Rizwan Hasan Shah (24) and Yunus Abbas Shah (20).
Of those injured were 41 from the Muslim minority community who
received either bullet injuries or were injured in police baton
charge. Hospital records showed that most of the victims had
injuries above waist, some in chest, on shoulders and on faces,
and some in arms and in legs. One person from the Hindu community
had also been injured in the firing.
Besides the casualties, properties worth millions of rupees had
been destroyed in arson and looting that followed the violence. A
majority of homes burnt or destroyed, and shops looted in the
violence belonged to people from the Muslim community. There were
also allegations that some policemen were also involved in
looting.
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Abdul Haleem
Ansari ... |
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"I rushed to the hospital only to find
that my son is no more. This is a shock of life for me. I am no
longer be joining duties and will be resigning from my post", Ansari who has about six
months to retire said in a choked voice. |
‘Police brutality’
A majority of the victims and relatives of those killed allegedly
in the police firing accused the police of being brutal and using
excessive forces against the Muslims. It is also alleged that the
police was not only bias, but it quietly watched as the unruly mob
was engaged in burning and looting the properties belonging to the
Muslims. At one place, they alleged, the policemen broke into a
shop and looted whatever was inside.
Arif Pathan, a Municipal Councillor, while talking to ummid.com
said that the situation was such that people from both the
communities were pelting stones at each other and the police was
in the middle. “However, police shot only at the Muslims instead
of taking action against both the groups. It was a clear one sided
action by the police force”, he alleged.
“It was really shocking. The constitution has granted everyone an
equal status and equal punishment. For how long, police bullets
would be reserved only for Muslims?” he asked.
“It is to get the answer of this question that we are demanding a
high level enquiry by a High Court sitting judge” he said.
Responding to the claims that police had to open fire as there
were attacks on police and the violent mob was out of control, he
said, “We condemn the attacks on police and do not justify the
violence. But, was this an isolated incident?” he asked.
“Attacks on the police are routinely taking place in other parts
of the country. But, we do not see the kind of police action at
other places”, he said citing the example of Bhimnagar area of
Dhule when 35 policemen were injured and two police vans were
burnt after a clash between two groups of same community in 2011.
“No such action was then taken by the police at that time”, he
said.
There were also allegations that police fired indiscriminately and
with an intention to kill. Local residents claimed that most of
the victims, who died or were injured allegedly in the police
firing, were passer-by and they were either going home from work
or going back to work after lunch.
Abdul Haleem Ansari, a Deputy Tahsildar who was posted in the same
area when the violence broke out, claimed that his son Hafiz Mohd
Aasif, who was killed in the firing, was not part of the violent
mob. “Even then he became the victim of police brutality”, he
said.
He said that he was in a hospital to see someone when he learnt
that his son was hit by bullets. "I rushed to the hospital only to
find that my son is no more", he said while talking to ummid.com.
Shocked by the untimely death of his young son, Abdul Haleem
Ansari now said he would not be reporting to his duties any more.
"This is a shock of life for me. I am no longer be joining duties
and will be resigning from my post", Ansari who has about six
months to retire said in a choked voice.
Saira Bano (35), a labourer, who had bullet injuries in her left
arm said, “I came outside of my house to see my children after
learning about the riots. Suddenly, something struck my left arm.
I was profusely bleeding. It was only in the hospital that I
learnt what struck my arm was a bullet.”
Shamsunnisa Mohammad Shaban (65) alleged that the policemen were
involved in looting and accused the police of mercilessly beating
her. “When we saw the policemen involved in the looting, some of
us came on the streets and tried to stop them. However, the
policemen called women police personnel and ordered them to beat
us”, Shamsunnisa, who got her right arm fractured said while
talking to ummid.com.
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Abdus Sattar... |
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“I tirelessly worked for the communal
harmony after the 2008 riots. My message then and now is the same:
Sare jahan se accha Hindustan hamara and Hindustan mein accha
Dhulia shaher hamara”, he said. |
Probe ordered
Forced by the widespread allegations of police brutality and
aggression, the government on January 07 ordered a probe by
Metropolitan Magistrate and departmental enquiry by Director
General of Police (Law & Order) Javed Ahmed.
Local residents
however are not satisfied and are demanding a high level probe of
the entire incident by a High Court sitting judge. Their demand is
also supported by Minister of Minority Development Arif Naseem
Khan. But, the government on January 11 handed over the
investigation to the CID.
“A special CID team will probe the incident. There will be local
officers from Dhule and the team will be decided by the CID
headquarters in Pune,” Dhule Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep
Deshpande said on Friday. According to official sources, cases of
inciting violence and creating damage to property have also been
registered against more than 800 unknown persons.
Earlier, Director General of Police (Law & Order) Javed Ahmed in
his first meeting with the press after taking charge over the
enquiry said that he would be covering all angles that led to the
violence including the allegations of police excesses and
mistreatment.
Responding to a query about private firing, he said that he had
also received a lot of complaints regarding this and had sought
more details on the matter. “So far I have no evidence of private
firing. People are complaining about this and say they have
evidence, video clips and photos. I have advised them to submit
these evidences to me.”
In reply to a question that police were bias and fired with an
intention to kill and without following the rules, he said, “It
would be wrong to come to jump to such conclusion just looking at
the casualties. There are procedures and protocols to follow. But
situation on the ground could not be ignored while following these
norms.”
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Arif Pathan... |
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“Situation was such that people from
both the communities were pelting stones at each other and the
police was in the middle. “However, police shot only at the
Muslims instead of taking action against both the groups. It was a
clear one sided action by the police force”, he alleged. |
PM 15 point program in dustbin
Interestingly, Minority Development Department of Maharashtra had
organised a workshop for the local administrative and police staff
at Dhule Collector office a month before the violence broke out in
Dhule to explain the schemes announced for the welfare of the
minorities and give them an idea of minority issues. Among the
agenda was also a one and half hour detailed briefing on the Prime
Minister’s 15 point program.
Besides the other things included in the Prime Minister’s 15 point
program, the officials were thoroughly briefed on prevention and
control of communal violence. They were also briefed about their
duties in case of communal violence including providing relief to
the victims and their rehabilitation. However, a week after the
violence in Dhule, no official or government aid has been
announced or reached to the victims. Whatever relief work in the
affected areas is being done is done by few private organisations.
The Muslim members in the Dhule
Municipal Corporation are so disappointed by the government’s
apathy that they threatened to resign. "We have decided to resign
from our posts if our demands - that include compensation to the
victims and a high level enquiry into the incident, are not met
within one month. Our resignation letters have already been
submitted to Jamiatul Ulema with a request to forward them to our
party heads", Haji Shawwal Seth said to ummid.com.
Dhule Municipal Corporation (DMC) has a total of 15 Muslim
councillors. They include 04 from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),
02 from the Congress and others including Haji Sahawwal are
independents. The decision is also supported by 03 members of
Dhule School board.
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Lokmanya Hospital |
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“Very close to this hospital was Lokmanya Hospital and I reluctantly took the patients there. To my
surprise, hospital in-charge Dr Sanjay Khopade was on the lawns
and he immediately rushed towards me and took the patient in”,
Israr Ahmed said. |
Rays of hope
The pain of the violence would take some time before it gets
healed completely. However, there is some remarkable show of
harmony, sense of responsibility and human gestures by few
individuals that clearly stand out as a glimmer of hope in the
violence hit city.
It was revealed while talking to some local residents that at the
time when members of two communities bayed for each others blood
on Sunday afternoon in strife torn city, the medicos at three
local hospitals lived up to their Hippocratic Oath and worked
tirelessly in treating the injured irrespective of their religious
affiliations.
Israr Ahmed (40) said that he took the injured to a nearby
hospital managed by a Muslim Trust. But it did not have the needed
facilities to handle them. “Very close to this hospital was
Lokmanya Hospital and I reluctantly took the patients there. To my
surprise, hospital in-charge Dr Sanjay Khopade was on the lawns
and he immediately rushed towards me and took the patient in”, he
said. The same sense of responsibility was demonstrated by Astha
Hospital and Suhas Hospital. “Had it not been for these three
hospitals, the death toll would have been very high”, Israr said.
Abdus Sattar, who was very emotional and vocal while recalling the
two hours of horror inflicted on the Muslims, too exhibited
confidence and expressed hope that the things would come to normal
sooner than later. At one point, he was so upset by the entire
incident that he said they were subjected to such atrocities by
the police since they were Muslims and bcause: Hai jurm bus itna ke
Musalman hain hum.
At another point, he vowed to work for communal harmony as he did
after the 2008 riots. “I tirelessly worked for the communal
harmony after the 2008 riots. My message then and now is the same:
Sare jahan se accha Hindustan hamara and Hindustan mein accha
Dhulia shaher hamara”, he said.
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