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| Akhlaque |
By Our Representative
In a strongly-worded
report following its visit to Bisahda village, Dadri, western Uttar Pradesh, where the infamous lynching of Mohammad Akhlaque took place on September 28-29 night, , the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) has said, it would be “quite an understatement to say that Bisahda killing was merely an accident.”
Contesting the “claim” by “some persons in the authority” withoutA naming them, the NCM, which visited the spot of the incident on October 15, said, “The facts as reported to NCM team point strongly that the whole episode was the result of a planning, in which a sacred place like a temple was used for exhorting people of one community to attack a hapless family.”
Those who have signed the report are NCM chairperson Naseem Ahmad, and members TN Shanoo and Farida Abdulla Khan. The family members told them that “the attack was sudden and vicious” and that “the men were particularly and brutally targeted, but women were also assaulted and injured.”
The report added, “The team feels that a crowd of large numbers appearing within minutes of the announcement from temple’s loudspeaker and at a time when most villagers claimed they were asleep seems to point to some premeditated planning.”
Pointing out that “moral policing with impunity is being resorted to at many places”, the report stated, “The malaise is spreading fast, especially in western Uttar Pradesh.” It added, “What is more disturbing is that responsible persons converge at the place of any such incident and make irresponsible statements which further vitiates the relations between the communities.”
Warning that “this has to be stopped at all costs” lest things would “go out of hand”, the report – a
copy of which is with Counterview – said, “It seems that intelligence gathering is no more occurring in the rule book of the authorities. It has to be revived with utmost sincerity if we are really interested in restoring communal amity.”
The report noted with distress that the families of deceased Akhlaque and his three brothers “have already shifted out of Bisahda because of fear and trauma”, adding, Although the people of majority community are now assuring that they will ensure their safety, the victims are not convinced.”
Supporting the UP government for providing an “enhanced monetary compensation” of Rs 30 lakh to the family of the diceased, apart from Rs 5 lakh to each of the three brothers of Akhlaque, which suggested grave was the situation, the report appreciated the Government of India decision to provide “dwelling units to the four affected families”. All this, is believed, would provide moral support to the victims to “lead a life without fear.”
Apart from meeting members of the victim's family and the Hindu neighbours and the village chiefs, the NCM team also had an interacted with district magistrate NP Singh, SSP Kiran S, SDM Rajesh Kumar Singh and Circle Officer of Police (Dadri) Anurag Singh.
The report said, “The district authorities reported that after this incident, rumours concerning the killing of cow were instigated at two other villages – Chiehra and Kudi Khera – and there was an attempt to gather people and to incite the” though the police “responded instantly”so that things did not “escalate”.
During the visit in village Bisahda, which is situated just 54 kilometres from Delhi, the report said, the team met the family of Akhlaque and his brothers, who live next door, and “confirmed that there had been no previous tensions, and that their neighbours had visited them on last Eid as usual.”
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Click HERE to download report
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