Murshidabad riots not spontaneous says fact finding team demands judicial inquiry

A riot-affected area in Murshidabad district. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The riots in Murshidabad were not spontaneous and houses and shops of both the communities – Hindus and Muslims were attacked, said a fact-finding report by five civil rights organisations on the violence. The team in its interim report has sought for immediate and independent judicial investigation into all incidents since April 11.

“The unrest was a clear failure of law and order. Police, administration could have prevented it, if they wanted. Their indifference and inaction allowed this violence to spread, fanning communal unrest,” said a press statement by the organisation.

The fact finding report claimed “fake BSF raids targeted only Muslim villages” and “police atrocities created an atmosphere of fear in Muslim villages”.

The report is an outcome of a visit of a team of 17 members who said that misinformation and rumours played a huge role in intensifying religious polarization. “People from both communities are terrified. There is deep mistrust. Hindu victims are demanding permanent BSF camps, while Muslims want peace and safety,” the report said.

The members of the fact finding team comprised of organisations like Feminists in Resistance (FIR), Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Nari Chetna, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), and Gono Songram Moncho (Murshidabad).

Riots in Murshidabad had erupted on April 11 and 12 as protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent. Three persons including father and son Hargobind Das (70) and Chandan Das (40) were hacked to death by a mob at Jafrabad whereas Eijaj Ahmed, a resident of Kasimnagar was killed in police action.

According to West Bengal police 60 FIRs have been registered and 307 persons have been arrested for the alleged involvement in violence. The fact finding report accused forces such as BJP and RSS of using this tragedy for political gain.

“The seeds of Islamophobia they’ve sown so long are now being echoed in the voices of victims. Calls for Hindu unity, President’s rule, and permanent BSF camps are being made. The attacks have instilled a deep sense of fear and insecurity amongst the victims. The Hindus are often channelising their fear through aggression, while the Muslims have become all the more vulnerable and terrified,” the press statement added.

The fact finding called for compensation of all families affected and those rendered homeless must be immediately rehabilitated.

“The FIRs of the victims of firing must be accepted and investigations must begin into the incident. The state must take responsibility for administrative failure to prevent communal tension and immediately begin an inquiry against all officers on duty on those days,” the civil rights organisations demanded in the report.