Upload
the-milli-gazette
View
1.238
Download
5
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
A fact finding report by Association for protection of Civil Rights, New Delhi
Citation preview
MORADABAD POLICE PUBLIC CLASH ON JULY 6, 2011
A FACT FINDING REPORT BY
ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS
Title Page Number
1. Introduction: Locating Moradabad, Affected District 3
2. Demographic, Socio-Economic Profile of the affected area 3
3. Recent history of Communal Problems in the district 4
4. The July 6, 2011 -Chain of events 4
5. Media Coverage 6
6. Interviews with the Local Administration, Villagers, 8
Police, Victims and families of Victims
7. Overall Findings 19
8. Suggestions and Recommendations 20
9. Team Members 20
INDEX
3Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
INTRODUCTION:
Demographic, Socio-
Economic Profile of the
District
Locating Moradabad
District
Moradabad is a city in Uttar Pradesh state
of India. It was established in 1600 by
Murad, the son of the Mughal Emperor
Shahjahan; as a result the city came to
known as Moradabad. It is the
administrative headquarters of Moradabad
District. Moradabad is situated at a
distance of 167 km (104 miles) from the
national capital, New Delhi, at the bank of
River Ram Ganga (a tributary to the great
Ganges). The city is famous for its huge
export of brass handicrafts to North
America and Europe, and is also thus called
"Brass City" or Peetal Nagri (in the local
language).It has close to four million
citizens of various ethnicities and religions.
The geographical area of the Moradabad
District is 3493 Sq. Km. Its Total
population is 27,61,620 out of which males
are 14,94,220 and females are 12,67,400.
Of the total population, 18,77,570
constitute the rural population and the rest
i.e. 8,84,040 makes the urban population.
Administrative divisions
The Moradabad District is divided into 6
Tehsils & 13 Blocks. Total no. of Nyay
Panchayats in the district are 87 while
Gram Sabhas stands at 883. The total
populated villages are 1388. The total no.
of Police Stations in the district are 26 out
of which 9 are in rural area and 17 in the
Urban area.
The Affected Villages-
Dingarpur, Asalatnagar Wagah,
Asadpur, Nankar etc.
These all villages located 10-15 Kilometer
South west direction from Moradabad
District Headquarters on Moradabad -
Sambhal road. Population of this area is
mostly dominated by Muslims.
Transport business supports the economy
and livelihood of the area. Peoples are
mostly truck drivers, daily wages labors,
farmers or runs small business at the local
market. Education level is very low. There
are no standard educational institutions in
the area.
4
console and control people. People
became violent and attacked on public
property, burnt the police jeep and some
property at the local police station.
12:00-1:30 Peoples protested and road
blocked at Dingarpur Village. Local
Administration failed to console and
control religious hurt sentiments of the
local Muslim community. Police lathi
charged to open road blockade. Mob
became violent, burnt the police chauki at
the village. D.I.G. coming to the Thana
Manather with D.M. was caught at
Dingarpur Village. Watching the situation
getting out of control the D.M. returned to
district headquarters but D.I.G was caught
in the agitating crowd and he opened fire
against the stone pelting villagers. DIG's
firing critically injured four persons
including two juveniles who have bed
ridden sine 6th July 2011. Mob became
more violent attacked on police officials
causing serious injuries to D.I.G and
others.
1:30-2:30 – PAC called and curfew
imposed at Dingarpur. Police behaves like
hired goons. Police has brutally beaten
children, women and senior citizen
indiscriminately. They looted shops and
destroyed houses and properties. Police
arrested thirty eight persons including
juveniles.
–
Recent history of Communal
Problems in the district
July 6, Chain of Events
There have been a number of riots and riot
like situations in Moradabad in last three
decades (1980-2011). In most of the time
the Muslim community has been at the
receiving end of the police violence. The
July 6, 2011 violence indicates the same
police behavior which has not changed at
all. As the communal charged atmosphere
in Moradabad is nothing new, the police
being the primary law enforcement agency
have learnt nothing from the past
experiences.
7.00-7.30 am – Police allegedly desecrated
the Holy Book Quran in Asalatnagar
Wagah during raid the house of Tasleem in
search of Muslim, a 30 year person alleged
to molest a girl living in the same village.
8.30-9.30 am – The news of discretion of
Quran reaches adjacent villages like
Dingarpur and Nankar
10.00-11.00 am – People join to protest
against the discretion of Quran and road
blockade at Asalatnagar Wagah
demanding suspension of the culprit
police officials.
11.00-11.30 – Road Blockade opened with
help of M. P. of the area and Police
Administration assuring public to take
action against the culprit police officials.
11:30-12:00 – Peoples full of religious
sentiments reached Manather Police
Station demanding termination of culprit
police officials. Administration failed to
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
5
A SCENE OF FAILURE OF LAW AND ORDER: PHOTOS PUBLISHED IN THE MEDIA
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
6
The media coverage of the incident was
biased as none of them reflected on the
police atrocities and the facts. Majority
of the reports whether for Hindi (Dainik
Jagran and Amar Ujala etc) or for
English (Indian Express etc) newspapers
showed the villagers and the Muslim
community as the perpetrators of
violence and in a way portrayed the
police atrocities as a response to that.
This reporting however missed the issue
of police desecration of the Quran and
without meeting the community termed
this desecration of the Holy book as a
rumour. All the local media became
mouthpiece of police officials. This was
one of the major factors for Association
for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR)
sending a fact finding team to
understand what actually happened.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE JULY 6, 2011 VIOLENCE
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
7
NEWS CLIPS PUBLISHED IN LOCAL MEDIA
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
8
The villagers seemed to be scared of any
vehicle entering into their area. They
suspected it to be a police vehicle. The
team went to the very house where the holy
book was allegedly thrown and kicked by a
police official.
The girl Noorjahan around 12 years of age
studies in the Madrasaa Islamiyah, a
madrasa located at the village masjid. She
narrated the whole incident right from the
arrival of the police to the alleged
desecration of Koran.
Sequence of the events as narrated by
Noorjahan
- Police team comprised of four
officials of which two were in civil dress
and the other two were daroghas carrying
guns. They entered the house and asked
about Muslim, a man in his mid-30s who
had allegedly molested and attempted to
hurt a young girl (around 15 years of age)
of the same village
Police entered the house when Noorjahan
was alone in the house .No lady police was
with police team. They destroyed and
broke all the things like Charpayi, Chulha
boxes and desecreted the Holy Quran,
when she complained, the police kicked
The Holy Book and slapped her. She ran
away from the house and when returned
with her mother and villagers she found
that Rs. 10,000 cash with some gold
ornaments had been stolen by the police.
Villagers supported her statements.
7.00 am
DM's Office - 12.45-1.15pm
Asalatpur/Asalatnagar Wagah
Village 1.30- 3.45 pm
The first meeting with the DM was at 1pm
which continued for not more than 15
minutes.
Mr. Sameer Verma is the new DM who has
taken charge after the 6 July, 2011
Moradabad violence. He joined the office
on 16 July 2011. DM seemed to support
the police action against the juveniles
saying that he had seen media clips of
children pelting stones at the police. When
we raised the question that women were
beaten, shops and private properties are
destroyed and looted by police officials, he
demanded live video evidence and
suggested us to complain in written. The
next question was to get his response on
the direct police firing and illegal arrest of
innocent juveniles he refused to accept that
this was the case. He was not at all ready to
listen and accept that the police violated
the basic human rights and attacked
women and children and looted the
property of villagers.
Then the team left for Salatpur Wagah to
meet the girl who was allegedly slapped
when she objected to the desecration of
the Holy Koran by police officials.
When we reached the village, we saw a large
number of villagers including children ran
away from the village to the nearby jungle.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION,
VILLAGERS, POLICE, VICTIMS AND FAMILY OF VICTIMS
Note: No one has filed an FIR against the Police, largely due to the fear of police repression and also due to the fact that most of
the villagers are illiterate daily wages laborers'.
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
9
Noorjahan (11), Asalat Nagar Wagha, POLICE BROKED EVERYTHING DURING SERACH
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
10
?Four people have died including two
senior citizens and two children
?38 people including young boys are in
jail
?Bachon mein dehshat hai (The children
are terrified/ there is terror among
children)
?Sare Anpadh hain (Everyone is illiterate
hence unaware)
?Majdoor Admi Pareshan hain aur Dare
huye hain ( the village comprises largely
of the labour class who have been in
constant after this incident)
?Humein Insaaf Chahiye ( We demand
justice both for the culprits, the police
and the victims, the poor villagers)
?Rihan Karen bekasoor bachhon ko ( We
demand the release of innocent
children (juveniles) who are now in jail)
?Logon ke dil mein dehsahat hai ki do
hazar log arrest honge (people fear that
a total of two thousand people would
be arrested and anyone can be picked up
by the police)
?Lahnat hai humari zindagi par jab
Koran Sharif ko beizzat kiya jaye (It's a
shame for a Muslim to tolerate such ill-
treatment of the Holy Koran)
Women in the Village
?Four people died in this village due to
mental trauma of police atrocities and
not getting proper care by their family
members because most of youth were
fled from the village and not returned
yet due to fear of police repression.
?38 people arrested on that day including
5 juveniles and one physically
challenged from adjacent villages. All
are in Moradabad Jail till the date.
?6 F.I.Rs registered against 350-villagers
under section of 147/148/149/436/
332/353/427341/342 I.P.C and 3/4
Prevention of Damage to Public
Property Act with 7 Of Criminal Law
Amendment Act.
A Group Discussion like situation
Key Points
?Terror inflicted on people
?At least 25% of people are away from
home
?The labour class has suffered the most
Other members of Village
KEY POINTS-AFTER 1 MONTH OF INCIDENT
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
Fig. 1 & 2: MEETING WITH S.H.O MANATHER POLICE STATIONFig. 3: A GROUP DISCUSSION LIKE SITUATION AT ASALAT NAGAR WAGAH
Fig. 1
Fig. 2 Fig. 3
11Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
12
?The police believe that the entire issue
has been politicized to gain electoral
mileage.
?The discussion also hinted that the
opposition leaders have tried to incite
violence.
?The police claimed to have the video
footage of young boys' involvement in
burning the police jeep.
?The police clarified that they have only
arrested 38 people on the day of
violence and contrary to some rumors
no one has been arrested.
?Police rejected the fear of the local
community fear that 2000 people have
been identified and would be arrested.
Police Station
4.00-5.20pm
The key points that emerged during our
discussion with the Manethar Police
?We found that the Police station is
heavily understaffed hence al l
personnel are over worked.
?The police stressed that the Quran
episode is a planted story and there is no
truth in the claim of the girl.
?The police claimed that they respect all
religions and their holy books and have
not done anything to wrong to the book
Holy Quran.
?The police insisted that the girl
(Noorjahan) has changed her version
of the story (on the desecration of the
holy book) at least three times.
Police Station
4.00-5.20pm
The key points that emerged during our
discussion with the Manethar Police
?We found that the Police station is
heavily understaffed hence al l
personnel are over worked.
?The police stressed that the Quran
episode is a planted story and there is no
truth in the claim of the girl.
?The police claimed that they respect all
religions and their holy books and have
not done anything to wrong to the book
Holy Quran.
?The police insisted that the girl
(Noorjahan) has changed her version
of the story (on the desecration of the
holy book) at least three times.
Dingarpur and Nankar
5.30pm -9.30pm
Profile of people interviewed and description of police violence is put in a table
S.
No.
1.
2.
Name and Age
Saimeen (38)
Taufik (father of Tauseef,
16)
Village
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Relationship to
the Victim
Herself was the
victim and her
husband has been
tortured by the
police before he
was sent to jail
Father
Description of What
happened
Saimeen was attacked and
brutally beaten by male
police. She is wife of
Gram Pradhan Kamil
who is also arrested and
brutally beaten by police
officials.He is still in
Muradabad Jail.
Tauseef (16) is in 11th
standard and he was not
at home. He had gone to
his Bua's (father's sister,
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
13
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Suka (70)
Hasnan
Hasnan
Zakir Hussein
Sarwari (60)
Imran (30)
Saddam Hussein (18)
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Self
Uncle (chacha) to
Rehan who is not
more than 14
years.
Brother of
Manzoor Ahmad
(40)
Brother of
Shakur Hussein
Self
Brother of Kamil
Pradhan
School student
aunt) place in Asadpur.
He was arrested along
with 2 friends, all
juveniles.They all are in
Muradabad Jail.
I am suffering from
respiratory problem.
They broke my door
while entering. The police
hit me on leg, hand and
chest. I was unconscious
for some time after that.
They broke everything in
my home.
He was there in the
crowd and was shot by
the DIG. His condition
has been very serious and
he is under treatment in a
Delhi hospital.
My brother was arrested
along with his friend
Mohd Ali (35).
Is in Muradbad jail since
6 July 2011
Was injured in the
indiscriminate lathi
charge by the police
When we both brothers
reached Dingarpur there
were no violence, it was
in fact over. Then 50
Jawans came to get my
brother They beat him
black and blue. They
beaten my brother's wife
and broken the
motorcycle of my
brother.
Beaten black and blue
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
14
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Mohd. Yusuf
Mohd Fukran, 55
Haji Budda, 57
Mazhar Hussein
Mohd. Amir Raza (40)
Ghulam Rabbani (15)
Rehan S/o Ahsan (14)
Dinaspur
Dinaspur
Dinaspur
Dinaspur
Allahpur
Bhikan
Nankar
Dingarpur
Son of Bholu
Chowkidar
(Small time shop
owner)
Brother
Self
Self and Brothers
Self
Self
Self
and abusive language was
used against him by the
police..
Police Raid- They looted
my shop and took away
the 35, 000 cash in the
shop.
Accused of firing/setting
alight the police vehicle at
the police station.
They entered my house
and broke essential
furniture's and food
grains.
Mazhar Hussain-Named
in F.I.R he was not
present in the village he
was present in
Moradabad District
Court in other matter. He
showed evidence to the
team.
I was trying to make a
peaceful intervention to
stop the violence. I was
beaten by the PAC, still
stopped cameras to take
pics.
I have passed 10th this
year. I was hit by a bullet
from the back. It pierced
my stomach and damaged
my intestine. I have had
three surgeries and my
family has spent more
than 1.5 lakhs. No
authority has ever visited
me after I was shot.
Admitted to Lok Nayak
Hospital Delhi -was on
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
15
17.
18.
19.
Unanimous
Mohd Kamran Ali
(15 years)
Mohd Sarfaraz
(10th class student)
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Dingarpur
Maroof (21)
BBA Student
School student
Self
School student
his way to market to
purchase some necessary
things when was caught
in police firing. Severe
injury at lower stomach.
He is on bed since 6 July
2011. Father is a daily
wages labour and has
already spent Rs.35, 000.
Total family members six
including two boys and
two girls.
Studies in Tirthankar
University.His laptop,
desktop and internet
modem were completely
damaged by police beside
several other household
items
It was difficult to go to
schools
Lived life in the police
terror looming large
everyday on poor
villagers.
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
16
Team Comment: This is a deadlock and
has not led to any peaceful resolution of
the issues, complains and grievances.
Excessive use of police force has violated
human rights of innocent villagers and this
has not been recognized by the police and
the administration. This is high time that
the normalcy is restored with the joint
effort of police and administration and the
first step would be to suspend those who
have desecrated the Quran and those who
have brought physical and mental trauma
to the community by severely beating
innocent villagers and putting them behind
bars.
Peoples are afraid of police .All boys and
girls were out of village due to the fear of
police and P.A.C. After one month still 25
% of boys and girls are not ready to return
home.
No business has taken place since then.
The community of daily wages labours and
truck drivers they have incurred an
estimated loss of Rs. 10 million. Schools
have remained closed during this period.
Administration has not taken any action
against the culprit police officials. It is clear
that grievances redressal has not been
taken care of and the blame game is
continuing between the village community
and the administration.
GROUP DISCUSSION POINTS
INTERACTING WITH THE VICTIMS OF POLICE ATROCITIES AT DINGARPUR
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
17
Gulam Rabbani (14 ) resident of Nankar student of 10th standard injured by police bullet, was on the way to purchase some household materials.
Family has spent up to Rs. One lakh. No aid received from anyone.
Rehan (14), resident of Dingarpur, injured by police bullet under treatment at Lok Nayak Hospital Delhi caught in the market purchasing some farming materials. His father is daily wages labour, has spent Rs 40000 yet. No aid received from anyone. He has 2 sons and two
daughters in the family.
Properties destroyed by police personnel on 6th July, 2011
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
18
PROPERTIES DESTROYED BY POLICE PERSONNEL ON 6TH JULY,2011
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
19
1. Desecration of Quran has some truth.
Noorjahan statement was witnessed by
neighbors' also. It was not only a
rumor.
2. When this news spread villagers
blocked the national highway
demanding suspension of culprit
police officials.
3. The fact is that first the mob jammed
the main road and then attacked the
police station as the administration
failed to respond and console the hurt
of religious sentiments of the people
and could not satisfy their demands.
The DIG got information about the
incident. He was arriving at Mainather
Police station but the mob stopped him
on the way at Dingarpur village, Then
DM of Moradabad who was also
travelling with him, watching situation
out of control he returned to District
Headquarters but DIG was caught in
the scuffle. DIG opened fire against
stone pelting of the villagers which
reportedly injured four youths
including juveniles. Mob became more
violent and attacked on police officials
resulting serious injuries to D.I.G and
others.
4. Police in reaction behaved like hired
goons. They have destroyed and looted
shops, beaten women, juveniles and did
not spare the senior citizens also. These
all acts of violence by the police are
beyond the law of the land. The Police
have registered fake F.I.Rs against
villagers and have arrested mostly
innocent peoples.
5. The violence has done severe damages
to the local society and economy.
6. Villagers have been living in fear and
the children have been the worst
affected.
7. The police atrocities not been brought
into limelight. Local media reported as
mouthorgan of police officials.
8. No FIR has been lodged yet against the
police. No action taken against those
culprit police officials who initiated the
entire episode resulting in loss of
property, Business, Police-community
relations, communal harmony and the
peace in the district.
9. The DM is new and perhaps has done
not enough study to understand the
incident and it's after effects on the
local people. Nevertheless in our
discussion we expected him to give us a
brief account on the role of the
administration in the given situation.
The team did not find him as an
efficient administrator in this case.
10. The entire community in the nearby
villages like Asalat Nagar Wagha,
Dingarpur,Asadpur,Nankar etc. is
living in constant fear of the police and
this fear has seriously affected their
daily life, living and maintenance of
family life. Children have been without
food, without education and without
security for more than four weeks.
Daily wage laborers and the farmers are
the most affected.
OVERALL FINDINGS
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
20
1. U.P. government should take proper
action against the culprit police
of f ic i a l s as the i r i l l eg a l and
irresponsible action initiated the entire
episode, resulting in loss of property,
business, damaged police-community
relations, communal harmony and the
peace in the district. The Police and the
local administration must be asked to
submit their report in a time bound
frame.
2. Withdrawal of all F.I.Rs and immediate
release of innocent villagers should be
initiated.
3. State Government should provide
proper compensation to the affected
villagers.
4. This case must be investigated by the
National Human Rights Commission,
National Commission of Protection
of Child Rights (NCPCR) and
National Commission for Women
(NCW) and should take proper actions
of Human Rights Violations.
5. Proper training must be provided to
the police to deal with situations that
can erupt due to hurt of religious
sentiments & Police- community level
meeting should be scheduled with the
help of community leader to
strengthen police-public relations as
soon as possible.
SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. MR. SYED AKHLAK AHMAD
Secretary Delhi Chapter-Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR)
2. MR. AFROZ ALAM SAHIL
RTI activist and Founding Editor, Beyond Headlines (www.beyondheadlines.in)
3. MR. DILNAWAZ PASHA
Sub-Editor, Bhaskar.com (Dainik Bhaskar Group)
4. MR. JAVED
Advocate, Moradabad District Court
5. MR. KAMALA KANTA DASH
Research Scholar, Monash University, Australia and Founder President of Initiative for Nationalism,
Secularism and Affirmative Action Network (INSAAN), Delhi
TEAM MEMBERS
Moradabad Police-public Clash on July 6, 2011: A Fact-Finding Report by APCR
Design: +91-9810650228 [email protected]