New Delhi: In a letter to Uttarakhand governor Gurmit Singh, CPI(M) delegates, including Brinda Karat, who visited Haldwani on March 13, investigating the aftermath of violence that erupted on February 8, have urged the government to set up a probe into the matter.
The delegation has urged the government to investigate the administration’s hasty decision to demolish a Madrasa and a Masjid, despite a pending high court court hearing, which allegedly led to violence and police firing.
It comprised Vijoo Krishnan, Rajinder Negi, Mahinder Jakhmola, Lekhraj, Yusuf Tewari, and others.
It visited the affected area of Banbhoolpura and met residents, including families of those killed, and journalists and police personnel who were injured.
In its report released on March 14, the delegation said: “The unfortunate events of February 8, leading to violence, police firing, loss of lives, injuries, loss of livelihood was a consequence of the decision and action of the administration to bulldoze a Madrasa and a Masjid, even while the case was posted for hearing on February 14, by a bench of the high court. The argument of the administration that the plea for a stay on the demolition was not accepted by the high court thus the demolition was legal, itself shows the flawed approach of the administration.”
“The case was not dismissed by the court, it was posted for hearing and instead of waiting for the court hearing, the administration moved in with bulldozers within a few hours, which was both thoughtless and provocative,” said the report.
The delegation also questioned the manner in which the demolition was carried out. The authorities hadn’t removed the holy books kept in both the Madrasa and the Masjid before starting the demolition. The books were removed only after the demolition had already started.
“The delegation saw video evidence of this. Rumours spread that the holy books had been damaged. This was not the case, but passions were inflamed,” it said, adding that the “incident was totally avoidable”.
Watch | Haldwani Violence: A Ground Report From Banbhoolpura
Nothing communal in the violence
The delegation saw evidence of mob violence in the vehicles burnt. They visited the police thana which had been attacked with stone pelting.
They spoke to a woman police personnel, Vandana, who said she was surrounded by the mob and was abused and threatened in vile language. She suffered injuries from stone pelting. She told the delegation that she was saved by people of the community and was given shelter along with other police personnel by a Muslim family who, she said, helped her.
They met victims’ families, highlighting the human toll of the tragedy and the urgent need for assistance and compensation.
A journalists, who were also caught in mob violence, told the delegation that “they were protected by members of the community who took them to a nearby Masjid and gave them protection.”
This is a clear indication that there was nothing communal in the violence but a reaction to the demolitions.
Questionable use of UAPA
The second finding of the delegation is that there was a spontaneous outburst of anger at the demolitions and the rumour that the holy books had been damaged. “There was no pre-planned conspiracy,” it said.
In this context, the report questions the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
“While all those involved in the violence must be punished, indiscriminate arrests using the draconian provisions of UAPA must be reconsidered,” it said.
Also read: In Photos: Mosque and Madrasa Demolitions Leave Haldwani in Stunned Silence
Only one case of communal killing
The delegation met with families of five out of the six individuals killed. Four were victims of police firing, while one fell victim to a communal killing by a neighbor, and another died from stab wounds.
Shimmi, who lost her husband Md Zahid and 17-year-old son Md Anas in police firing, shared their tragic story.
“Zahid was a driver with a small pick-up vehicle. He had gone out to get milk for his four-month-old granddaughter. When he did not return for some time, Shimmi sent her son Anas to look for him. The next thing she knew was that both had been shot dead,” she told the delegation.
The delegation met Naseema whose husband Md Israr was shot dead by the police.
Describing what happened on the tragic day, their elder boy, Suhail, who works in a small car denting garage, told the delegation that he received a call from his father to come home early due to trouble in the area. His father said that he himself was returning home after praying at the Masjid. The younger son Imran went out to where his father usually parked the vehicle. He saw his father walking home when suddenly there was firing and before the boy’s eyes, his father was shot dead.
However, those killed were not involved in the rioting and violence.
The delegation met the family of Haji Fayeem, who was shot dead by his neighbour. This was the only case which was clearly a communal killing.
“The delegation saw videos of the attack on the house of Fayeem where the police can be clearly seen standing by while the house is being attacked. Slogans can be heard including “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Shri Ram”. What is most disturbing and indeed shocking is that despite clear evidence against the attackers and murderers, named in a complaint by Parvez, the police have not even filed an FIR, leave alone arrest the accused. When the delegation inquired why an FIR was not filed and arrests not made, the police said the inquiry is still going on,” said the report.
Only Fayeem’s case appeared to be the only case of communal killing.
Police brutality
The delegation also observed videos depicting police officers themselves hurling stones and bricks, tarnishing the reputation of the force. While condemning attacks on police and journalists, the delegation said that this misconduct by a faction of the police warrants immediate action.
In its concluding finding, the delegation expressed concern over the arrest of over 100 individuals, primarily based on vague video evidence indicating mere presence in the area.
It questioned the rationale behind the arrest of six women, including an ailing 65-year-old and a breastfeeding mother, accused of “inciting” the crowd. While advocating for justice against those responsible for violence and arson, the delegation emphasised the injustice of imprisoning women on flimsy charges and urged against the imposition of stringent clauses.
The delegation encountered numerous women who were subjected to police brutality in the aftermath of the incident.
On February 10, police forcibly entered around 50 homes, assaulting women and children in clear violation of established norms prohibiting male officers from handling women. The police also vandalised property and caused serious injuries to some women.
