A fact-finding report on Tripura violence revealed that if the BJP government had wanted, it could have thwarted premeditated violence against Muslim minority in Tripura, but it allegedly gave free hands to the Hindutva mobs.
The report reveals that Muslims were attacked in 51 places in the state and 12 mosques were ransacked and damaged.
Titled as “Humanity under Attack in Tripura; #Muslim lives matter” the report was released at the Press Club of India by the team members who visited Tripura. The team includes the supreme Court lawyers Ehtesham Hashmi, Advocate Amit Srivastav (Co-ordination Committee, Lawyers for Democracy), Advocate Ansar Indori (Secretary, Human Rights Organization, National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (NCHRO) and Advocate Mukesh, Civil Rights Organization People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL, DELHI).
Addressing the media, they underlined that the manner in which the situation has developed post the incident of violence against Muslims in Tripura.
“This is the complete failure of the government and the political interests of the BJP. The ideology of violent patriotism has captured the state and has conspicuous support amongst the public,” they added.
The investigation team met the aggrieved parties and gathered information and facts related to the violence and came to the conclusions that the protests were held at 51 places in Tripura over incidents of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
Violence started over the demonstrations, properties were burnt and a huge panic situation was created targeting particularly Muslims.
The facts that have come to light before the investigation team primarily indicate that if the government had taken appropriate steps on time, the violence would not have assumed such a horrific proportion.
The fact-finding team found that the incident happened to further the political interest of Bhartiya Janta Party. Their Probe reveals that the protests were held at 51 places in Tripura over incidents of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. As many as 12 Masjid have been vandalized and Quran also burned when rioters fired at the Masjid CRPF in Panisagar of North Tripura.
Munawar Ali, 72, a resident of Rava Bazaar in Panisagar told the fact-finding team that announcements were being made for the 26 October misal (rally) from October 15 in the Panisagar division. In that announcement, VHP people were saying that Hindus who would not participate in this rally will be boycotted.
“The people of VHP had brought JCB machines to the rally. With this machine their intention was to damage shops and mosques. They tried it unsuccessfully at a shop in Rava Bazaar. We, all the men, children, young and old of the village started gathering near the mosque to save the mosque. The distance of Rawa Bazar from the mosque is 500 meters and the shops of Rava Bazar are clearly visible from there” he added.
We have never seen so much hatred in all these years. After the BJP government came to power in the state, an atmosphere was created against the Muslims. The result of which has come out in the form of violence, local Muslims told the team.
When the arson was taking place, we called the local BJP MLA Vinay Bhushan Das 7-8 times. He picked up the phone once and said that he was in a meeting in Agartala, Munawar Ali stated to the Team.
After the incident, the men are guarding outside the houses in night shifts. There is still an atmosphere of fear among the people.
The report makes 8 demands:
- The Government should make an inquiry committee headed by a retired High Court judge and get the whole incident investigated.
- Separate FIR must be filed on the complaint of victims.
- Due to this incident, all the people whose businesses have suffered financial loss should get appropriate compensation by the state government and it should be compensated soon so that these innocent people can get their life back on track and their businesses and work can resume smoothly.
- The government should get the religious places damaged in arson and sabotage rebuilt at their expense.
- Despite the possibility of violence, the police officer not taking any action should be held responsible. They should be immediately removed from their post and the police station and a new police officer should be appointed.
- Strict action should be taken against persons and organizations who raised slogans insulting Prophet Mohammad in the rally so that the cordial atmosphere of the state is not spoiled again.
- Strict legal action should be taken against the people who create false and provocative messages and them viral on social media, and against all the people and organizations who repeatedly incite people and create ruckus for the rally. Case should be registered against these people and strict action should be taken against them.
- Whoever is guilty in this riot, and have engaged in looting and arson, should be investigated in the fast track court without any discrimination.