By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 28 Oct 2014: A prominent rights panel Tuesday demanded that authorities release the names of the persons arrested for the communal riots in Trilokpuri area here, and also reveal their religious identity after complaints that minority community is allegedly being targeted.
Four days after a scuffle between intoxicated young men on Diwali night in Trilokpuri’s Block 20 spiralled into a diffused communal riot the violence appears to have abated but tension and suspicion persist. The violence resulted in scores of injuries, dozens of arrests, and the incineration of at least one Muslim-owned shop.
In a letter to Delhi’s Minority Commission, National Committee for Legal Redressal and Justice called on the local police to “function in transparent, bipartisan and fair manner”. They demanded that the list of all the persons arrested be released with their religious identity along with the sections under which they have been booked made public.
“All persons who are detained in connection with violence are presented before a magistrate and due process of law being followed while dealing with them. Family members and lawyers should be allowed to meet the detained person,” former Delhi minorities commission chairman Kamal Faruqui said in a statement.
Media reports say around 50 people have been arrested in last five days in the area.
According to media reports deep hatred based on rumors and stereotypes had been generated among the Hindu residents through some well-oiled propaganda machine. Rumors like Muslims urinated near ‘mata ki chowki’, they throw meat at puja and harass women among others were floated through social media.
The cycle of violence allegedly started after local BJP leader and former MLA Sunil Kumar Vaidya’s provocative speech and call for building a temple at the ‘mata ki chowki’ spot near Shan-e-Ilahi mosque. The proposed temple would be on government land which was earlier a public toilet and now used by people for parking.
“During the clash between mobs from the two communities the police remained a mute spectator and did not act but later allegedly rounded up and thrashed men, women and youths from the Muslim community. Male policemen beat Muslim women and randomly picked youths from the community who were thrashed in Mayur Vihar Phase 1 police station,” said the panel in a statement after its delegation met Mr. Qamar Ahmad, Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission here today. The delegation comprised Kamaal Faruqui, Former Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission, APCR’s Adv Abubakar Sabbaq, and activists Azeem Naved and Kashif Ahmed Faraz.
