By Zeeshan Ahmed, IndiaTomorrow.net,
Ahmedabad, 18 Jan 2015: The death toll in January 14-15 communal clashes in Hansot and nearby villages in Bharuch district has gone to three, with one Rafiq Sheikh of Hansot having succumbed to injuries in a hospital in Surat.
Sheikh having sustained injuries during the clashes was admitted to Mahavir Hospital in Surat. After three days of treatment, he could not recover and died on Saturday. His body was taken to Hansot and buried in the local Qabrastan (burial ground). He is survived by his wife and two minor sons Riyaz (5) and Faizan (7).
The other two having been killed in the communal clashes were Sandip Patel and Pratik Patel. Both were stabbed to death during the violence on January 14.
Meanwhile, Police inspector of the Hansot Police Station has been transferred owing to his failure to control the riots.
Meanwhile, several Muslim organisations including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat and other organisations submitted a joint memorandum to state director general of police (DGP) P VC Thakur on Saturday, demanding compensation for those having suffered losses to their properties and seeking immediate transfer of Bharuch district Superintendent of Police (SP) Bipin Ahire for his inability to control the law and order situation in Hansot and nearby villages.
They accused Ahire of encouraging the mob to attack Muslim properties in Hansot. The memorandum said that the “police by indulging into a partisan role contributed to the violence’”.
“It was unworthy of a police officer to ask the mob to attack a particular community”’, the memorandum said.
They also demanded transfer of Ahire, registration of FIR against all those involved in the crime irrespective of the caste and religion and their arrest.
They demanded immediate payment of compensation to those persons whose houses, shops and vehicles were looted, burnt and destroyed by hooligans.
“It is the responsibility of the state to protect the life and property of citizens. But the police as an important organ of the state failed to carry out its responsibility, the citizens having suffered losses due to them deserve full and fair compensation”’, the memorandum said.
