By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 05 July 2015: Within 24 hours of a Muslim delegation from riot-hit Atali village in Haryana met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Friday complaining about no action against the rioters after the 25th May and 1st July incidents of violence, it appears the Haryana government got hard message from the central government to act tough, and consequently hundreds of policemen in riot gear descended on the village on Saturday, carried out door-to-door search operation and reportedly detained dozens of the accused.
Commissioner of Police (Faridabad) Subhash Yadav has been quoted by Indian Express as saying: “We have detained a number of people from Atali on the basis of complaints. Police have rounded them up and the process of verification is going on. After this concludes, we will be producing them in court and formally arresting them.” Yadav, however, refused to divulge the number of people who have been detained.
However, Urdu papers said around 100 people have been detained.
The Atali village in Ballabhgarh tehsil in Faridabad district witnessed fresh violence on Wednesday (1st July 2015) leaving several Muslims wounded and scores fleeing the homes. The Muslim residents had returned to the village in the first week of June after 10 days of camping at the local police station following the first big violence on 25th May 2015. More than one dozen people were wounded in that violence and dozens of homes were looted and put on fire. Their return was made after several rounds of peace talks involving Muslims, Jats, administration and politicians. Though they returned but the situation in the village remained tense and volatile.
The 25th May violence erupted over construction of a mosque in the village. While Muslims claimed the mosque was on the land of waqf board the Hindus said it was panchayat land. The case is pending before a court.
Following the 25th May incident, several FIRs were registered by the victim Muslim families but the police did not arrest any accused saying the arrest could further worsen the situation. However, many Muslims said that this was the very inaction that emboldened the culprits to strike again on 1st July.
“Even after FIRs in which several rioters were named, no arrest was made by the police. This seems to have emboldened the attackers,” said Ishteyaque, a social activist in Faridabad.
“The police and civil administration did not execute its duty in the May riot in Atali. If they had acted strictly, this fresh incident would not have happened. The police force was deployed there it seems the miscreants had no fear, rather they were considering the police as their supporters,” said Delhi-based social activist Inamur Rahman.
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Atali violence: No arrest in May riot emboldened rioters to strike again, say Muslims
