Masihuzzama Ansari
NEW DELHI—Tripura Democratic Front (TDF) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the state Director General of Police (DGP) V S Yadav, demanding security for the Muslims under assault for the last one week by radicalized Hindu groups.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), a leading Muslim religious and cultural organization, demanded an immediate halt to anti-Muslim violence, security for Muslims, and compensation for the loss of properties like destruction and burning down of mosques and other properties by Hindu fanatic groups.
As many as 16 mosques and dozens of shops and other properties belonging to Muslims were torched, destroyed, and vandalized by miscreants allegedly from the Hindutva group.
The goons also set burning copies of the Holy Quran and other religious books in mosques.
TDF president Poojan Biswas demanded an immediate halt to attacks on Muslims and their properties in the memorandum.
TDF also demanded legal action against miscreants allegedly from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the World Hindu Council (VHP), and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the National Volunteer Organisation (RSS) involved in attacks on mosques and Muslim properties in Panisagar.
Pointing fingers towards the role of police and the state government, Biswas said that the police and administration seemed to have maintained a “blind eye” towards atrocities on Muslims. He said that a senior TDF leader had also written a letter to the Bangladesh High Commissioner seeking complete protection to Hindus and their properties from attacks by radical Muslims in Bangladesh.
Speaking to India Tomorrow over the phone, Biswas said, “We are very much concerned about attacks on Muslims in Tripura. Attacks have taken place on Muslim religious sites, houses, and shops at several locations in the state. This is highly condemnable. We strongly oppose such violence.”
Binay Bhushan Das, BJP MLA from Panisagar, while talking to this news portal, said no arrest was made so far regarding arson and vandalism that took place on Tuesday.
The violence and torching in Panisagar took place on Tuesday despite the promulgation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC, banning the assembly of four or more persons.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has appealed to the Tripura government to control the situation and provide compensation for the destruction of mosques and other properties. The JIH also demanded stern action against the criminals involved in violence.
“The government must provide security to Muslims in the state, and those responsible for the violence and terror be punished for bringing peace to the state,” JIH secretary Malik Moatasim Khan demanded.
At an online press conference organized jointly by the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), SIO representative Sultan Hussain and APCR secretary Nadeem Khan said that as many as 16 mosques were vandalized, including three torched by violent Hindutva mobs.
Quoting activists and residents in Agartala and other places in Tripura, Hussain and Khan said that at least 27 incidents of violence by Hindutva mobs were reported in which mobs attacked mosques, houses, and individuals.
“These include 16 incidents where mosques were vandalized, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) flags were forcibly hoisted on them. At least three mosques, Palbazar mosque in Unnakoti district, Dogra Masjid in Gomati district, and Narola Tila in Vishalgarh were set ablaze,” they claimed.
They said that there were also reports of houses of prominent Muslims being targeted and vandalized by various right-wing groups, including VHP, apparently in reaction to the incidents in Bangladesh.
“On Tuesday, the state government imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in Dharmanagar and Kailashahar, parts of North Tripura, to prevent protests against the violence in the state. However, there has been no action in the areas which saw vandalism by the mob. The state and police authorities are creating an illusion of normalcy by deploying police personnel in a few areas,” said Sultan Hussain, a resident of North Tripura and secretary of Tripura chapter of Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO).
Nadeem Khan said that the state government had had not yet initiated concrete steps to end the violence.
“The government claims that the situation is normal. It blames the incidents in Bangladesh for the violence in the state. The irony is that 500 people have been arrested in Bangladesh so far, but no arrest has been made in Tripura,” Khan said.
