Masihuzzama Ansari
New Delhi–Waking up to mayhem, Tripura police imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr.PC to prevent looting and rioting by Hindutva groups.
For more than a week, Tripura police watched looting and arson from the fence.
Shrines, mosques, properties, and shops were vandalized at will. This comes against the backdrop of attacks on minorities on the occasion of Durga Puja in Bangladesh.
Police have now imposed section 144 in North Tripura. Under section 144, more than four people cannot gather at one place.
Violence intensified on October 26 when Vishwa Hindu Parishad, RSS, and BJP took out a rally. Miscreants went on a rampage and torched shops and houses of Muslims.
Eight shops of Amir Hussain, Amiluddin, Nizamuddin, Sanofar, Yusuf Ali, Jamaluddin, Mohammad Ali, and Sultan Hussain were set ablaze.
Aamir was dealing in electric goods shop and he suffered a loss of about Rs 12 lakh. Amiluddin had a ration shop and he incurred a loss of Rs 17 lakh. Nizamuddin was dealing in cosmetics and mobile accessories. He lost close to Rs 10 lakh. Sanofar and Sanohar were dealing with clothes, shoes, and school bags. They suffered a loss of Rs 15 lakh. Yusuf Ali had a ration shop. He suffered a loss of Rs 15 lakh.
Jamaluddin had a photocopy shop. Machine, computer, and printer were damaged by rioters. He suffered a loss of around Rs 7 lakh. Mohammad Ali was dealing in shoes, clothes, and cosmetics. He incurred a loss of Rs 5 lakh. Sultan Hussain suffered a loss of Rs 3 lakh.
“The government has taken the cognizance. Some people have also been identified. Police are actively looking into the matter. Security has been beefed up so that no untoward incident takes place,” Prashant Goel, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s secretary, told India Tomorrow
However, the victims alleged that shops were vandalized and torched in presence of the police.
BJP MLA from Rowa Panisagar Binoy Bhushan Das told India Tomorrow that Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists, who were part of the rally, were involved in the rioting. “Identity of the accused is being ascertained. They will be arrested soon,” he said.
Udayaram, ASI of Rowa Panisagar police station, told India Tomorrow that shops of Muslims were burnt by those who were part of the rally. “A case has been registered and the accused are being identified. We will arrest the accused soon,” he said.
Shop owners, whose business establishments were allegedly torched by the VHP activists, told India Tomorrow that the mob had come fully prepared to attack Jama Masjid in Rowa Panisagar.
“They had brought a can of petrol, JCB, and other material. Muslim shopkeepers left their shops and rushed towards the mosque. Everyone stood like a wall to protect the mosque. The rioters then changed their course and set eight shops on fire,” they said.
Eyewitnesses said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad rally reached Rowa Panisagar at around 4 pm. “They were abusing our prophet. They were raising derogatory slogans. Burning down the shops can be tolerated, but not insult to our prophet,” said Jalaluddin, who was one of the victims,
Amir, Amiluddin, and Sanofer, whose shops were torched, told India Tomorrow police did not take action. “Rioters went on a rampage at will,” they said.
Reports said more than 12 mosques in five districts of Tripura have been damaged. The picture of a half-burnt Quran in a mosque has now gone viral.
Surprisingly, no one condemned the incident. Even the chief minister has maintained a deafening silence.
According to the victims, all these shops were burnt in presence of police. When the victims appealed to the police to stop the rioters, they expressed helplessness.
Dharmanagar SDPO later assured the Muslims that police will protect the mosques.
Tripura police also tweeted that situation is completely under control and section-144 has been imposed.
Earlier, people tried to reach Tripura Police on Twitter, but they did not take any action.
Several victims told India Tomorrow that the police arrived late at the scene.
Tripura riots had a stark resemblance to Delhi mayhem. In both cities, systematic attacks were carried out against Muslims. Police, administration, and the ruling party were equally responsible for the mayhem.
Dismiss all those police officer’s, who failed to maintain law and order and ban all communal parties (bajrang dal, vhp and rss like parties for ever) punish those criminals who disturb peace and pass a law to avoid any derogatory language against a perticular religion.
Help financially to those who lost their lives on govt level
And reconstruct the mosques which damaged heavily.