Intro: Western Uttar Pradesh is in the grip of permanent tension since the Samajwadi Party government has come to power. Even minor incidents turn into big communal
violence. Muslims in the region feel they have been granted licence to take the law in their hands and the Hindus feel that there is none to protect them.
How Islamic fundamentalism is crossing limits in Western Uttar Pradesh was once again witnessed in Shamli District on May 1 when some Muslims fanatics spread the rumour that some Muslim clerics have been attacked by rail passengers. Agitated over it a mob of fundamentalists laid siege to Kandhla Police Station, pelted stones, set vehicles on fire and created panic in the entire region. About 16 policemen were injured in this violence. Samajwadi MLA from Kairana Nahid Hasan made all efforts to draw political mileage from a non-issue.
Western Uttar Pradesh is in the grip of permanent tension since the Samajwadi Party government has come to power. Even minor incidents turn into big communal violence. Muslims in the region feel they have been granted licence to take the law in their own hands and the Hindus feel there is none to protect them, as the government and administration are found nowhere.
According to reports, five Tablighi Jamaat members from Maharashtra boarded Janata Express train for Saharanpur from Old Delhi Railway Station on May 1. Before the train reached Baraut, one of the Jamaat member, Mohammad Farooq, went to toilet. Since there was huge crowed of daily passengers in the train he had to face some hardships. Due to this he had heated argument with some co-passengers. But some passengers pacified both the groups. Instead of reaching Saharanpur, the Jamat members got down at Kandhla Station and directly reached the local Jamaat office. Within hours a mob of Muslims gheraoed the Kandhla Police Station and lodged a complained of fighting, insulting the beard and snatching Rs 20,000 against five unknown youth. Even before the Police could start action the mob created panic in the entire town. On May 2, they again came to the streets and stopped the Delhi-Saharanpur bound trains for about five hours. Kairana MLA Nahid Hassan led the mob. They also pelted stones on the train and did not spare even the policemen. The Police and Administration remained mute spectator. When questioned about the inaction, Meerut IG Alok Sharma shamelessly justified the Police stand. He however admitted that the action on the part of the crowd was objectionable and illegal but he held “illiteracy” responsible for it.
According to DIG Saharanpur Range Dr Ashok Kumar Raghav, FIRs have been registered against some rioters and strict action would be taken against them. RPF Shamli Station House Officer Ajay Kumar on May 3 registered a complaint against 2,000 unknown people including SP MLA Nahid Hasan for damaging the railway property. Kandhla Police registered case against 150 unknown people including former one Haji Islam. Assistant Commissioner of Railway Police Prakash Panda said they are making all efforts to arrest the Samajwadi Party MLA Hasan. UP Police DG Arvind Kumar Jain has ordered for imposing Goonda Act and NSA against the rioters, but how far his orders will be implemented is doubtful.
The people of western Uttar Pradesh are panicked. The communal violence of 2013 had claimed the lives of 65 people and over 100 people were injured. Unfortunately, those who create panic are not punished. The administration seems to have taken no lesson from the past incidents, as if they are waiting for mayhem in the region. -Surender Singhal
