Following provocative videos posted by Hindutva vigilantes on social media, communal clashes erupted in Nuh claiming the lives of six persons. The violence spread to other parts of the state wherein Muslims were targeted by Hindu mobs and the police either connived with the rioters or stood as silent spectators
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A 52-year-old Muslim man died during midnight police raids in Haryana’s Nuh district last week amid reports of one-sided action against members of the Muslim community following the communal violence in different parts of the state.
Jabbar Khan, a resident of Singar village in Nuh, died as police conducted raids at his house in connection with a case related to communal violence. Family members alleged that Khan died after he was beaten up by police personnel on 2 August. The police claimed that the deceased died due to shock and not due to the raids.
Shahid, son of Khan, told Newslaundry that the deceased was beaten so much that he fell unconscious. Family members said even when the deceased fell unconscious, the police claimed that he was feigning illness and accused them of making excuses.
The deceased was buried without any postmortem on the same day. Family members have not filed any police complaint saying that they would not get anything from the complaint.
“We are poor people and won’t gain anything from it. We have already lost our father,” said Shahid.
Khan is survived by his wife, one daughter and 8 sons.
Like Shahid, there are several families in the village who shared the story of torture and raids on their houses. Some of them alleged that they were beaten up by policemen while many others have fled their homes fearing further police action.
Families of Nawab (38), Hasan(48) and Muji (50) had similar stories to share.
The police and authorities have been accused of taking one-sided action against Muslims while both sides were responsible for the violence. Properties, houses, shops and other buildings razed during and in the aftermath of the violence also belonged to members of the Muslim community.
A fact-finding report released by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) also pointed out the one-sided action taken by the authorities against members of the minority community.
The report noted that the arrests made by the police were one-sided, targeting Muslims and leaving out any potential involvement of Hindus in the violence. This skewed approach has further deepened the divide between the two communities, it said.
“The aftermath of the violence has brought forth new challenges and hardships for the community, especially Muslims. Rather than offering support, the administration has embarked on a path of revenge against the Muslim community. This revenge is manifested through the demolition of their shops and houses, coupled with arbitrary detentions and torture,” noted the report.
Following provocative videos posted by Hindutva vigilantes on social media, communal clashes erupted in Nuh claiming the lives of six persons. The violence spread to other parts of the state wherein Muslims were targeted by Hindu mobs and the police either connived with the rioters or stood as silent spectators.
