Friday, March 29, 2024

Ram Navami violence in Gujarat: Muslims move HC seeking transfer of probe to CID

Photo courtesy to PTI.

The victims of anti-Muslim violence at Khambhat in Gujarat have moved the Gujarat High Court seeking a transfer of investigation to state CID citing that the police showed its anti-Muslim bias and that police, directly and indirectly, encouraged the riotous mob.

There are four petitioners on behalf of the Muslim residents of Khambhat, Live Law reported.

There are two FIRs in connection with the violence. More than 30 arrests have been made by Anand police while investigating the first FIR. All arrestees are Muslims. The second FIR is yet to be investigated by the local police.

The petition sought the court’s intervention “to initiate departmental, civil and criminal action against erring officers responsible for non-transparent, unfair, discriminatory treatment in connection with both the FIRs.”

Last month, pursuant to the Ram Navmi procession and the Shobha Yatra, Hindutva mobs looted and destroyed the private properties, houses and shops belong to Muslims.One Dargah was also substantially damaged by mob shouting Jai Shree Ram.

The petitioners stated that many Hindutva mob members are not accused in any FIRs. The violence caused substantial damage of irreversible nature, said the petitions.

The second FIR was registered on 10 April 2022, but till today no arrests have been made, Muslims told the court.

“Every day a new arrest is being made in the first FIR whereas in the second FIR, nothing happens. The same police investigating both the FIRs deliberately, consciously, and in a mala fide manner, don’t take any action with respect to offences arising out of the second FIR. Therefore, the investigation is biased, manifestly arbitrary, grossly discriminatory,” read the petition.

“All those arrest which are made belongs to one section of society namely the minority. The investigation that has been carried out has been one sided based on religious consideration and religious bias,” read the petition.

The victims of Hindutva violence told the court that the Gujarat Police’s investigation is biased, manifestly arbitrary, grossly discriminatory and therefore violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and hence unconstitutional.

Muslims in several Indian states were on edge after Hindutva mobs came out in processions, making hate speeches and attacking their properties during the Hindu festival of Ram Navmi.

Hindu men wearing saffron scarves – and, in some cases, carrying sticks and swords – stopped their rallies in Muslim neighbourhoods, playing provocative songs laced with threats of genocide outside homes and mosques, and raising hate slogans. Dozens of houses and shops were destroyed an two men killed in the Hindutva violence.

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