Balesar village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan is witnessing turmoil as a communal violence erupted between the two communities, resulting in the demolition of a 100-year-old Eidgah and blazing of several shops and houses of the Muslim community. The violence, which occurred on May 22, killed one person and rendered dozens injured from both the communities. The violence occurred over the construction of an NREGA road in the locality.
A 4,000-strong mob comprising mostly Malis, allegedly led by four Mali sarpanches of the region, who had won with Congress support, ransacked the small Muslim locality, torched half-a-dozen shops, hurled stones at houses, razed the Eidgah and attacked the police force trying to control the violence. One of the rioters was killed and several injured when the police resorted to fire.
While the two communities earlier agreed to give land for the road equally from their sides, the Sarpanch started construction work taking land only from the Muslim side. Malis allegedly attacked the Muslim locality when the latter objected to the construction.
Qari Moinuddin, convenor of Rajasthan Muslim Forum, said the law had not caught up with the rioters. The Forum described as “outrageous” the financial assistance given to the rioters killed or injured in the police firing.
The Administration was under tremendous pressure to release Balesar Sarpanch, Revat Ram and four others within hours of their detention because most the rioters belonged to the clan of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot – who is also a Mali.
The troubled Muslims refused to accept the compensation of a few thousand rupees pointing out that the Mali rioters were given compensated from Rs.2 lakh to 5 lakh each for death and injuries. “This is the height of injustice to Muslims. We neither attacked Malis nor indulged in any violence, yet we are being painted as aggressors,” said Mohammed Sabir, President Muslim Yuva Sangathan, pointing out that not a single accused had been arrested so far.
The state government invited sharp criticism over the removal of Jodhpur Rural Superintendent of Police, Sharat Kaviraj who tried to prevent the violence. The community accused the government of bowing to pressure from the dominant Mali community. Mr. Kaviraj was shifted on the same day and asked to report at the State Police headquarters till his new posting orders.
“Had we not opened fire, the condition of Muslims would have been precarious and their other localities too could have been attacked. The riots would have had wider ramifications not just in Balesar and elsewhere in Jodhpur district but probably all over Rajasthan,” Mr. Kaviraj clarified.
Engineer Muhammad Saleem, Zonal President Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Rajasthan, has expressed concern over the hooliganism of the goons who demolished the Eidgah and lit fire to a number of shops. He said that the government compensated the victims un-judiciously but it let the violators demolish the structure as per a pre-planned conspiracy and did nothing to stop them. He also expressed his resentment over the transfer of Superintendent of Police, who had tried to prevent the violence. He termed it as a conspiracy. He lamented that after several days neither any endeavour has been made to re-establish the demolished structure nor the Muslims are allowed to do it.
Lackadaisical attitude of the government against the culprits also raises questions on the secular nature of the government. He demanded from the government to immediately nab the demolishers and re-establish the Eidgah.
A delegation of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), led by Secretary Siddique Ramzani, visited and inspected the violence-hit Balesar village and said the environment continues to be tense. The delegation also discussed the issue with both the communities.
Mohammad Ayuub, Mohammad Ali and Siddique Ramzani in their inspection found that in the Ashok Gehlot administration rioters have been encouraged and the minority community has been left to feel insecure and deprived of justice.
The Muslim community, to get justice, is planning to meet Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the AIMMM statement said.