Commenting on the continuing communal riots in the country, veteran journalist Kushwant Singh wrote some three decades ago, that we recognise cities and places through communal riots which take place there. His article was aptly captioned, “Teaching Geography by Murder”. Unfortunately, India’s book of geography is not yet completed. Indian students of social strife are being asked now to add M for Muzaffarnagar, which fell prey to this canker this month.
Horrible tales of murder, arson, and rapes are filling the pages of newspapers. The greater tragedy unfolds itself in the fact that the canker has spread to villages in at least three adjoining districts with virtually hundreds of villages and hamlets in Muzaffarnagar district becoming worst hit.
Radiance visited four relief camps in Budhana, Shahpur, Basikalan and Kairana, and witnessed the wretched condition of thousands of men, women and children who were forced to flee their habitations when they were attacked by their own neighbours. The victims and the survivors tell you gory details of the attacks. One wonders if the communal poison has so deeply seeped into our minds that we are capable of committing the worst heinous crimes against our neighbours with whom we have been living cheek to jowl for generations nay for centuries. This is the worst depravation and the most alarming for our future.
The real culprits behind this crime against humanity are those who, for their political gains, spread hate, prejudice, ill will and enmity.
Over one hundred people have lost their lives for no crime of theirs and the count is increasing. They include women and children also. The doctors who conducted post mortems at Muzaffarnagar government hospital said they had a harrowing experience in doing their duty when they came across cut-pieces of a woman’s body and burnt-out parts of small children. Mothers were forced to watch the gang rape of their young daughters. Scores of girls and women have been abducted, gang raped and even killed by communal thugs.
The NHRC and NCW are ought to take note of these ghastly crimes against innocent men and women and take steps to avoid this bloodbath in future. Supreme Court should intervene, take due note, order a CBI inquiry and punish the culprits in an exemplary way without any delay.
One big need is restoring communal amity and confidence of the victims, who have taken refuge in camps and who have lost everything, even hope.
NGOs, Human Rights organisations and all well-wishers of India and its future must rush to the rescue of victims and create conditions that these hapless people go back to their villages.