In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, and later released to the Press, human and civil rights activists Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, L.S. Hardenia, Prof. Ram Puniyani, and Irfan Engineer demanded strict action against the guilty officials of administration for their complicity in the incidence of 25th July 2010 where 70 Muslim houses were set on fire.
The letter says, “We the undersigned have perused the report of PUCL Rajasthan and its fact finding team led by vice president of PUCL Rajasthan State and Senior Advocate Mr. Ramesh Nandwala regarding the incidence that murder of Mr. Mohan Meena on 2nd July 2010 and attack on Muslims thereafter till 25th July 2010. We made discrete inquiries ourselves about the credibility of the report and are convinced that meticulous care has been taken while examining all the facts arriving at the conclusion.
“We are disturbed to note that on 2nd July 2010 till 25th July 2010 some communally motivated miscreants were openly mobilising, instigating and inciting, gullible adivasis to attack Muslims in Sarda Udaipur, on the pretext that one Mr. Shezad Khan murdered Mohan Meena. Members of Bajrang Dal instigated adivasis to inflict collective punishment on all Muslims of Sarda Udaipur, even though all Muslims had decided to boycott and ostracise the three Muslim accused alleged to have killed Mohan Meena. PUCL has evidence of distribution of weapons by communally motivated miscreants from 18th July 2010 to 24th July 2010. On 24th July 2010 Muslim leaders informed higher officials and requested for adequate protection. However instead of providing protection for members of Muslim Community, the Police asked all of them to gather at the Police station on the pretext of protecting them. While the members of the Muslim community were at the Police station, about 70 houses belonging to them were set on fire under the nose of District Collector and Superintendent of Police and other senior officials.
“It is shocking that in a state ruled by Congress party which was elected on Secular mandate, the Police and district officials can be complicit with impunity. This will only encourage, strengthen and consolidate communal forces and weaken the principle and values of secularism. It will encourage communal forces to mount more attacks on minorities and encourage the duty bearing government officials to be complicit. If no action is taken against the guilty police and administrative officials then Congress-ruled Rajasthan will be no different from Gujarat 2002. The role of police in Sarda was no way different from that of Gujarat Police. The Bihar and West Bengal experience shows that once the Chief Ministers issued circulars to all Police Stations warning them of strict action in case communal violence occurred in these two states in otherwise hotbed of communal violence, (the situation remained under control).
“The National Advisory Council (NAC) chaired by Sonia Gandhi on the other hand is drafting a law precisely to make such duty bearers accountable and brought to justice for failing in their duty.
“We therefore demand that the District Magistrate and SP of Udaipur be suspended forthwith without any delay and brought to justice as they are equally guilty of the incitement and abetment of burning and looting of 70 houses belonging to members of Muslim community. The communally motivated miscreants and leaders of Bajrang Dal named in PUCL report and all other guilty of the offence of rioting be brought to justice without delay. The investigation of the entire incidence is handed over to impartial investigation agency like CBI. Immediate relief and rehabilitation of 500 Muslim families who have been driven out of their villages and are forced to take temporary shelter in Muslim religious places. Loss of riots victims should be made good through adequate compensation package. This is the least that can be done in the circumstances.”