Rekindling
the lives of the victims of Kasganj violence
TarunKanti
Bose
To bring fore the issues emerging out of
the bloodshed at Kasganj in Western Uttar Pradesh in India on January 26, 2018
Media Vigil Trust and People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)
organized an event at Press Club of India in New Delhi. “Folk School in the
support of survivors of communal violence and torture in Kasganj” received
support from United Nations Trust fund for victims of Torture (UNTFVT) and
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT).
The hall was packed to its capacity,
activists, journalists, lawyers, academicians, students participated and
listened to the deliberations and testimonials with rapt attention for 3 hours.
It also included the victims of Kasganj violence who narrations jolted the
sensibilities of the participants. The violence in the riot and in its aftermath,
perpetrated by the police patronized by the ruling party in the centre and
state had heightened the trauma, uprooting the families, their identity and
livelihood. Keeping in mind the syncretic traditions of Kasganj, the event
aimed to strengthen the Hindu-Muslim amity, create a narrative of togetherness
in the current vulnerable, fragile and easily polarized discourse in India.
New pattern of communal violence
Taking the centre stage, Dr. Lenin
Raghuvanshi, Founder & CEO of PVCHR, opened the session, he revealed, “In
Kasganj, the moment the violence broke out, the young men who had instigated it
went underground. In the aftermath of the riot, around 120 caught by the
police, out of which 80 were Hindus and 30-40 belonged to Muslim community.”
For taking stock of the ground realities,
Dr. Lenin along with his team rushed to Kasganj after two days of the violence
breaking out in January. Further, he added, “Interestingly, Kasganj violence
sets up a new pattern in communal riots in India. This new era riot started
taking its shape much before 26th January 2018. Young men from both
Hindu and Muslim community from Kasganj started an online debate on social
media, few months back. The Gorakhnath temple in Kasganj was made the centre of
activity through which the Hindu youth were drawn to connect them with BJP’s
student wing ABVP functionaries in Uttar Pradesh.Actually, this temple, which
was once abandoned and found in dilapidated condition, was repaired, the priest
was taken into confidence and finally the custodian of the temple the present
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was involved. It was a six month process, even
before the social media debate started. Thus, the riot was allowed to take
place by jobless youths belonging to the both sides of the community. Kasganj
violence is a part of the major conspiracy to destroy the cottage industry and
further pauperise the Muslims. In Kasganj, shops and livelihood sources of the
poor Muslims have been torched or looted. None of the fact finding teams which
visited Kasganj, after the violence had tried to do a follow-up what happened
to those who were arrested. Those shops, which were torched did they get any
compensation. Those who fled their homes have they returned or not. The
egregious manner in which the trauma continues to haunt the victims and their
families reveals a new emerging image of communal violence in today’s time.
Mostly unheard by police, politicians, activists and even lawyers, the victims
have innumerable stories haunting them, making it treacherous for them to
accept their new identity, reality and mayhem.”
Delineating on ‘new age riot’ Nadeem
Khan, a prominent activist of ‘United against Hate’ campaign said, “Kasganj
riot was not a traditional riot. It was an attack by the selected youth belonging
to majority community on the minority. But interestingly, both Hindus and
Muslims showed solidarity to prevent it from further escalating into major
violence. Kasganj violence reveals how Hindu youth were turned into an
aggressive violent mob.”
Further he added, “23 First Information
Reports (FIRs)were lodged for a single bullet fired, but without any evidence.
Those youths, who were arrested and put behind the prisons, their houses were ransacked
and looted during the three days of Kasganj violence. However, the fact is that
the violence and its escalation reveal that it was patronised by the police and
the state right from the beginning. Unfortunately, we will see more such
experiments and ‘planned’ riots in the coming months till 2019 General
elections.”
Atul Saxena, a native from Kasganj,
explained how media further aggravated the situation and played the role of
devil’s advocate creating hyper-reality. He revealed, “Local Newspapers, local TV
channels reporting on Kasganj violence played up the riot. Till 26th
January 2018, Kasganj had no history of communal violence. Even in Muslim
majority where there is Chamundadevi temple, a sensitive location, there has
never been any communal discord reported ever.”
Rajiv Yadav of Rihai Manch explaining
about the hierarchy of FIRs and the power play involved, he said, “FIRs lodged
against Muslims, OBCs and Dalitsis well evident. The present Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister through the Kasganj violence has been assiduously trying to
build up a communally polarised constituency so that he can reap up the
dividends in 2019 General elections. In this situation it’s quite necessary to
give legal support to the victims.” However, Rihai Manch is a resistance
against repression, as they describe it – formed panels of lawyers to provide
legal assistance to people trapped by police deceit.
Women from Kasganj donning hijab attended
the event to tell their tale of woes. These women were accompanied from the
families and cuddling infants in their arms. Women with expectant look at the
event retained their silence. They were curiously trying to understand if this
initiative could bring justice to them. However, the quest for justice for
Kasganj violence is quite arduous and painstaking, it’s tough and the path tumultuous.
Many among them whose son, brother or father had been incarcerated for days
together on false charges and the egregious violence has now negatively
impacted their lives and rendered them helpless
Testimonials by the victims of police
violence
Rahul Yadav, who was
arrested in the aftermath of 26th January violence, said, “I am
PVCHR functionary in Kasganj. On 29th January at 11 pm, policemen in
a large contingent violently knocked at our door. I was trembling with fear,
when they were calling my and father’s name. I gathered some courage and opened
the door. Then, 20 to 25 policemen pushed me aside and barged inside our house.
Still that late night knock by the police at our door reverberates in my mind
and it shivers up and down my spine”
Further he added, “We three brothers were
caught by neck and rounded up. Then
Inspector General (IG) came at our residence and instructed to his men that we
should be taken to the police station. Reaching there, we werewe were pushed
behind the bar as if were hardened criminals. I tried to plead with the
policemen to tell them that I am a PVCHR functionary and we were law-abiding
citizens. But it all fell in the deaf ears.My father was also arrested. Police
personnel were constantly using abusive language and were trying to break our
morale. After our arrest, my mother and
sister wept inconsolablyfor 3 days and spent sleepless nights.
In the midnight at 12.30 a.m. my father
and brother, Nishant Yadav were called up by the IG for interrogation. During
the interrogation, my brother was thrashed by two policemen raining incessant
blows from the belt. My father
stomachedall the humiliations by the IG and the police personnel. Both of them
were constantly intimidated and threatened into submission. My father was kept
in a separate cell whose whereabouts we didn’t know.”
“Our cell in which we kept had an
obnoxious smell and it had not been cleaned for years together, even an animal
won’t stay for a while. We were released after 3 days. Our days in the prison had
shaken us badly. My youngest brother Atul who studies in 12th Class
could not overcome that traumatic phase and appear for 12th Class
board examination. Still his days in the prison haunts him. It has shaken all of us from within and we are
unable to ponder over how we would get justice? FIR should be lodged against
those police personnel who pushed us behind the bars,” said Rahul Yadav
Maham, a young lady narrated
her woes, “In the aftermath of the riot, the police barged inside our house and
forcibly took away my 72-year old abba (father) and 18 year old brother.
Within 15 days of their arrest my mother was heartbroken and she could not
withstand the emotional trauma and she passed away. My father has shop but it’s
closed.Our family has been destroyed. We are three sisters and day-by-day its
becoming quite difficult as we have no money and have no hope for justice.Now, I
and my two other sisters are completely alone, helpless and forgotten.” She
broke down in tears.
57 year old Naseem Banu,. She is a widow and has 6 sons and 3
daughters. Naseem’s third son, 15-year old Salman was sleeping and was down
with malaria and typhoid. He works as a conductor of the bus, which Naseem’s
husband owned. When the violence broke out at 12 noon on 26th
January 2018, Naseem were sitting huddled together by locking the door.. Then,
Naseem came to know that the windscreen of the bus was damaged, tyre was
deflated,engine which was recently repaired and the battery were stolen. .Just
after 4 days, the police suddenly barged inside their home. At that moment,
Naseem’s eldest son was not present. The police insisted on taking Salman for
interrogation. Naseem requested them as Salman was seriously ill. Even then,
the police constantly pressurised to take Salman for interrogation. All the
persuasion fell on their deaf ears. Then police constantlypressurised for the
arrest of Salman. Her eldest son called the CO and handed over to Salman to himwhile
narrating the trauma, Still now Salman is in jail, Naseem fainted with grief,
after trying to speak and broke down in loud sobs in front of the media.
On the side lines of the event I met 62 year old Illyas Ahmed, who
recounted his woes, “On 30th January at around 1 a.m. in the midnight,
suddenly a contingent of 40 policemen violently knocked at my door. They were
shouting ‘Netaji, Netaji’I opened the door, then all of them barged
inside. Two of the policemen tightly grabbed my both the arms and told that IG
had called me for interrogation at the police station. Listening to that my
wife started crying. Then police chowki Incharge Indu Verma tried to console my
wife that nothing untoward would happen.”
Further he added, A police van was standing and I boarded it. I was taken
to Kasganj Kotwali and lodged in a lock-up. Next day, policemen came and told
that I have been at Kasganj Women police station. After a while, I was taken to
the women police station. Then, policemen forcibly de-boarded me from the van
and started raining continuous blows with wooden cane in presence of
Superintendent of Police (SP) and other police officers. Others arrested were
also beaten up. When they were raining incessant blows on me I asked what my
fault was. Then, the policeman retortedthat I was hiding the goons and was
myself a hardened criminal. I told them I knew nothing about it. After raining
10 to 15 blows andforcibly huddled me ina police van. I was taken to Amarpur
police station and lodged in a cell. Police personnel threatened me that cases
would be registered against me and my life would be made miserable. Till 31st
January 2018, I was beaten, abused and intimidated. Then I was released. I want
that a complaint should be lodged Cases against Chowki Incharge Indu Verma and
Vikrant Singh should be lodged, that which I want.”
The impact of this abysmal tragedy can be easily gauged from the fact that
the reports filed by the National Human Rights Commission in regard to the
Kasganj violence have yet not been heeded. The fact finding missions by
MediaVigil and People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) have
revealed how most of the arrested youngsters involved in the Kasganj violence
were unemployed. Those who are still in jail are facing torturous conditions.
“More than 11 FIRs are filed on those jailed which makes it very difficult
for them to be free in the near future. No one is ready to listen to us. Those
who actually caused the riot are free but the innocent ones are jailed,”
complained Shanu, a young victim of Kasganj violence.
Act for political power
Kamal Farooqui from All India Muslim Personal Law Board said “It is not
Hindu-Muslim violence but an act for political power. Even what happened in
Muzzafarnagar was not an extempore. It’s time we realize that the country is
going towards dangerous crossroads.”
Explaining how women are the largest victims in any riot, Sunila Singh, a
human rights activist stated “Women and children should never be the victims.
It is a dangerous trend how media is unable to analyse the violence correctly.”
In a nutshell, the event was able to create a platform for the victims of
the Kasganj violence and narrate the trauma that they were suffering. In a time
where they are hardly heard by the lawyers, police or politicians, it is
essential to know their narrative and the injustice done to them.
Concluding the event, the chief guest Navaid
Hamid, president of All India Muslim Majlise
Mushawarat,an umbrella body of Muslim organizations said, “The real
happenings of Kasganj violence had been deliberately hidden. It was done to
shield the culprit by putting innocents behind the bars. Through the
testimonials in folk school, we could understand the unfortunate incidents in
Kasganj. Still now, the communal harmony exists but people feel frightened and
terrified. Youths should be trained to use the social media in an appropriate
manner without harming others.”
The ‘Folk school in the support of
survivors of communal violence and torture in Kasganj’ provided a platform for
victims and activists to come together and understand the aftermath of the
Kasganj violence, the empathy needed for rekindling their lives is a long,
difficult and unknown process. The ambiguity between police action, state-mediated
silence and dementia of the local media makes it even more menacing in its
impact.
However, the Law Commission of India has
recommended the Centre to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture
and frame a standalone anti-torture law directly making the State responsible
for any injury inflicted by its agents on citizens.
Though India had signed the U.N.
Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) in 1997, it is yet to ratify it. Efforts to
bring a standalone law against torture had lapsed. The National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) has been strongly urging the government to recognise torture
as a separate crime and codify the punishment in a separate penal law.
The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017
tabled in Rajya Sabha on 15th December 2017 provides a wide
definition to torture not confined to physical pain but also includes
“inflicting injury, either intentionally or involuntarily, or even an attempt
to cause such an injury, which will include physical, mental or psychological.”
The Bill has recommended punishments for
torture ranging from fine to life imprisonment on the perpetrator. In case a
person in police custody is found with injuries, it would be “presumed that
those injuries have been inflicted by the police.” The burden of proof is on the
police to explain the injury on the under-trial.
The bill proposes to give the courts to
decide a justiciable compensation for the victims taking into consideration his
or her social background, extent of injury or mental agony. The compensation should
suffice to pay for the medical treatment and rehabilitation of the victim.
If the bill is enacted, then the victims
of police torture would get justice.
About the author:
TarunKanti Bose is a highly vocal
journalist, researcher and a media trainer who extensively uses the media to
educate India’s marginalized communities on issues of critical importance with
special emphasis on youth, women and children. Through intense interaction with
the media over the last three decades he has enormously contributed more than
thousand articles and feature stories on issues of social importance. His
writings and ideas are published in a wide spectrum on both the print and the internet
such as The Hindustan Times, The Telegraph, Hindu- Business Line, The Week,
Economic Times, Deccan Herald, Pioneer, Free Press Journal, Statesman etc. He
has also vibrantly kept his footprint in the internet media especially in
Academia.edu, Villagesquare.in and Hashdoc. He has covered issues ranging from
droughts leading to farmer suicides in central India through displacement of
indigenous communities by uranium mining in Eastern India to radioactive
leakage from atomic power plants to rivers endangering lives of local
communities in western India. He also covered issues like female infanticide
creating huge skews in male female ratios in many parts of the country,
starvation deaths caused by dismal performance of the public distribution
system, cross border smuggling of cattle, essential materials in connivance
with politicians in India Bangladesh border regions. He undertakes high degree
of risks to his life in featuring these stories to the nation. He has a blog www.tarunbose.blogspot.in and
can be contacted at tarunkantibose@gmail.com
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