Ballabhgarh clash: Civil society members seek arrest of culprits

New Delhi, May 30

Members of civil society and some minority and human rights organisations today staged a protest demanding “immediate” arrest of those behind the Ballabhgarh clash of May 25 between two communities over construction of a religious structure.

The protesters, along with around 30 victims of the incident, staged the demonstration outside the Haryana Bhavan here, demanding adequate compensations for the affected and setting up of relief camps with provision of food, drinking water and health facilities to tackle the ongoing heat wave.

The protesters shouted slogans against the Haryana and Central governments, alleging they failed to take swift action in the matter.

More than 100 members of a community have taken shelter at Ballabgarh police station after the clash in Atali village in Haryana’s Faridabad district, in which five persons were injured and 20 houses burnt after a fight erupted.

“The first demand is those who attacked people, set afire homes, FIR be lodged against them immediately and they be arrested... Second demand is that those who suffered losses be compensated immediately. Twenty homes have been completely gutted.

“Third is until the villagers don’t return to their homes, (the government) should arrange for their relief camps, where all the facilities are provided including food, health facilities,” Shabnam Hashmi, founder of Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), said.

Hashmi, who paid a visit to the site where violence took place, expressed concern over inadequate facilities provided to the victims, especially women, at the make-shift camp at the police station.

“Women and children are left fear-stricken.. trauma counselling is required for them. The official who removed police force from the village just before the attack took place, he be suspended and enquired,” Hashmi said.

Claiming that assessment of damage to property carried out by the state government was “improper”, the activist said another round of proper survey is required to provide just compensation to the victims.

JD(U) MP Ali Anwar, who joined the protest, accused the government of being “insensitive” and alleged that it allowed the incident to take place to divert public attention from its failure in keeping promises like providing employment.

Anwar said he would pay a visit to the village and raise the matter before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and in Parliament.

“So many houses were burnt, people were beaten up. This happened in the presence of police. This is shameful. It seems this is being done to divert attention as the (Manohar Lal) Khattar Government is becoming unpopular on issues relating economy, unemployment and others. Hence, it is allowing such incidents to take place,” he claimed.

CPI leader and National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) general secretary Annie Raja claimed the attacks on minorities are growing after the BJP assumed office and the situation needs to be checked.

“The place where the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign was started, women and children there are out and they don’t have house to stay. This shows how the BJP and RSS-like outfits are going ahead with their real agenda of ‘Ram Rajya’.

So, we are here to save democratic and secular values of this country,” she said.

Speaking to mediapersons, one of the victims, Hasina (60), claimed the local police chose to be mute spectator when the fights erupted despite her request for help.

“While the fight erupted and our homes were being torched, stone pelting was taking place, police chose to be spectator despite being approached for help.

“My poor children earned money and built home a year ago.

(Gas) cylinders were used as explosives to damage homes.

Jewellery, home appliances, all (got stolen)...,” she said.

A delegation of organisations like AIDWA-Delhi, AIPWA, AISA, Akhil Bharitya Dalit Muslim Mahasangh, All India Muslim Pasmanda Mahaz, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights and others, besides the ANHAD and NFIW, later submitted an 11-point memorandum of demands at the Resident Commissioner’s office at Haryana Bhawan. — PTI