How Muzaffarnagar riots flared up

Lucknow: Muzaffarnagar riots began on August 27 after three youths of a particular community molested a Jat girl.

The Jats took serious note of the incident and attacked the youths, killing one and critically injured the other, who later died. Vikram and Mukararm were booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for inciting violence in the village. Soon the adjacent Shamli district was affected by the communal violence. Police tried to hush-up the matter, stating that three persons were killed in a minor dispute after their motorbikes banged each other.

Two girls of Kawal village who were returning home with their kin Gaurav from college, were allegedly molested by Shahnawaz. Gaurav first tried to stop Shahnawaz’s act. After sometime, Gaurav returned with his friend and allegedly attacked Shahnawaz with sharp weapon.

Hearing Shahnawaz’s cries, his neighbours rushed to his rescue. They nabbed Gaurav and beat them mercilessly to death. Shahnawaz also died on way to hospital. Shamli witnessed conflict late on Sept 3 night after angry exchange of words between a sweeper and a house-owner which resulted into a full-blown riot in which one man was killed.

In the sporadic arson and firing that followed, more than two dozen houses, shops and roadside stalls were gutted and three people got injured. It was at this juncture DIG Muzaffarnagar Brij Bhushan reached the trouble hit areas.

Adding fuel to the communal fire was an MMS clip of brutalization of two boys, apparently loaded from Pakistan. The police lodged an FIR against 230 people, including a BJP MLA for sharing and liking the video on social networking sites.

More violence started on Sept 7 when a group of Jats were going in tractors to attend a Maha Panchayat at Naglabadhod but clashed with the members of Muslim community on way. The Jat group at the meeting were demanding withdrawal of cases against its members, who had been booked for communal clashes on August 27.

About six people were injured in the clash, few of them reached Maha Panchayat venue at Naglabadhod and narrated the incident. After the meeting, a “free for all” battle broke out at Meenakshi crossing of the city. This time, the two groups used firearms. Soon, the violence spread to Basiakla, Almaspur and Mujhera areas. According to police, nine people died in the incident.

Several politicians made inflammatory speeches at the meeting which deteriorated the situation.

Late in the evening, nearly four dozen people were injured in firing, stabbing and arson in various places of the district.

ADG Law and Order Arun Kumar said the riots flared up due to the circulation of a doctored video allegedly showing the killing of two Muslim youth in the August 27 clash.

800 army personnel were called on Saturday midnight to assist civil authorities to contain the escalating violence.

Curfew was clamped in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday night and more CPPF troops were positioned in the district.

Saturday's violence claimed lives of 10 people, including that of a TV journalist Rajesh Verma and Israr, a photographer. Both were killed when they were returning after covering a meeting of Jats in Naglababad village.

On Monday, the UP government removed five senior officials of the police and the administration from Muzaffarnagar for their poor handling of the situation. According to official statement, 38 people lost their lives and scores injured.

The state government constituted a committee led by retired judge Vishnu Sahai to probe into the riots and the panel will submit the report in two months.

Police said 34 victims have been identified, but at least eight more unidentified bodies are in the district mortuary.

FIRs have been lodged against four sitting BJP MLAs, including Hukum Singh who is also the leader of the BJP Legislature Party in UP assembly and Sangeet Singh Som, Bhartendu and Suresh Rana.

Cases have also been registered against BSP MP Qadir Rana and former RS MP of the Congress party Hirendra Mallik. All six politicians have been accused of instigating communal violence. Cases against 1,000 unidentified individuals have been lodged for organising and participating in the maha panchayat at Muzaffarnagar despite the administration’s refusal to give permission.