Criminal In The Clutches Of Law

In connection with the anti Muslim terrorism in Gujarat in 2002, after Banjara etc, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court has now arrested the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kirisitsinh Edra of Bulsar. The DSP is accused of negligence of his official duties as well as concealing evidence.

This is the first time a police officer has been arrested by a team appointed by the Supreme Court. In February 2002, during the anti Muslim Hindutva terrorist activities, Edra was stationed as an inspector in the Meghani Nagar police station. He has been arrested in connection with the attack by Hindutva activists on Gulbarg Society, in which a former Congress Member of Parliament Mr. Ehsan Jafri, together with 39 others were burnt alive. The SIT had questioned 6 police officers together with Edra regarding the mass killings of Muslims.

Confirming the arrest of Edra, SIT Chief R.K.Raghavan said, ‘’Before arresting him, we had gathered a list of evidence against him.’’

Indicating the arrest of other police officers in the near future, SIT Chief further stated that nothing can be ruled out and many others would soon be taken into custody. At the time when the FIR was lodged in Gulbarg Society, Edra himself was one of the complainants. As the police station in charge there, he had filed the FIR, but had not taken any steps to stop the mass killings.

On the contrary, reports from the residents of that area show that he was inciting the Hindutva activists to attack Gulbarg Society. It is a proven fact that he did not take any steps to disperse the activists and save the Muslims living in the society during the hours long siege, threats and chaos, perpetrated by the activists as he himself was a part of the Hindutva forces.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi together with other ministers, the BJP, RSS and especially leaders of the VHP were fully involved in this great act of ‘Ahimsa’ wherein they had high intentions of annihilating the 8% Muslims of the state. They had the government and its complete machinery at their back having no qualms about their duties nor any fear of the law. They didn’t have a streak of humanity in him.

People who were against killing animals and insects were involved in the mass murder of humans and moreover were happy that theirs was an act service to their religion, culture and ideology.

They talk about their belief in Hinduism, about heaven and hell and rebirth after death, but they did not even for a second think about their accountability to their Lord, Bhagwan or Ishwar, nor about the fact that God is Just and Fair.

They considered themselves to be above the law, because as uniformed personnel, they themselves were the custodians of law, responsible for its implementation.

They were confident of the fact that even if the law proved to be an obstacle in their path, they had the backing of the state government, the judiciary that was involved in the murder of justice, the Hindutva forces as well as judges who in a single verdict could set free 40 accused at a time.

For more than quarter a century this genocide of Muslims has continued without affecting the Hindutva terrorists in any way. After every riot, inquiry commissions and committees were set up, but rarely did any report come forward, and even if a report was submitted, never was it implemented. On the contrary, Muslims were searched, lathi charged, fired with live ammunition, arrested and charge-sheeted.

Muslims would do nothing except lament over their fate as usual since they lacked courage and confidence and had no one to turn to.

In such a situation, after taking the oath of allegiance to secularism, the constitution and law, why would the Hindutva forces fear anyone or anything in their march towards destruction? They were fearless and ruthless.

Investigations of the SIT also indicate involvement of ADGP M.K.Tandon, former DCP P.B. Gondlia, SP K.K. Mysorewala, V.S. Golhal and former Assistant Commissioner M.T. Rana together with K G Edra.

The outcome is awaited.

Editor:Parvaz Rahmani, sehroza DAWAT, 13th Feb09 translated by: Salma Nazir, Riyadh

A Dangerous Trend

Referring to the enquiry on the Malegaon blasts, the army chief, General Deepak Kapoor has denied the presence of a network of communal elements in the Indian Army.
This enquiry has resulted in the arrest of serving officer Colonel Purohit and other retired officers whose confessional statements have not only been recorded by the enquiry team but have also been included in the charge sheet submitted to the court. Investigations were based on these confessions and many former officers arrested on the statement of Colonel Purohit.
Questions are being raised in government as well as non-government circles and especially in the media about communal tendencies developing in the army. Such allegations have been vehemently denied earlier too and now government sources clearly state that Colonel Purohit’s is an exceptional case and that such a mentality is not found in the army. Therefore this particular case should not be taken as a basis to malign the army nor to demean its credibility, as this will have an adverse effect on the army.
Once again General Deepak Kapoor has reiterated the absence of communal forces in the army. He has also declared that the army itself would very soon start proceedings against Colonel Purohit so that the possibilities of growth of such communal tendencies can be nipped in the bud. During investigations in the Malegaon bomb blasts, for the first time, aspersions were cast on a top official and Colonel Purohit was taken into custody on charges of being involved in it.
Statements against the accused that have come to fore in this regard are really dangerous and give clear evidence that this is not an ordinary incident but a deep conspiracy. Testimonies bring to light a well laid out plan for mass scale killing and destruction as well as targeting the top brass, including leaders of the RSS and the BJP.
Surprisingly, the people who plotted the killings had notions about these leaders being a hindrance in the making of a Hindu Rashtra or responsible for the delay in the fulfillment of their dreams.
These arrests and confessions have all proved the involvement of people from different strata of society which include professional experts from the army as well as religious leaders.
Another point of concern is that these people do not belong to any one area or part of the country, but are spread out in different corners of the nation. This gives an idea of the intense penetration of this mentality. One aspect of this is their highly dangerous rebellious attitude which is clear from the fact that for them there is no place for people who are doubtful or complacent even though they believe in the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra. This group believes in eliminating such people.
The question that arises is why did such a rebellious trend develop?
This in reality is the outcome of the politics based on hatred which is being propagated in the country for the past 20-25 years; one blatant expression of which was the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
This attitude is a byproduct of the Ram Janam Bhoomi movement which could not fulfill the promises made 20 years back and that has spread frustration among a large section of people who are now disillusioned by their leadership and have lost faith in them. Now, they seem to be taking things in their own hands.
Editor:Parvaz Rahmani, sehroza DAWAT, 10Feb09 translated by: Salma Nazir, Riyadh