Azad Maidan Rioters Roam Freely Even After 13 Years

• No recovery for the damages

• Lady Police officer molested during the riots express their grievances to ‘Sanatan Prabhat’

Mr Pritam Nachankar, special correspondent, ‘Sanatan Prabhat’  

Mumbai, 10th August – On 11.08.2012, fanatic Muslims caused nuisance outside Azad Maidan, challenging the Police. It has been 13 years i.e. 4,748 days since then. The rioters not only caused monetary loss by breaking open shops and arson; but they molested the lady police constables on duty by tearing their clothes and snatching their pistols. The politicians getting ‘raakhi’ tied on their wrists from lady Police, have not been able to punish those people, who molested their sisters, even after 13 years. Considering the prevailing condition, the hope of punishing rioters of Azad Maidan has become dim. The insult caused by incompetence shown by the Government, judicial system, and administration is more severe than the insult caused during the riots.

‘Sanatan Prabhat’ contacted the aggrieved lady Police staff members to find their sentiments, who were on duty at the time of the riots and who were attacked by fanatic Muslims.

The memory of that day is hair-raising even today – Pain of an aggrieved lady Police  

I was posted at Azad Maidan soon after my appointment in the Police Department. The incident of that day raises hair even today. Sometimes when I go to Azad Maidan; then too, I miss my heartbeat remembering that terrible incident. It is very sad that even after 13 years, those who misbehaved with us have not been punished.

Nothing was done by our senior Police Officers, so what is the use of saying anything ? – Opinion of another aggrieved lady Police staff member

I was on duty at Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh office. I could not see what exactly happened inside; but after that, people started rioting outside. Nothing has been done by our senior officers to punish the rioters or recover the money from them for causing damage to properties. What is the use of saying anything about it now ?

Is the procedure fixed for staging riots ? – Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, national President, Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad (HVP)

This sin was committed during the Congress regime. No charges have yet been laid in the Azad Maidan riots case. All accused are roaming freely. Many accused have been released due to lack of proofs. Lady Police were molested during the riots at Azad Maidan. Police were beaten up. Their arms were snatched away. Even reporters were thrashed, their OB vans were burnt. Still the Government was sitting cool; therefore, we appealed to the Mumbai High Court on behalf of a few journalists. Then, out of shame, the Government started the process of recovery for the damage caused; however, Raza Academy was let go by the Government. We followed the matter in the Court for getting reimbursement from Raza Academy.

In 2013, the Bench of Justice Naresh Patil used to hear our case every week; therefore, the Government started the process of recovery from Raza Academy. Everything has stopped now or something has been done by the parties with vested interests. Earlier, a special Government advocate was appointed to present the Government’s case who has been withdrawn now. Accused are not found, proper charges are not formed and not a single rupee has been recovered; therefore, I feel whether the method of riots has been fixed. Similar riots were staged at Akola, Nagpur, etc in the past few years. The accused were Muslims and the people who got thrashed by them were the Policemen. There were lady Police who were molested. It is the need of the hour that the Government takes initiative to change this situation.

What is the issue and the present situation ?  

The Muslims staged riots on 11.08.2012 giving the excuse of oppression of Muslims in Myanmar. They took out a protest march to Azad Maidan. The Muslim leaders gave explosive speeches instigating riots. Rioters damaged the ‘Amar Jawan Memorial’ by kicking it. They damaged 26 Police vehicles. Later, cases were filed against 61 people. The District Magistrate ordered to get reimbursement for the damage caused from the rioters; but Police didn’t find the rioters. Police claimed that some rioters didn’t have properties in their name. Presently, all rioters are roaming freely on bail. Many rioters have filed applications in the Court for withdrawal of the cases. Police have not been able to collect and present enough proof against the accused.

Editorial Perspective

‘Even after orchestrating riots, no action is taken against us’ — emboldened by this reality, it becomes crucial to examine where else these rioters have carried out riots in Maharashtra over the past 13 years. And if the victimised women police personnel now assert that accountability must rest not only with the rioters but equally with the administrative officers, would that not be entirely justified ?