File Criminal Cases against Guilty and Make Raza Academy to Reimburse for the Losses : Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS)

No action even after 13 years on Azad Maidan riots

Delegation of pro-Hindu organisations submitting memorandum at Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office

Mumbai – Riots at Azad Maidan on 11.08.2012 is a dark chapter in Maharashtra’s history. Desecration of ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ memorial, arson with the vehicles of Police and journalists, vandalism of public property, attack on lady Police staff and reporters are some of the serious incidents which happened on that day. The loss to public property was worth billions of rupees, but the Government showed it as only Rs 36.44 lakhs and it is quite shocking that the recovery was stopped giving the excuse as the accused didn’t possess any property. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has demanded that the main participants of the programme held on that day was Raza Academy and the losses should be recovered from that organisation. On 12.08.2025, HJS submitted a memorandum to Mr Satyanarayan Choudhary, the joint Police Commissioner of Mumbai (Law and Order).

No action has been taken even after 13 years since the riots. In case the accused don’t own any property, severe action should be taken by filing criminal cases against them. The proposed demonstrations by pro-Hindu organisations were cancelled in the absence of Police permission; therefore, Mr Satish Sonar of HJS, Mr Subhash Ahir of ‘Bhumiputra Samajik Sanstha’, Mumbai High Court advocate Prasad Sankpal, Mr Vilas Nikam, the convener of ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ and Mrs Dhanashree Kelashikar of Sanatan Sanstha submitted the memorandum of various demands to the joint Police Commissioner. Similar memorandum was also submitted to the Central Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis.

Action needs to be taken going beyond political interests

The riots were staged as a consequence of some incident that happened in Myanmar in 2012. Police constable Santosh Hande working at Azad Maidan Police Station at the time of riots, was injured in the attack and he died in 2013. Raza Academy and its associate organisations responsible for his death should have been booked under culpable homicide. There were 60 accused in this case who were from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. Many accused are presently not available on their given addresses or don’t have properties in their name. The excuse given for not recovering the losses from them is a serious matter. Many Police-women were attacked in those riots and efforts need to be made for prompt action against the guilty by holding hearings. The then Congress Government avoided taking action against the criminals during Ramzan Eid as per their appeasement policy. The Government should take action at least now, going beyond the political interests, and boost the morale of the Police, is the demand of HJS.

Acknowledgement of the memorandum submitted by HJS

Editorial Perspective

In those riots, the Police i.e. the protectors of law were the victims; still, no justice has been done to them for 13 years. Will not the ordinary citizens worry about their plight and question the system if even the Police are deprived of justice ?