Days after Ram Navami clashes in Vadodara, cops attend Iftar party

“Following directions (from superior officers) that there should be peace and communal harmony in the ongoing holy month of Ramzan, the inspector of Navapura police station along with other staff members attended the iftar party in Khatkiwaad area… Leaders of the community as well as the maulvi were present at the event where the police conveyed good wishes,” said a release from the police station on Sunday.

Khatkiwaad is an area dotted with meat shops, where the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) launched a crackdown in January to ensure hygiene standards, as directed by the Gujarat High Court.

The iftar on Sunday was attended by Inspector H L Aahir, Assistant Sub-Inspector Parshottam Ranchchodbhai, Constables Bhupendrasinh Balvantsinh and Jagdish Khimjibhai, and Lok Rakshak Dal personnel Sunil Kamjibhai and Matra Devabhai.

“We received an invite from the organisers and we attended the iftar party after getting the go-ahead from our superiors… It is very important to increase familiarity between the community and the police. We conveyed the message that communal harmony is important and the police are here to protect society… We also wished them well for their holy month,” inspector Aahir told The Indian Express.

Vadodara City Joint Commissioner of Police Manoj Ninama said, “One of the most important aspects of community policing is to be in the midst of the communities and gain their trust… Attending such social functions of different communities is helpful in bridging the gap and bringing them closer.”

“A lot of people question why the police should go to such events, especially when some accused in the incident of stone pelting are yet to be caught, but it is the prerogative of the police officer in-charge of the area. If he feels that by participating in an event of the local communities, he can fulfill his responsibility better, it is a welcome decision… Also, Navapura is a peaceful police jurisdiction,” said Ninama.

On March 30, clashes broke out following a stone-pelting incident during the Ram Navami procession in Hathikhana-Kumbharwada area under the City Police Station. The police have so far booked a mob of 500 people in connection with the violence. They have arrested 48 people from both communities, who are currently in judicial custody.

Although there was no communal tension in the jurisdiction of Navapura police station, community members said the idea behind inviting the police personnel was to “promote harmony”.

Nasir Khan Pathan, who helped put the event together, said, “It was the idea of the youth to have a big event for iftar and we decided to invite the police because we also thought that we need to reach out to be heard… When we do not reach out, we cannot expect someone to understand our grievances.”

“Even during the crackdown on meat shops by the VMC, the police supported us, understanding that we had to earn our daily bread… We extended the invitation to Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajpalsinh Rana but he could not make it and assured us that police officers of the police station would attend.”

Rana could not make it due to the bandobast duty for the visit of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday. “Even though the clash in the old city had happened very recently, the idea was precisely to promote harmony. Whenever there is a clash and police action, there is mistrust and ill-feeling…,” Pathan said.

“Although the clash did not happen under this police station, there is misgiving among the youth of the community. The presence of the police officers at the iftar party would help allay the fears to an extent. We are glad that the officers came and spent the evening with us”

Pathan said the police personnel also joined them in breaking roza on Sunday. The menu included nylon dhokla, samosa, gulab jamun, fruits and egg biryani.