Minority panel puts UP govt in the dock

In the report,NCM Chairman Wajahat Habibullah said the new incumbents were new to the districts. The commission stated that fortunately,that now stands remedied and NCM would commend the present incumbents for grip and understanding of the current challenges faced by the public and the administration.

“But the initial spark was lit in the villages and so,because of an apparent lack of preparedness at that level,it became a rural riot,” the

report,posted on the commission’s website on Sunday,said.

The commission concluded that the Mahapanchayat at Nangla Mandaur on September 17 should not have been allowed. During its visit,the administration explained its inability to prevent it,despite engaging with the Jat leadership but the explanation was unacceptable.

“Having said that,it needs to be added that Jats were agitated and a confrontation between them and the police could have seen considerable blood spillage. It is regrettable that MLAs addressed the gathering and did little to calm passions,” the commission stated.

The commission said,“Although there appears to have been effective administrative intervention at Jan Sabha in Muzaffarnagar on August 30 by then newly appointed DM Kaushal Raj Sharma,the mahapanchayat appears to have seen a supine police response.”

The commission has found that fake videos (of alleged Taliban atrocities in Afghanistan) are said to have been displayed at Jat gatherings and the mahapanchayat,and disseminated across the district and neighbouring areas,leading to violence on September 7. “Such misuse of ICT can now go viral through cell phones. Hence,the need for training in law enforcement agencies to regulate this phenomenon,” it stated.

The commission said the situation in Muzaffarnagar city was controlled well (with the aid of the army),with minimum damage to property. The commission reported Jats were blaming the government for tying the hands of police and manoeuvring FIRs against Jats. Muslims complained of failure of the administration to protect them,and police hostility.

“Keeping past experiences and reports of various entities following major communal clashes in view,it is imperative the investigation be thorough and no offender,whatever his community or social standing,be allowed to walk free. Only such accountability can help restore confidence so tragically eroded in the whole region,” the commission said.