Nashik riots expose police inefficiency

The next round of violence, which included arson, began around 5.00 pm about five kilometres away from the mosque, in the predominantly Muslim localities of Kazipura, Nanavali, Badi Durgah and Bhadrakali areas. The police had enough time to take preventive measures in the areas between noon and 5.00 pm but no preventive steps were taken. The violence continued throughout the night as armed gangs ruled the roads, setting afire houses and shops. Despite a curfew being imposed in the areas, the violence continued. When mobs attacked police parties, officials fired nine rounds from their service revolvers, injuring two persons. The performance of the local police and its captain, the Commissioner Ambalal Verma, has been a cause of concern in Nashik for the past several years. The Nashik Municipal Corporation has even passed a resolution urging the state government to transfer some police officials, including Verma, so that the city was better policed.

Some recent incidents have pointed towards a police-criminal nexus. A case in point is the kidnap of a schoolboy. The prime accused was turned over to the police but was not booked apparently because he was related to a local cop. The same accused killed the kidnapped boy after being let off. Also, in the ongoing rivalry between two groups of petrol adulterators, while one police inspector was found prima facie involved in the activities of one gang, another constable was shot dead recently when he was playing cards with members of the rival group when some assailants opened fire.

There is another aspect to the whole situation. An open plot adjacent to the mosque, has been a bone of contention between the local Muslims and Hindus. While the Nurani Arbi Urdu Anjuman and Kabrastan Trust has asked the civic authorities to permit the use of the land for a graveyard, the local Shiv Sena leaders have been interested in building a temple on the plot. The municipal authorities have not taken a decision and the matter was not sorted out.

Last year, the local Hindus had celebrated Ganesh festival at the open plot and demanded that it be developed for a temple. The municipal corporation has refused permission for both on grounds that the entire area is a residential zone. It had even asked the Nurani Trust not to use the plot (on which the mosque was subsequently built) for religious purposes. After issuing a notice in November last year, the civic authorities declared the mosque illegal and decided to demolish it on Tuesday.

The police have arrested a Congress corporator Rais Shaikh. The riots (and even the decision to demolish the mosque) has come on the eve of a Muslim Marathi literary conference (a meet of Muslims writing in Marathi) in Nashik from February 2 to 4. One of the convenors of the conference is the Deputy Mayor of Nashik, Gulam Shaikh. The riots have also taken place on the eve of a rally of the Samata Parishad (founded by Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal) in Nashik on February 11.

The rivalry among Muslim leaders of various sects and parties might be one of the reasons for the unabated violence and arson. It does not seem to be a coincidence that the municipal corporation (ruled by the Congress) decided to take the decision to demolish the mosque at this time. The decision and its aftermath has rocked the corporation, which has formed a three-member panel to probe into it. The riots have left about 200 vehicles shattered and scores of houses, shops and vehicles burnt. The violence, which was confined to the Bhadrakali police station area has spread to other areas like CIDCO and Panchavati. A peace march taken out today was also stoned, indicating that some elements are deliberately yearning for a major communal flare-up. The question is who?