Bajrangis attack peace activists, police watch Communalism Combat
10, May 2003
On May 8, 2003, Communalism Combat received this mail from social activists, who, as citizens of Delhi, were peacefully protesting Trishul Diksha programmes with placards carrying messages like, ‘We want jobs, not trishuls’. Vimalbhai, convenor of the Mattu People’s Organisation and associates were set upon by lathi–wielding activists of the Bajrang Dal and beaten brutally as policemen in uniform stood by and simply watched. Later, the police even refused to register an FIR about the offence.
Prashant Bhushan, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court has petitioned the country’s home minister LK Advani. We reproduce a copy below and urge concerned citizens, groups and organisations to petition the central government (since maintaining law and order in Delhi is a central subject and not in the hands of the Delhi government) and to be vigilant about such acts anywhere.
May 5, 2003
Shri LK Advani
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India
South block, Central Secretariat
New DelhiDear Advani Ji,
I’m writing to you to complain about the shameful incident yesterday (May 4) which illustrates how close we are to a fascist state. When large contingents of police stand as mute spectators as goons and thugs of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad armed with lathis set on and beat up our unarmed peace activists who are just standing peacefully with placards, it surely conjures up visions of Nazi Germany when storm troopers of the Nazi party roamed around freely in broad daylight beating up dissenters and protesters in full view of the police which stood by and watched. Is this what India is coming to? Is this what history will credit you with? To have presided over by a police force which colludes with gangs of lumpens who go about belabouring peaceful citizens?
I am attaching a copy of today’s story in The Hindu with a photograph which tells its own story. Vimalbhai (who is a colleague from the National Alliance of People’s movements) and two women activists, Gayatri Arya (a writer) and Durgeshini Upadhyaya (an MBA student) had gone with a few placards (which said, “Trishul nahi rozgar chahiye“, “Talwar nahi, pyar“, “Jihad nahi dharmyudh nahi“, “Aman, ekta, shiksha chahiye” – “We Want Jobs, Not Trishuls“, “Love, Not swords”, “No Jihad, No Dharam Yudh, “We want Peace, Unity, Education) to stand peacefully near the site of Togadia’s Trishul Diksha programme near the Coffee home on Vikas Marg.
As soon as they unrolled the placards near the coffee home, they were set upon and Vimal was badly beaten up with lathis by goons of the Bajrang Dal and VHP who were there. Dozens of policemen who were standing right there, also with lathis, did not do anything to stop this crime being committed in broad daylight. This is clear from the photograph published in The Hindu.
What is equally disquieting is the fact that the police (of Preet Vihar PS) also refused to register an FIR of a cognisable offence u/s 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) which had clearly been committed. They wrote a report (copy enclosed) and said that no cognisable offence has been committed.
Is this the India that you would like to create? A State where thugs of organisations allied to the ruling party can freely roam around terrorising innocent, peaceful and unarmed citizens with the complicity of the police and the State apparatus? I am sure you realise that such states cannot survive for long and will inevitably degenerate towards anarchy.
Mr. Togadia was granted conditional bail by the Rajasthan court on the condition that he would not repeat his offences. It appears to me that his actions and speech at the Trishul Diksha function yesterday amount to repeating the offences for which he was arrested and violate the conditions of his bail. Will the Delhi police presided over by you remain mute spectators to all this?
I call upon you Sir, to take immediate steps to restore the rule of law in this country. The minimum that is required for this would be to identify, suspend and take disciplinary action against the police officials who stood by and watched this crime being committed. Some of them can be easily identified from the photographs. Action should also be taken against the officers who refused to register the FIR. Secondly, an FIR u/s 324 of the IPC must immediately be ordered to be registered and the investigation handed over to senior, competent and independent police officials. Thirdly Mr. Togadia must be arrested for having repeated the offences for which he was arrested in Rajasthan and for violating the conditions of his bail.
I hope and expect that you will realise the gravity of the situation and what it portends and act with expedition.
Yours sincerely,
PRASHANT BHUSHAN
Representation Image
The original piece may be read here
