SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s frontier Kathua district on Monday witnessed a series of clashes between members of two communities leaving about a dozen persons including five policemen injured.
Five of the injured received bullet injuries after a mob allegedly led by the local sarpanch opened fire on a group of Gujjars in Harya Chak area of the district. The police resorted to cane-charging and aerial firing and also burst teargas canisters to restore peace. The police said that it has arrested four persons and police and CRPF reinforcements were rushed in to enforce curfew-life restrictions in the area.
Tension heightened in the area after at about 7.30 am on Monday, some local Hindus said that they found the head of a cow near the house of one Maskeen Gujjar in Chak Dhari Harya, Chak Rajbagh of Kathua. As the news spread, a 300-strong mob of local Hindus assembled and held a protest. It also blocked the main road and then surging crowds moved towards the main square of the area chanting slogans against Muslims. The angry villagers allegedly attacked the members of Muslim Gujjar community who retailed and stone-pelting between the two sides continued for some time.
“During the clashes between two groups, the locals damaged the house of someone belonging to the Gujjar community. Due to the stone pelting, around 9 to 10 persons have sustained injuries. One police constable also sustained injuries during the scuffle,” minister for parliamentary affairs and works, Abdur Rehman Veeri, informed the State Assembly currently in its budget session in Jammu.
The Muslim residents of Harya Chak alleged that they were attacked by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers led by a local Sarpanch after accusing them of slaughtering a cow in the village. They alleged that the assailants led by Sarpanch Rakesh Kumar targeted the Muslim Gujjars and their properties using lathis and firearms. At least, five persons including a minor girl were injured, they claimed. Mr. Kumar has vehemently denied the charge.
The State Assembly witnessed ruckus over the incidents forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House. Opposition National Conference’s member and former minister, Mian Altaf, while raising the issue in the House said, “Our Gujjar Muslims living in Kathua were attacked by RSS and BJP people. Their houses were burnt and they were beaten ruthlessly.” On this other opposition members started chanting “Muslims are not safe...RSS sarkar hai hai”, demanding action against those involved in alleged attacks on local Muslims in Chak Dhari Harya village. They stormed into the Well of the House and started kicking chairs and tables. Some also threw microphones away.
Former Speaker and sitting NC MLA from Idgah, Srinagar, Mubarak Gul, indulged in somewhat unprecedented act after the present incumbent Kavinder Gupta adjourned the House. Congress MLA Mohammad Amin Butt put a chair and a microphone in the middle of the Well and then requested Mr. Gul to sit on the Speaker’s chair and run the Assembly. Another Congress MLA and former minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori initiated the debate in parallel de-facto Assembly. The mock Assembly ran for about half an hour before Mr. Gul called it a day.
Meanwhile, SSP Kathua Pawan Parihar has said that situation has been brought to normalcy and investigation into the incident initiated. Corroborating him, Mr.Veeri said, “the situation is under control and is being closely monitored by the civil and police administration”.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Hiranagar, Sohan Lal, said that he has imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the Hiranagar sub-division. “The move comes in the wake of apprehension that some miscreants and anti-social elements may try to disturb the peace and tranquillity in the sub-division which may disturb the safety and security of the people at large,” he said adding that the order puts restrictions on assembly of four or more persons in the area.
Later during the day, minister for forest, environment and ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh, visited Harya Chak to take stock of the situation in the area. He appealed the general public to maintain calm and harmony. He said, “Some disruptive elements are hell bent upon derailing the peaceful atmosphere of the State, especially in Jammu region. These elements have made several detestable attempts in the past as well to trigger communal passions in the region.” He promised stern action against such people.
Independent MLA and leader of regional Awami Itehad Party, Sheikh Abdur Rashid, was detained by police while he was on his way to Chak Harya. Before being sent back to Jammu, he while speaking to reporters accused the divisional administration of “succumbing to the pressure of communal politics of Sang Parivar”. He alleged that the main accused in the firing on the area’s Muslim Gujjars had only a day ago returned from Gujarat after attending RSS training camp for more than two months. He said, “It is shameful that while RSS goons coming from various places including Pathankot indiscriminately fired upon unarmed men and women, police on its arrival assisted the goons and beat the unarmed men and women with lathies. It is so obvious that there is a deep nexus between the fanatic Hindu elements and the police”.
Kathua’s DC Ramesh Kumar that peace has been restored in the area. “The police and the civil administration took prompt action. The incidents are being investigated into and peace has been restored in the area,” he said. End it
