Presence of BJP and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders at Kawal village, where dozens of Jat farmers were killed last year while going for a mahapanchayat (public meet), also added to the tension. The district administration, however, this time around remained on alert, deploying huge police personnel along with personnel from Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), RAF and CRPF in every nook and corner of the district.
Communal clashes had gone on for almost six months in various parts of Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts after the murder of two youths in Kawal village. Though no clashes have been reported in recent past, rumour mongers from both Hindu and Muslim communities are still active to disrupt the fragile peace prevailing in the region now. On Thursday, rumours did the round that the riot victims who have returned to their village from relief camps may be targeted again. The situation had become tense on Wednesday when a farmer named Kanwar Singh was allegedly killed by people from the Muslim community over a petty issue in the New Mandi police station area. The impact of the incident was severe as members of the Hindu community sought action against the murderers and blocked roads in several areas in protest.
Adding fuel to fire, union minister and local MP Sanjeev Baliyan, senior BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, Naresh Tikait and others reached Kawal village. The leaders offered prayers for the Hindus killed in riots while participating in a hawan ceremony. The leaders demanded that cases of rioting against Hindus should be withdrawn as most of them have been framed by the police with an ulterior motive.
The victims, living in relief camps, blamed the political class for the situation. They said people are being victimised for political benefit which is dangerous for the region. They said they are being terrorised regularly which has stopped them from leaving the camps and going back to their villages.
‘We tried to return home on several occasions but were threatened with dire consequences. We are
forced to live in unauthorised camps,’ said Mohammed Taiyab, who is living in a relief camp in Jola village along with two hundred families after the riots last year. There are thousands like Taiyab who are still living in fear in dozens of unauthorised relief camps across the region.
Communal clashes had gone on for almost six months in various parts of Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts after the murder of two youths in Kawal village. Though no clashes have been reported in recent past, rumour mongers from both Hindu and Muslim communities are still active to disrupt the fragile peace prevailing in the region now. On Thursday, rumours did the round that the riot victims who have returned to their village from relief camps may be targeted again. The situation had become tense on Wednesday when a farmer named Kanwar Singh was allegedly killed by people from the Muslim community over a petty issue in the New Mandi police station area. The impact of the incident was severe as members of the Hindu community sought action against the murderers and blocked roads in several areas in protest.
Adding fuel to fire, union minister and local MP Sanjeev Baliyan, senior BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, Naresh Tikait and others reached Kawal village. The leaders offered prayers for the Hindus killed in riots while participating in a hawan ceremony. The leaders demanded that cases of rioting against Hindus should be withdrawn as most of them have been framed by the police with an ulterior motive.
The victims, living in relief camps, blamed the political class for the situation. They said people are being victimised for political benefit which is dangerous for the region. They said they are being terrorised regularly which has stopped them from leaving the camps and going back to their villages.
‘We tried to return home on several occasions but were threatened with dire consequences. We are
forced to live in unauthorised camps,’ said Mohammed Taiyab, who is living in a relief camp in Jola village along with two hundred families after the riots last year. There are thousands like Taiyab who are still living in fear in dozens of unauthorised relief camps across the region.