Police a mute spectator during Mirchpur violence: Commission

The Commission of Inquiry which probed the Mirchpur violence in Haryana's Hisar district in which a <g data-gr-id="36">dalit</g> physically challenged girl and her father were burnt alive inside their house, has blamed the cops for acting as "mute spectator" and "failing" to act on time to prevent the horrific incident.

The one-man Justice Iqbal Singh Commission which was set up by the Haryana government to probe the circumstance leading to the incident resulting in the death of two persons and also the circumstances leading to arson, fire and rioting, has blamed the cops for acting as "mute spectator" and "failing" to act on time to prevent the horrific incident.

On April 21, 2010, 70-year-old Tara Chand and his physically challenged daughter Suman (16) got burnt alive in their house while several other people were injured when a mob went on rampage 

torching several houses.

<g data-gr-id="24">Fifty two</g> persons were injured in the incident, in which 18 houses were also damaged by the mob.

The Commission in its report noted that the "duty magistrate and the police failed to prevent the (Mirchpur violence) incident.."

The report, submitted to the State government nearly a year back, but tabled in the ongoing session of the Haryana Assembly here on Friday, has noted that tension had <g data-gr-id="34">build</g> up between Dalits and the members of the pre-dominant Jat community after the altercation between them, but the police "failed" to understand the gravity of the situation in the village and take appropriate action.

A spat between some youths of village Mirchpur belonging to the Jat community with a Dalit family over a trivial matter erupted into a major row later.

The inquiry report was based on spot visits and the statements of many people, including the victims, <g data-gr-id="27">witnesses</g> and the local villagers.

The incident was reported in media and was also raised in Parliament. Committee on the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes visited the village after the incident.