NEW DELHI: A team of activists and journalists that recently visitedriot-affected places in Bihar put out a report on Monday claiming the RamNavami clashes did not break out spontaneously but were a form of“organised violence” in which some politicians and public officials tookpart.
The team, comprising Prashant Tandon, Nadeem Khan, Hasnul Banna(journalist), Farrah Shakeb and a few others, have sought an independentjudicial inquiry into the matter.
“BJP Cabinet minister Ashwini Kumar Choube’s son Arijit Saraswat, BJP MPSushil Kumar Singh and Congress MLA Anand Shankar Singh’s involvement infomenting riots were clear as per many eyewitness accounts and photographicevidences,” the report alleged.
The team spoke to witnesses and victims from both communities in Siwan,Gaya, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Samastipur, Munger, Nawada, Nalanda, Haiderganjand Rosera.
“…it was very clear that the violence was not spontaneous but waspre-planned and very carefully orchestrated by the BJP and Bajrang Dalhooligans,” the report claimed.
The pattern of violence in the riot-affected areas was similar andconditions laid down by police to take out Ram Navami processions wereviolated, the report said. “All the conditions and routes listed out bypolice were violated… The rallies were forcefully taken to Muslim areas,where extremely derogatory communal songs were played and communallyprovocative slogans were given.
This was followed by large-scale violence, where particularly mosques andMuslim properties were targeted by the mob.
In many places, they even destroyed properties and shops owned by Hindus,”the report alleged.
Stressing that the violence was “meticulously planned”, the team said mobscarried swords ordered online. CDs and pen-drives with provocative songsand slogans were distributed. One person died and over 65 were injured inthe violence.