42,000 forced to flee, religious sites damaged in UP riots
PM Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi meet villagers during a visit to Muzaffarnagar. (AFP Photo)
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NEW DELHI: In a chilling reminder of the 2002 Gujarat riots, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the recent riots forced over 40,000 people to flee 94 villages in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts, where 44 people were killed and places of worship of Muslims and Hindus extensively damaged.
Responding to the apex court's queries, theAkhilesh Yadav government submitted a report from the commissioner, Saharanpur division. The Centre in its affidavit informed that the riots displaced over 41,829 persons. "There are 26,909 stranded persons in Muzaffarnagar and 14,920 in Shamli," it said.
The commissioner, Bhuvnesh Kumar, indicated that it was a well orchestrated communal conflagration where rioters targeted Muslims or Hindus, whichever was in minority in a locality. Places of worship of both Muslims and Hindus were destroyed, he said in his September 13 report to the principal secretary (home).
"In these incidents, people from both communities were killed and several people were injured. In these incidents, the families of such persons were targeted who were residing in those areas in limited numbers. Their houses, places of worships were subjected to arson, damage and demolition," the commissioner said.
The UP government's affidavit, filed through advocate Ravi Mehrotra, said efforts were on to estimate the damage to places of worship to work out a plan for their reconstruction.
"State government has issued directions to the district magistrates of all districts in Saharanpur and Meerut divisions to evaluate the damage to movable and immovable properties, including houses and places of worship, and also to work out an estimate for reconstruction of the same," the government said.
The commissioner's report detailed the ferocity of rioting and arson. Those who were in minority in 94 villages fled to escape the wrath of rioters and took shelter in settlements where their community was in majority.
"As a result of these incidents, villages having low population constituted 31 villages in Muzaffarnagar and 23 in Shamli, where the people left their villages due to violence, and in 40 villages in district Muzaffarnagar, people left out of fear, and they took shelter in such villages where their numbers were more," it said.
Detailing the 13 relief camps set up by the district administration to provide place of stay and food, the commissioner said, "Most of the relief camps located in district Muzaffarnagar and Shamli are located in constructed buildings like madrasas etc in which they are residing."
The UP government said it has paid compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of 27 dead - 24 in Muzaffarnagar district and three in Shamli district. It said only 13 were grievously injured and each have been paid Rs 50,000 while 20 others sustained minor injuries and were paid Rs 20,000.
However, the Centre's affidavit quoted the UP government's status report to put the toll at 44. It said 97 were injured. This means the UP government is yet to give compensation to the kin of 17 more deceased and 44 injured persons. The Centre said the police have so far arrested 2,462 persons for rioting. The court will hear petitions on the riots on September 19.
Responding to the apex court's queries, theAkhilesh Yadav government submitted a report from the commissioner, Saharanpur division. The Centre in its affidavit informed that the riots displaced over 41,829 persons. "There are 26,909 stranded persons in Muzaffarnagar and 14,920 in Shamli," it said.
The commissioner, Bhuvnesh Kumar, indicated that it was a well orchestrated communal conflagration where rioters targeted Muslims or Hindus, whichever was in minority in a locality. Places of worship of both Muslims and Hindus were destroyed, he said in his September 13 report to the principal secretary (home).
"In these incidents, people from both communities were killed and several people were injured. In these incidents, the families of such persons were targeted who were residing in those areas in limited numbers. Their houses, places of worships were subjected to arson, damage and demolition," the commissioner said.
The UP government's affidavit, filed through advocate Ravi Mehrotra, said efforts were on to estimate the damage to places of worship to work out a plan for their reconstruction.
"State government has issued directions to the district magistrates of all districts in Saharanpur and Meerut divisions to evaluate the damage to movable and immovable properties, including houses and places of worship, and also to work out an estimate for reconstruction of the same," the government said.
The commissioner's report detailed the ferocity of rioting and arson. Those who were in minority in 94 villages fled to escape the wrath of rioters and took shelter in settlements where their community was in majority.
"As a result of these incidents, villages having low population constituted 31 villages in Muzaffarnagar and 23 in Shamli, where the people left their villages due to violence, and in 40 villages in district Muzaffarnagar, people left out of fear, and they took shelter in such villages where their numbers were more," it said.
Detailing the 13 relief camps set up by the district administration to provide place of stay and food, the commissioner said, "Most of the relief camps located in district Muzaffarnagar and Shamli are located in constructed buildings like madrasas etc in which they are residing."
The UP government said it has paid compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of 27 dead - 24 in Muzaffarnagar district and three in Shamli district. It said only 13 were grievously injured and each have been paid Rs 50,000 while 20 others sustained minor injuries and were paid Rs 20,000.
However, the Centre's affidavit quoted the UP government's status report to put the toll at 44. It said 97 were injured. This means the UP government is yet to give compensation to the kin of 17 more deceased and 44 injured persons. The Centre said the police have so far arrested 2,462 persons for rioting. The court will hear petitions on the riots on September 19.