Bharatpur: Minority panel blames govt

The inquiry of the National Minority Commission has held the local administration and police department responsible for “over-reacting” and “acting in panic” during the recent communal clashes between Meo Muslims and Gurjjars in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

NCM chairperson Wajahat Habibullah told The Indian Express that the initial report of the inquiry team had been finalised and sent to the Rajasthan government. The report had found that the local police had mishandled the situation, over-reacted and fired with an intention to kill, he said. The police had also fired at the local mosque, which inflamed the situation further.

Habibullah, however, conceded that the local administration had been caught off-guard by the violence, especially in view of the fact that both the communities were in talks to settle their dispute peacefully when some miscreants instigated violence.

“Talks were going on between the two communities. They wanted to settle things peacefully, but a few miscreants created trouble. And the police and administration were not prepared. They were not expecting to face such a situation. They over-reacted,” Habibullah said.

Violence had broken out in Gopalgarh village of Bharatpur district after a land dispute between the local Meo Muslim community and Gurjjars flared up. Ten persons were reported killed in the violence. The Rajasthan government has faced severe criticism of its handling of the clashes, not just from Opposition and independent groups but from the Congress as well. An AICC team from Delhi had visited the site and questioned the role of local administration. Following all-round criticism, the state government had suspended DM, SP and Additional SP of the area.

Habibullah said the NCM team had found that though the situation is largely peaceful now, tension persists in the area and there is bitterness between the communities. The situation was delicate and the state government would have to handle it carefully, he said.