Several activists on Saturday staged a protest outside the Haryana Bhawan demanding judicial probe, compensation and justice for the victims of Ballabgarh violence. The activists also submitted a memorandum to the Resident Commissioner of the State government.
“We demand a judicial probe into the incident to ensure that this kind of communal violence does not spread to other parts of Haryana,” said a joint statement issued by the activists.
All the accused should be arrested immediately and FIRs should be filed against individuals identified by the victims as perpetrators of violence. Follow-up of the FIRs should be made by the police to ensure quick trials and conviction, the statement added.
On the evening of May 25, a violent mob attacked the community with bricks, swords, and petrol bombs. The assailants broke into their homes and set about 20 houses on fire.
The cause of the confrontation, locals say, is a dispute over a 30-year-old mosque.
The protesters have also demanded relief camps for around 400 people who are languishing around the Ballabgarh police station. “Camps should be set up immediately with decent facilities including toilet facilities, adequate water supply, air coolers and regular food supply,” the memorandum submitted to the officials demanded.
Setting up medical camps, trauma centres, especially for women and children, deployment of adequate police security in the village are other demands in the memorandum.
“Right to worship and building places of worship is a fundamental right. We demand the Haryana Govt. to ensure and provide security so that Muslims can build a mosque for which they have won the legal battle,” the statement said.
Several activists including Shabnam Hashmi, Maimunah Mollah, Annie Raja, Paul Divakar and others from various solidarity groups along with 80 victims of the violence joined the protest.
