Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The 12th anniversary of the riots in the northern Maharashtra city Dhule has seen renewed calls for justice from the families of victims, whose cries for accountability remain unanswered. The Chandiwal Commission report, which was submitted over a decade ago, gathers dust, intensifying the anger and frustration of those who lost their loved ones during the violence that erupted on January 6-7, 2013. The affected families demand justice, questioning the authorities for failing to make the Chandiwal Commission’s report public and take meaningful action.
The Dhule riots, which began with a minor dispute at a local hotel near the fish market, spiralled into large-scale violence that left several Muslim youths dead. In the name of restoring order, the police opened indiscriminate fire on the crowd and six young lives were lost in firing, while two others were permanently disabled due to gunshot wounds. The aftermath of the riots saw widespread destruction of Muslim homes, businesses being looted, and the community suffering significant financial losses.
“If our children did not die in police firing, then whose bullets took their lives?” This question, posed by one of the anguished relatives, echoes the frustration and heartbreak felt by the families, who have seen no progress in the case despite the passing of time.
The victims who lost their lives in the police firing were Saud Raees Patel, Imran Ali, Asim Sheikh, Yunus Shah, Rizwan Shah, and Hafiz Asif Iqbal. The families are still reeling from the loss of their loved ones, with some, like Sheikh Chand and Khalid Ansari, left with permanent disabilities. The official response has been to dismiss the police actions, yet no substantial steps have been taken to hold the responsible individuals accountable.
The investigation into the riots was initially assigned to the Malte Commission, but following the sudden resignation of its head, Judge Malte, the task was passed on to Judge Chandiwal. However, the findings of the Chandiwal Commission have remained sealed, leaving the victims’ families feeling as though they have been abandoned by both the legal system and the government. Calls for the release of the report have been growing, but have gone unheeded.
Raees Daulat Patel, whose son Saud Patel was one of the victims, voiced his frustration: “We received compensation after six years, thanks to the legal efforts of Maulana Arshad Madani and Jamiat Ulema. However, the culprits behind the riots have not been punished. The report has been buried for twelve years, and the authorities have failed to act on it.”
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
