Atali Violence: Politicians line up in Ballabgarh after a week
Following communal tensions from last week, as the Hindu and Muslim groups try to resolve the issues, politicians finally show some interest in the incident.
The communal violence at Atali village in Ballabgarh last week is taking a political turn with leaders of various parties flocking to the area to express sympathy for the affected.
While Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi demanded ‘justice’ for Muslim families, BJP leader Sadhvi Prachi took on the government over the ‘plight of Hindus.’ Owaisi and CPI(M) MP Tapan Sen visited Muslim families at a police station and raised the pitch for arresting the accused.
Even as peace talks between Hindus and Muslims continued on Monday, Owaisi and Sen demanded relief, rehabilitation of the displaced families. Owaisi later met Faridabad police commissioner Subhash Yadav, demanding individual FIRs be registered against the accused, and immediate arrest of the accused.
Amit Aggarwal, deputy commissioner Faridabad, who resumed duty on Monday, facilitated several rounds of meetings between the two communities. “That the law will take its own course in Atali incident is what I have assured the victims,” Aggarwal said. Both communities held separate panchayats at different places on Saturday and Sunday.
BJP leader Prachi visited Atali village late on Monday night and criticised the state administration for ignoring the plight of Hindus in the village. She said many Hindu women were also injured when the clashes took place on May 25.
The panchayat of Hindus and Muslims held on Saturday inside Ballabgarh city police station ended in a deadlock as Muslims set construction of mosque as a pre-condition for their return to Atali. During the panchayat, a group of over 60 Hindus even apologised to the displaced Muslims for the violence on Monday and urged them to return.
On Sunday, members of the Hindu community agreed to the demand made by Muslims. “The Hindus have finally agreed to allow the mosque at the same place,” said Tek Chand Sharma, MLA Prithla.
Tension gripped the area after a violent clash over a 30-year-old mosque on May 25. In 2009, the Hindus of the village claimed that it was the property of the village panchayat. Muslims said the land belonged to the Waqf board.
