Communal divide for political gains: SP masterminded riots, suggests Sting Operation

Muzaffarnagar, September 18: Shocking revelation by a news channel has brought storm in Indian politics. In a fresh trouble to Samajwadi Party ruling in Uttar Pradesh facing flaks for communal riots in the state has once again trapped in a trouble due to its one of the prominent leader Azam Khan. Senior SP leader Azam Khan who publically castigated party leadership for failing to protest Muslims has been accused of allegedly pressurizing police machinery to be lenient in controlling riots. The statements of the police officials in the sting operation point towards Azam Khan to allegedly pressurize cops to go-slow in controlling the riots.  

Under the special investigation 'Operation Riot For Votes', undercover reporters of the news channels Headlines Today and Aaj Tak interviewed various police officers after Muzaffarnagar riots. The channels have claimed that the undercover reporters spoke to police officers serving in the riot affected area. The visuals of the sting operation are evident the police had been prevented from taking action against rioters by Samajwadi Party leaders.

The sting lays bare the plot at the base of the destruction unleashed in Muzaffarnagar which claimed 48 lives and left thousands homeless.

The report quotes RS Bhagaur, a police officer attached to the Fugana police station, which saw some of the worst violence, as saying that he did not receive adequate police personnel to control the riots, adding wryly that “everything is practical’.

Reporter: Main role I think was Azam Khan's, that he put pressure.

R S Bhagaur, Second Officer: That's right, that's right.

Reporter: You won't do anything, you will let things happen as they are happening.

R S Bhagaur, Second Officer: Yes

Reporter: This is all political, they are trying to take advantage of the situation.

R S Bhagaur, Second Officer: Everyone is trying to take advantage.

Another report based on the same sting operation quoted Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) RC Tripathi and Circle Officer JR Joshi who had returned from a tour of riot affected areas. Joshi had detained the eight men who had allegedly killed a teenage boy, the incident which is widely believed to have triggered the riots.

However he told the channel that he had been forced to file a ‘weak FIR’ and release them. “When I saw the FIR, it had only one person’s name. We’re helpless. A ‘weak’ FIR was filed.

Circle officer: "When I saw the FIR, it had only one person's name. We're helpless."

SDM: "A 'weak' FIR was filed."

Meanwhile, Azam Khan has dismissed all charges and questioned the authenticity of the sting operation. Hitting out at the channel Azam Khan said, "What channel has done is professionally wrong. The reporter has put words in the SHO's mouth. All the call records are available, you can investigate it. If I am found guilty I am ready for punishment."

Pointing out that none of the policemen featured in the sting operation videos had named him; he said that the media seemed to be playing the role of ‘investigator, judge and executioner’. “Don’t blame me for the Muzaffarnagar riots. If I had a role to play, then you must show the records”, he said before dramatically declaring that he would prefer to “die rather than live if such charges are found to be true”. “

BJP has slammed Akhilesh government for its ‘worst vote bank politics’. However, Congress, whose supremo Sonia and Rahul Gandhi visited riots victims, recently, is cautious in making any comments on the issue. Congress leader Ajit Singh said the issue should be properly investigated. Both BJP and Congress leaders demanded president rule in UP.

The sting operation once against highlighted dirty vote bank politics of SP in Uttar Pradesh. It has exposed the double standards of Akhilesh Yadav government who pretends to be “saveirs” of Muslims. Unfortunately innocent lives are falling pray to these communal divide for political gains.

Sorce: www.newsbharati.com