Posted March 22, 2000
(submitted by Shamsul Islam)

BACKGROUND OF THE COMMITTEE

  This report concerns the unfortunate events which began on January 26, 2000, the Fifty first Republic Day of India in Shibli National Post- graduate College, (SNPC) in the city of Azamgarh in the eastern Uttar Pardesh . It is also true that even after the passage of more than one and half months issue is still alive for various reasons.  As reports of the continuous repression and victimization of the minority community in Azamgarh kept on pouring in, a group of concerned persons and organizations, taking note of the seriousness of the events which have direct bearing on the democratic and secular fabric of the country and future of the nation, organized an inquiry team to Azamgarh. This team was led by of Dr. Ashish Mital ( Secretary, CPI-ML, New Democracy, UP ), and had Dr. N. Bhattacharya (University of Delhi), Satender Singh (Advocate, High Court Allahabad ), and Shamsul Islam (columnist and cultural activist ) as other members. The members of the Inquiry Team stayed in Azamgarh on March 11-12, 2000, and met cross section of people connected and effected by the events there. The findings of the team are as follows:
 

A NATIONALIST LANDMARK OF THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE IS TARGETED THIS TIME

 Before going into the details of the report it is pertinent to know the historical background of the SNPC which faced the brunt of the communal onslaught. The present day Shibli National Post-graduate College began its journey in the year 1883 in the last century, as a Madarsa (school) founded by great nationalist Maulana Shibli Nomani. Maulana Shibli always believed that the victory of the Britishers in 1857 was possible due to the fact that they had the monopoly of modern knowledge.  He dreamt of an Indian system of knowledge and education which would not only act as a bulwark against the imperialistic designs of the British rulers but also give birth to a resurgent India.  Apart from starting the above school he founded few months before his death DARUL MUSANNEFEEN (the House of the Authors) in the year 1914.  Darul Musannefeen was to become a center of creativity where experts and authors were housed to work on series of books on different aspects of knowledge keeping in view the interests of the Indian people.  After Shibli's death it also came to be known as Shibli Academy housing one of the greatest reference libraries in India.  In 1940 when communal forces both among Hindus and Muslims were at their best to divide the society to the satisfaction of the British rulers the followers of Maulana Shibli renamed it as Shibli National Inter College.

  Those were the times when the british rulers hated the word National and wanted that Indians should live either as Hindus or Muslims.  In 1946 a degree college on the same lines was established which by 1970 developed into the present SHIBLI NATIONAL POST GRADUATE COLLEGE. This whole complex became the hub of activities of great personalities of the Freedom Struggle like Mahatma Gandhi, Moti Lal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malviya, Sarojni Naidu and Jawahar Lal Nehru. They came here to hold meetings when Congress used to face repression.  All of them visited this institution and stayed in its guest house one time or the other. This institution is known for its principled opposition to the idea of two nation theory. It never wavered from it. The present day SNPC is proudly continuing with the same heritage. Today out of a total strength of 9500 students almost 7000 are Hindu students. In eastern UP it is a matter of pride for every student including students from Hindu community to study in this Muslim managed institution. On its Library walls hang big rare photographs of Mira Bai, Premchand, Rabinder Nath Tagore, Gandhiji, Dr. Ambedkar and Maulana Shibli from last so many decades underlying the unique essence of this great institution.

INCIDENT ON JANUARY 26,2000

  It was here that the unfortunate events started unfurling on the forenoon of January 26, 2000.  Principal of the SNPC, Shri Iftikhar Ahmed reported that after the formal Republic Day function which included the unfurling of the National Flag, NCC parade in the presence of an NCC officer, reading out of official messages and speech of the Principal, and singing of National Anthem by a group of scouts of the college.  At the end of the function while he was returning to his office ( after the tea party), one Mr. Manish Rai, a student of the college and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (RSS outfit) activist, approached him with 2-3 other persons and said that Vande Matram should also have been sung in the programme there. The Principal told him that he was raising an unnecessary controversy when the program as per directions from the District Magistrate had concluded. (Infact the College has the circular of the District Magistrate outlining all minute details to be followed for the Republic Day program. It directs for singing the National Anthem and not Vande Matram).  The Principal also emphasized the fact that he did not wish to start any new tradition which was not allowed in the past. When the student alleged that the Principal was violating the Constitution of India by not having Vande Matram, the Principal reminded him that no college in Azamgarh, including DAV college, or the government functions, include singing of Vande Matram in the program and in case he desired to start it he should approach the district administration for orders. When the boy started shouting, Dr. Zafar Alam, teacher in the Department of Chemistry, asked him to behave properly in the College, and said that if he had any grouse against the management he should go to the district administration. Manish who was by then joined with few more students went out and tried to block the traffic. The College management apprehending some trouble informed the district administration on 26th itself through Assistant Proctor of the College Sri Ramji Srivastav requesting for appropriate precautionary measures.

  This program was followed by another program celebrating the Republic Day at the Shibli Inter College, which is situated next door and is run by the same manaagement. In this program 30 tricycles were distributed on behalf of the Red Cross to disabled needy persons by the Chief Medical Officer, Azamgarh. In this program apart from the CMO the police officials of the area were also present.

ARSON ON JANUARY 27, 2000.

  On the morning of January 27, a mob of outsiders who came in a procession from the DAV college side and many of whom were known activists of the front organizations of the RSS with a handful local students forcibly entered the College premise abusing Muslims in general. The mob disturbed classes, abused the teachers and karamcharis, set on fire motor cycle of Sub Inspector Deepak Srivastava who was on peace duty in the College, and four 2-wheeler vehicles of the teaching staff and dozens of cycles. The mob also started destroying the costly furniture and fixtures of the college. Here some students of the College tried to confront the mob but the Principal and staff members prevailed upon them to leave. Police higher ups refused to intervene inspite of the fact that Sub Inspector Mr. Deepak Srivastav was vehemently asking for additional enforcement over his wireless set. It was only when the SI and other constables tried to check the vandalism by firing in the air from their service revolver and rifles the mob retreated.

THE MOB GOES AFTER THE PROPERTIES OWNED BY MUSLIMS AND TRIES TO SET ON FIRE RENOWNED SHIBLI ACADEMY

  The mob led by the RSS cadres was not content with this destruction in the College. The mob in an organized and planned manner started looting and burning exclusively the properties of some well-off Muslims largely in the vicinity. After the horse had bolted, the door was locked. Curfew was imposed after lots of property had already been damaged for more than 6 hours. In fact the properties and the establishments of Muslims of Azamgarh were burnt and looted till January 28.  Despite the presence of the Circle Officer, Sri Pradyuman Singh, the RSS cadres in league with the anti social elements, were allowed to throw bombs and fire kattas (country made pistols) outside the complex. When police was told that the the hooligans were trying to set fire the internationally reputed library of the Darul Musanefeen (the House of the Authors) the police refused to move in to save the great national treasure which consists of more than 40000 books out of which 3500 are rare manuscripts. Ultimately it was the guts of the Darul Musaneffen fraternity and a teacher of the Department of History, SNPC, Dr. Jawed Ali Khan who foiled the attempts of the goons and in course received serious injuries.  The role of two employees of the Post Office (housed in the front portion of the library), Shri Shiv Shankar Singh and Shri Krishan Yadav is also highly commendable in saving the Darul as they refused to let the goons use Post Office premise to start fire.  As a consequence the windows of the PO were completely broken.

SHOP OF A RSS ACTIVIST AND SHISHU MANDIR ALSO ATTACKED

  While this mob indulged in arson, it was reported that another unruly mob attacked Vidyarthi Pustak Bhandar situated in front of Shibli College, owned by one Sri Ram Bhargava (an RSS activist), and Saraswati Shishu Mandir ( an RSS outfit at a stones throw distance from SNPC) shouting slogans against Bharat Mata and Hindu Dharma . This fact should not be missed here that the bazaar in front of SNPC has about 25 shops out of which only 4 shops are owned by Muslims and no other shop owned by any Hindu was attacked.

A SECTION OF JUDICIARY HAND IN GLOVE WITH POLICE AND BJP ADMINISTRATION
AGAINST THE MINORITY

  How justice was miscarried can be known by a perusal of the three FIRs which were filed on January 27, concerning the events in the college. Interestingly the first FIR was filed by the SI on duty, Sri Deepak Srivastava (FIR No.128/2000 filed u/s 307,147,148,436 etc.) at 11.30 am on 27th. In this FIR, the police official on spot blames the mob for damaging the College building, attacking the staff and students, burning his bullet motor cycle and firing at him and other policemen with the intention to kill.

  The second FIR (No.128A/2000 u/s 436,147,148 153A/153B etc.) was filed at 11.45 am on 27th again and was based on the written complaint of the Principal to the District Magistrate. In this FIR the Principal of the College, Mr. Iftekhar Ahmed, names M/s Onkar Singh, Avinash Yadav, Abhishek Rai, Raja Ashish Singh, Manish Singh, Rajneesh Rai, Satyanand Rai, as the perpetrators of the violence against which SI Deepak Srivastava had also filed an FIR, 15 minutes earlier.

  The third FIR (No.128B/2000 u/s147,504,506,143A,143B and section 2 of the Prevention of insult to National Honor and Symbols Act 1971) was lodged by Sri. Avinash Yadav, the President of the Students Union of SNPC at 12.30 pm and very interestingly refers to an incident of insult of the national flag (Jhande ko pairon se ronda) and a filthy abuse to the Bharat Mata by one teacher, Dr. Zafar Alam in the presence of the Principal of the college which happened on January 26, 2000.  It is very clear from this FIR that it is an after thought and has been filed only to counter the earlier two FIR by the Sub Inspector and the Principal of the College.

  It is clear from perusal of the FIRs and court documents that the police has taken one sided action under the diktats of the communal and anti minority leadership of the RSS in and outside the government and created a situation in which justice was bound to be the casualty. It was really unfortunate that the watch guards of Indian democracy, the courts also could not see through the mischief. While no effective action was taken on the FIRs of the SI, (the arm and the agent of the state) and the Principal, the police has aggressively pursued the action on the FIRs of the ABVP and RSS activists.

  In the FIR of the SI, a police investigation report absolved the main accused, Avinash Yadav and Onkar Singh and the ASP (City) Shri Giri, the DSP Shri Parduman Singh, and SO Kotwali Shri Sonkar pleaded before the CJM that they be released for maintenance of peace. They were released by the court on 11th. Feb. after being arrested on the 10th Feb.  In the FIR of the Principal, who had named these very offenders, police investigation put up a report which led the hon'ble court to conclude that the boys need not be kept in custody.  On the other hand on complaint of this boy, Avinash Yadav whose FIR is clearly an after thought, the police as well as the judiciary has held the charges serious and allowed arrest of Principal and attachment of the teacher's (Dr. Zafar Alam) property (even the doors of the house were removed which in no way constitute the category of moveable property) without even trying to find out the truth in such a sensitive matter. Many reputed teachers and senior educationalists like Shri Ghanshyam Singh, President, UP Shikshak Mahasangh and Vice President of AlI India Federation of the University and College Teachers' Associations, Shri Mahant Singh, ex-president of Poorvanchal Teacher' Association, and the NCC officials and hundreds of teachers and karamcharis were present in the College on January 26, who have stated publicly that the charges of the boys were malafide absolutely false. Astonishingly only at the next door, in Shibli Inter College, run by the same management, the CMO was distributing tricycles to handicapped around 12 noon on 26th in the presence of police and district officials and no body knew of such a heinous crime which draws death penalty.  Most important thing is that the self appointed guardians of patriotism and nationalism who filed an FIR on 27th against the Principal and another teacher forgot to raise such a serious issue in this program where a high ranking district official, CMO was present for more than two hours. One can very easily see through the sinister game which Hindu communal elements had planned to play in Azamgarh. The three FIRs which were filed by the persons or organizations connected with the RSS have one common pattern. All these three FIRs commonly alleged that the persons against whom they were lodging complaint were raising anti India anti Hindu slogans. So the RSS was vigorously following the age old formula of Muslim bashing.

  An important point which should not be missed here is that it was the Muslims who bore the brunt of the attacks. There were many Muslims whose properties were damaged and burnt filed FIRs. They were either registered under innocuous sections or where serious sections like 436 and arson and looting were imposed, no action has followed till date, even though some of these very complainants have been arrested in cross cases.

  It is rather unfortunate that the judiciary saw only the evidence put up before it and ignored all the other related facts which the police, specially the CO Pradyumn Singh was trying to hide, but were well known otherwise. While releasing the leaders of the communal elements, M/s Avinash Yadav and Onkar Singh the hon'ble CJM observed that "Adiminstration desires that normalcy should return. Tension on both sides should reduce and harmony should be maintained". Yet while refusing the bail of the persons of the minority community the same judge did not uphold the same desire.  It may be noted here that Dr. Zafar, a well known name in the field of Chemistry, is reputed to be a very upright and strict teacher and is a much feared invigilator by the elements used to unfair means. Every year he registers cheating cases numbering 15 to 20 and pursues them till culmination i.e. going to courts as witness in these UFM cases. I t is also relevant to know that SNPC is the only college in Azamgarh which has chemistry department and there is huge pressure for admissions. Dr Zafar has been consistently opposing pressure of some of the leaders of the saffron brigade for back door entry for some students and hence has been targeted.

  Similarly taking serious view of charge of abuse to "Mother India" and "Hindu Dharm" made by one RSS person, Sriram Bhargava and in a Shishu Mandir (again an RSS outfit) FIR, the police and the district judge took serious view of the charge and has observed in his judgment that this amounts to "waging war against Mother India and Hindu Dharm". How a judicial person can equate India with only one religion is incomprehensible. In this case 14 students (13 Muslims and one Hindu) were arrested and kept in jail for more than 45 days. All the Muslim boys were not allowed to sleep for four continuos days, beaten black and blue in the jail everyday, repeatedly forced to shout Jai Hanuman, sodomised by the hard core criminals on the instigation of some people (who used to roam inside the jail as officials but seemed to have direct links with the Hindu communal organizations) and released only by the honorable High Court. The bone chilling horrible details of religious persecution which these boys are telling will put even the most barbaric theocratic states of the past to shame. Here, despite there being no named FIR against these innocent young boys and men, the judiciary forgot about peace.

THE REAL GAME PLAN OF THE RSS

  Why have the RSS and the BJP chosen Azamgarh for their latest experiment? The answer is two fold. Firstly, the people of Azamgarh have refused consistently to accept RSS ideology of fascism and 'hindutva' since the days of independence. They have never had any MP from the area and in all past assembly elections they never win more than one seat out of 8 seats. At the national level also the NDA does not proving to be very helpful to the storm troopers of Hindutva. To counter this ground reality, RSS has chalked out a vigorous plan to disturb communal harmony once again by creating social tension as we saw recently in Azamgarh. To the dismay of RSS the people of Azamgarh did not bite the RSS bait and remained calm and peaceful except some stray incidents which were initiated by the hard core cadres. But BJP ministers of UP tried their level best and used the district's bureaucracy to terrorize the teachers and Karmacharis of this educational institution.  All the concerned citizens of the town have condemned RSS and BJP for such anti national activities. Secondly, now they are targeting all those institutions which have become symbols of peoples' unity and common heritage in the past and today. Just imagine they chose to attack an educational institution managed by Muslims which played a leading role in the freedom Struggle and opposed Muslim League tooth and nail. The College has been religiously attacked by the Hindu communalists even after organizing the Tricolor hoisting ceremony and singing of the National Anthem. Such attacks are only going to strengthen the communal and fundamentalist organizations among Muslims who are bound to tell the Muslim community that togetherness and secularism make no sense. The real game plan of the organizations like the RSS must be exposed in this country which know that without communal Muslims it will not be possible to fulfill the dream of Hindu Rashtra.