Police inaction against trouble makers trigering the communal violence in Azamgarh might lead to bloody riots akin to Muzaffarnagar.
The faux pas that the Muzaffarnagar police did was to not act against the initial perpetrators which later snowballed into the worst ever communal strife in Uttar Pradesh.
In Azamgarh too, despite top cops camping there to defuse the situation, a similar situation prevails in the district.
In the strife torn district no untoward incident have taken place in the day time due to massive deployment of police and para-military personnel. However, in the night, the anti-social elements strike with impunity to stamp the hegemony of a partticular community in the area.
Sources in Azamgarh confirmed that members of a particular community whose excesses initially led to the clash are still targeting members of the majority community at night.
Since no fatal injuries have been caused and the victims fear retaliation if they report to the police, hence the authorities claimed that the situation is peaceful.
Sources also agreed that the police move of not arresting a single person involved in the arson and torching of Dalit’s house so far, is steadily fuelling anger of the majority community. This pent up anger may manifest itself in the form to riots bloodier than Muzaffarnagar.
A similar thig happened in Muzaffarnagar. The police officers did not act against the prime accused enraging the other community. This led to sporead of violence and communal clashes that claimed 60 odd and rendered over 6000 families homeless.
The government action in Azamgarh has been confined to chopping and changing officers and sending top officers to defuse the situation. But the lack of stern action against erring officials for their lethargic approach leading to the strife may cost dear in the days to come.
Ironically, a week after the incident, the officers are at a loss of words on why the culprits named
for torching the house triggering communal clashes have been not arrested.
Menahwile IG (Public Grievances) Ashok Mutha Jain told reporters on Tuesday, "The situation is under control and normalcy is returning in Azamgarh."
When asked about action taken against the culprits, Jain said that no fresh arrest has been made since the last 24-hours.
On Monday, Jain had said that not a single person involved in attack on Dalit’s house and allegedly assaulting him and others were arrested by the Azamgarh police.