JOIN USAn investigating team of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) says that Hindutva forces exploited the chronic problem of sexual harassment of school- and college-going girls to create communal tensions which led to violence in Muzaffarnagar.
The report released by the party says that these forces are not ready to resolve the issue of sexual harassment, which has been affecting the education of girls in the area. They are using the issue to demonise the minority community despite the fact that perpetrators belong to both communities.
“Sexual harassment of school- and college-going girls is perceived as a major problem across communities. The perpetrators also belong to both communities. The education of girls is being adversely impacted by this problem. Unfortunately, the problem is being exploited by the Hindutva forces, who are demonising the minority community as being responsible for the crime and alleging that girls belonging to the majority community are the victims,” says the report.
The report confirms the allegation of administrative laxity and also traces the roots of communal violence to an incident that took place much earlier than the one on August 27, in which two Hindu boys were killed.
According to it, one Idris was shot dead on the eve of Eid on August 9 after he reacted against the sexual harassment of his daughter by perpetrators belonging to the Hindu community. Muslims did not celebrate Eid due to the incident.
The report adds that the administration acted promptly to the incident and all three accused were arrested immediately. There was no retaliation from Muslims
The team consisted of CPM member of parliament Saidul Haque and former MP Subhasini Ali, among others.
“The people in the camp said repeatedly that had the administration been as active on August 27 and afterwards, the ghastly events that followed could have been averted,” adds the report.
In the incident on August 27, Sachin and Gaurav clashed with Shahnawaz because he was allegedly harassing their younger sister, which resulted in the tragic deaths of all three, which was the trigger for the subsequent violence.