PUCL Rajasthan Report: BAHAI BURIAL PLACE ATTACKED IN JAIPUR by BJP-affiliated goons - first ever attack on Indian Bahais
Shocking news from Jaipur. The only burial place of the
20,000 strong Bahai community of Rajasthan, allotted to them by the Jaipur
Development Authority in 2002, was attacked by a vigilante group lead by BJP
leader and presently Sarpanch of the Shri Ram ki Nangal panchayat and broke
parts of the under construction prayer hall and the doors and windows, and
desecrated the chowkidars house; attacked the Chowkidar and injured him.
According to the 1000 population Bahai community of Jaipur this is the first
time in India that such an attack has happened to the Bahai community. Since
1850 the Bahais have been coming to India and made it their home and never
before has the peace loving non political community seen this intolerance and
aggressive behaviour towards them.
An FIR number 515 / 30th oct, Sanganer Sadar thana, was
lodged by the treasurer of the local spiritual assembly Rajesh Meena. The
sections were diluted while lodging the FIR and simple sections of unlawful
assembly, voluntarily causing hurt,wrongful restraint, mischief and trespass
were applied. Leaving out sections of 295 A, deliberate and malicious acts
intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion
or religious beliefs. and sec 297 trespassing on burial places. Incidentally
the Sarpanch was there at the police station when the FIR was being lodged.
The Sarpanch Nathu jangid won his election on the ground
that he would remove the burial place. He has the support of the local BJP. The
land given to the Bahai community had been acquired by JDA. Since by 2014 the
land had become very valuable he decided to communalise the issue and get the
land back. He motivated the Tehsildar Juhi Bhargava to stop the prayer
hall construction. She gave a report that on Orders she would carry out
demolition. The JDA who the Bahai community representatives had met on 28th
told them that there was no dispute on the title but they had temporarily
stopped the construction.
The PUCL sees this incident as part of the growing
intolerance and state support of right wing ideologies. The confidence of these
vigilante groups is so high as there is direct or indirect state support. The
PUCL has demanded immediate arrests of the Sarpanch and the other attackers,
demanded that the role of the tehsildar be examined and conspiracy sections be
applied.
Even while the press conference was on the Chowkidar was
threatened by villagers that he would not be spared if he gave their names. The CM must immediately issue a statement reassuring the
Bahai community of its safety and security and justice in this matter along
with their burial place not being disturbed.
Bahai Contacts Niyaz Alam 8955774050, Banwari
8875666609,
PUCL Kavita srivastava (President PUCL Rajasthan), 8302562965,
PUCL Kavita srivastava (President PUCL Rajasthan), 8302562965,
Kapil Sankhla(
PUCL Jaipur General Secretary) 9828457268 , photos following.