Special Investigation Committee to be Set Up to Investigate Haryana Communal Riots, Says State DGP PK Aggarwal
GURUGRAM – Following the recent spate of communal riots in Haryana, the State’s Director General of Police (DGP), PK Aggarwal, announced yesterday that a special investigation committee will be formed to probe the incidents. The riots, which have resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a volunteer from the Bajrang Dal organization, have raised tensions in the region, as attacks on places of worship, including temples, continue.
The riots began when a procession organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Gurugram encountered a mob that pelted stones at the participants as they entered the Muslim-majority district of Nuah. The situation quickly escalated into a full-blown riot, with government and private vehicles being set ablaze.
During the unrest, four people were killed, including two policemen from the Home Guards and a volunteer from the Bajrang Dal organization who succumbed to injuries sustained in the violence. The riots triggered acts of violence in neighboring districts as well, resulting in the burning of four vehicles and a shop in Gurugram.
In the midst of the chaos, a mob also targeted the Anjuman Masjid in Gurugram late at night, setting the mosque on fire. Deputy Imam Saad, who was inside at the time, was killed by gunfire. Furthermore, a Bajrang Dal activist, Pradeep Sharma, who was injured in the Nuah district riots, passed away at Saptarjung Hospital in New Delhi after being transferred there for further treatment.
Yesterday, activists from the VHP and Bajrang Dal staged a protest in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Noida, Uttar Pradesh, demanding strict action against those responsible for the riots. This protest, however, violated the 144 Prohibitory Order that was in place in the area. The protesters marched from the Noida Sports Arena to the District Magistrate’s Court, with over 100 right-wing organizations participating. The VHP has also called for compensation of Rs 1 crore each to be given to the families of the deceased Bajrang Dal activists, as well as Rs 20 lakh each to the injured.
Meanwhile, DGP PK Aggarwal assured the public that the law and order situation in the state is under control. The temporary relaxation of the curfew imposed in Nuah district is indicative of the improved situation. Gurugram has been declared safe, with no reports of violence. Aggarwal emphasized that strict actions will be taken against those involved in the violence and that senior officials are closely monitoring the situation.
The investigation committee that will be formed aims to determine whether the riots were pre-planned and if any conspiracy was involved. The committee will also investigate the alleged involvement of Bajrang Dal leader Monu Manesar. Four individuals have already been arrested in Gurugram in connection with the killing of the deputy imam, and a total of 116 people have been arrested on suspicion in connection with the riots.
Despite these efforts, the tension continues to escalate as attacks on places of worship, particularly temples, persist. Consequently, additional troops have been deployed to Haryana to maintain order and security.
In response to the riots in Haryana, security measures have also been heightened in the neighboring state of New Delhi. Enhanced security arrangements have been put in place at important locations throughout the city, including intensive vehicle checks at the Haryana-New Delhi border. Surveillance using drones has been implemented, and additional police forces have been deployed.
Furthermore, the VHP and Bajrang Dal organizations have called for protests at over 30 locations in New Delhi, demanding an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the riots. Journalist Shaheen Abdullah filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding the matter, seeking intervention. In response, the judges ordered that no hate speech or violent incidents should occur at protest sites and called for the installation of surveillance cameras and the deployment of additional security forces in these areas, with both the central and state governments responsible for ensuring compliance with the order.