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A peaceful protest against the hanging of Afzal Guru developed into a skirmish when the protestors were attacked by a right-wing mob at Jantar Mantar today. Organised by Peoples’s Union for Democratic Right’s the protest consisted of 30-40 people – university students, professors, activists, Kashmiri students and concerned citizens. They had only just gathered at Jantar Mantar with their placards and posters when a group of right-wing activists attacked them. Those present at the scene claim that the attackers tore up posters, abused, molested and beat up women and men.
An eye witness claimed that the mob consisted primarily of Bajrang Dal members as they were carrying the organisations scarves. The Bajrang Dal was present at Jantar Mantar demanding the expansion of National Highway 5 that passes through Ghaziabad. That being Rajnath Singh’s constituency, he too was present at the venue before the mob attacked the protest against the hanging of Afzal Guru.
Arshad Ali*, a Kashmiri student said, “They were gesturing towards my friend and saying ‘aaja, aaja, aaja‘. When I tried to intervene they beat me up. Khusnuma*, my friend, was thrown to the ground, her Hijab was pulled off and she was dragged by the hair. She too was fisted and kicked. The same treatment was meted out to at least two other girls in hijabs.” Commenting on the media he said “Some from the media chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.
Witnesses say that Kashmiri boys and girls were particularly targeted. One of them heard the mob say, “Woh bhi lag raha hai” (Even he looks like one). Another witness claims he heard the police whisper to the Bajrang Dal mob “Don’t worry, we will put them out in two minutes.”
As the skirmish escalated protestors who had gathered against the hanging of Afzal Guru were taken to the Mandir Marg police station. They were detained there for almost two hours. The police claimed that they were detained as the protestors and Bajrang Dal activists were mutually responsible for the scene at Jantar Mantar. No activist from the Bajrang Dal was detained.
Kumar Sundaram, Research Consultant with Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace was singled out and taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. On the way a policeman asked him his name. When he found out it was Kumar, he said “ Isko toh galti se pakad liya.” ( We picked him up by mistake.) Kumar feels he was singled out because the police might have mistaken him to be a Muslim because of his beard. He believes that it was an organsied and planned assault on the peaceful protest against the hanging of Afzal Guru and not a spontaneous response.
Gautam Navlakha, activist, PUDR, whose face was blackened filed a complaint at Parliament Street police station against the Bajrang Dal. He says “ It was difficult to tell the police from the Bajrang Dal. The role of the state in promoting right-wing communalism is only too obvious. It is becoming a regular and well established practice.”
Afzal was sentenced to death on being convicted of conspiracy to attack the Indian Parliament, waging war against the nation and murder in December 2002. Several questions have been raised about the very nature of the trial that Afzal Guru had to undergo. Amnesty International in its statement on the execution says “He was tried by a special court designated under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), a law which fell considerably short of international fair trial standards and has since been repealed, in 2004, after serious allegations of its widespread abuse.”
The Bajrang Dal has denied any involvement of the organization in the scuffle. Shiv, a member of the Bajrang Dal, who was present at the protest, denied any such involvement of his organization in the scuffle. He says “The anti-Afzal protestors were using anti-national slogans. I read about it in Dainik Bhaskar. We did not attack them.” On photographs that clearly depict men with Bajrang Dal scarves confronting the protestors he said “They were only showing fists. That does not mean that they attacked.”
This is a democracy all right but what makes anyone think that the rights of those who condemn the man involved in attacking its very basic pillar will be safeguarded by those who are under attack. I am not right wing and i am not law, but i feel no remorse or empathy for those who were met out with this treatment. The fact that these people were protesting against the govt in support of anti national forces makes them anti national as well.
The citizens dont have the right to mock the constitution that safeguards their interests and it works both ways.
For all we know what Ms Nigar has put down in this article is mostly circumstantial so extrapolating the logic of the people denouncing the hanging of afzal their case holds no ground.
hhhhhhhh peaceful protesters ? for what purpose ? The protest was indirectly against Supreme Court, Rashtrapati and our Country. So right wing activist done good thing. IF I was their my reaction was same.
A small comparison: In Kashmir a fatwa is issued for an all women rock band. (social boycott if that not sufficient death) Same people expect to be honoured and protected when they want to convey their anger and disapproval over punishment of a man waging war against country?? What a joke. Where where these people when Kashmiri Pandits were being thrown out of Kashmir?
These are separatists who have time and again bitten the hand that fed them. But enough is enough. What Bajrang Dal did was not sufficient. Imagine being a minority and doing something like this in China / Pakistan you would not have been alive to account for what happened. It is the greatness of this country which tolerates parasites and considers them an integral part.
The report reads… peaceful protest by “concerned citizens”!!! … protest for what?? The punishment of a terrorist?!!! A criminal who has been sentenced by all the courts in the country’s judicial system. Those “concerned citizens” should be taken in for questioning as well.
how and why terrorism up
how & why a future doc afzal guru choose terrorism,,???
Hanging a human bomb is not a punishment, and all terrosits know their lives are short. The ideal punishment should be to make the terrorist realize the power of love and peace. Imagine what a powerful message would have been to transform the minds of Kasav & Guru, and make them peace envoys of India.
Long time back someone told us that an eye for an eye wiould leave the whole world blind. We printed his photo on currency notes, but never realized his teachings. Terrorists kill us, and we hang them, where will these all end? Terrorists are not a race that a genocide can obliviate them all. They are born among us.
This is the time India should stop following the big brothers and think how it can solve terrorism on its own. As a nation, we taught the world peace and love for thousands of years. As a nation where every religion and belief are highly regarded, guns and capital punishment should not be an answer. What do you say?
Great, they got what they deserved. As for Shazia Nigar, you are an example of a typical Muslim, a bigot which is. The Kashmiri protestors protesting for a terrorist need to be ripped apart, doesn’t matter by whom.
@Maya… check the dictionary for the meaning of Bigot… you will realise your fit into the definition better. Also check the definition of democracy and republic. Ofcourse, the dictionary should not be specially edited by RSS or BJP
I didn’t knew that you, apart from being a secular fundamentalist also hold authority over the english dictionary. I’m sure Maya know the meaning of ‘Bigot’ and correctly used it. If you look at the article, it’s not a account, but a biased rant guised as a news report and designed to label all hindus as bajrang dal. Is this news even worth being reported here. I wonder if you or your reporter ever mentioned about those idiots who pulled taslima nasreen hair and made her go underground. Before you enlighten us about democracy and republic, could you let me know about your views about the proposed communal violence Bill, article 370 & common civil code for marriage? Would you also let us know about the money spent on each of our muslims who visit HAJ every year? You know who pays for them? Do let us know. And do remove your blinkers if not specs. You’ll need it!
As might be expected, dim-witted, blinkered and xenophobic reactions to a well-written report. These Hindutva jokers praise the State only when it attacks those whom they perceive as their enemies but who are in reality the targets of their organised hatred.
Mukul dube, tu to dub gaya yaar, atleast have guts to use your real name. Baak no comments on what you wrote because i’m simply amazed you can so many words, fantastic, jaroor isme pakistan ka haath hai…. Haha….
Mr. Kaushik, I have had this name for over 62 years. If you must write, then write sense and do not lose sight of tameez.
You sir are right wing, despite all your claims. whatever they were protesting about, you are endorsing actions of bajrang dal who dragged a woman by her hair. Shame on you kol daale batte
why we asking pakistan to release Sarbjit singh?? do we have any moral ground to do so?? Forgiveness can solve so many problems. but few Mullahs in pakistan & few ultra nationalists in india(RSS,VHP,BJP,SHIV SENA) ,They don’t want peace & harmony in both countries. communal harmony is not in the favour of these Thugs!!!!
I have genuine sympathy with the people in the protest but any conclusions can’t be drawn on an article written with so much biased view. It is very peculiar habit of human beings that they only see the mistakes of others. Their own mistakes somehow slip through their mind. Each community have some bad people and each community do some mistakes. But each of them try to present themselves as if they are the purest of the pure. This is hypocrisy. If we keep on pointing out the mistakes of others it would never lead to mutual brotherhood.The past is past. We must learn to flush out bad memories as they are injurious to health.We must learn to live in the present and see the future. And as for RSS and Bajrang Dal are concerned, my personal view is that they are just religious fanatics who don’t even know ‘R’ of religion. A true Hindu will always stay away from them.This Tehelka, Indian-Mujahiddin, Al-Qaeda etc are similar groups.They are operating similarly in pakistan where Hindus are suffering from them. I expect a true muslim to stay away from such fanatics. Every religion advocates for universal brotherhood. Every religion shows the path to God.Instead of going towards God we try to teach others as if others are ignorant fools. We ourselves don’t know God and we try to teach others about it, like the blind leading the blind. If everyone tries to find God then there won’t be a place for these controversies because then everyone will see God in others.
@ Kunal Majumdar… A cat has nine lives but a secular fundamentalist has only one, so he/she goes around complaining about anything and everything which is discomforting to him. Do you even know what RSS stands for? Do remove your biased blinkers if not your specs. & see what your eyes has so far refused to see, The Truth!
May b the decision for Hanging Guru came late, nevertheless it was a correct one. Such activist protesting against his execution travel on the same boat on which Guru was travelling. Had i been there at Jantar Manatar, i would have given them the same treatment. You revolt like this in Pakistan or China, and you wont be alive to give your statements. This is pathetic that the press is calling this a peaceful protest. They being the Press are the mirror to the public. If they start writing in this way, Ofcourse these people will be encouraged and terrorists shall gain a positive end to utilize the press.
India has large enough budget to afford life sentence rather than death penalty.
This way we can at least hear the story of the innocent from the cell! What do you think all death sentences were proper judgments in the history of any judiciary? Think again judiciary is just less likely to err than normal folks because of the legal process. It does not make them error proof!
reading the comments of indians here…i am more than sure that why india & kashmir can’t go togather……india should leave kashmir….down with hinduvta fascism & saffron terrorism