BHAGALPUR, India: Bhagalpur, the ever humming Silk Town of Bihar is today a ghost town. It betrays little traces of life. The stench of charred flesh wafts through the air. The macabre happenings of the last week of October (1989) have left the town’s Muslims in a dazed state.

The state police sponsored genocide has claimed nearly 1000 lives of Muslims. The real figure of loses will be known only after the peace and order returns to the area which witnessed the law enforcing authorities themselves on rampage for over a week. The burnt shells of houses, corpses filled wells and ponds, are ravaged habitation of Muslims are a living testimony of the magnitude of devastation that the area underwent.

It is said the Bhagalpur Communal flare up was caused by stoning of a procession, a conventionally known pattern to describe the beginning of a Hindu Muslim riot by the officials.

The RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parished and the Bhartiya Janata Pastry had prepared the ground over last few months playing on BabriMasjid Ram Jammabhoomi issue and by organizing the Ramshila Poojan (consecration ceremony for bricks inscribed with “Ram” and meant for construction of Ram temple after demolition of Barbri Masjid at the city of Ayodhya.

Violence first broke out in Parbati and Tatarpur localities of Bhagalpur on October 24  after a

Ramshila Procession was allegedly stoned following provocative slogans raised by some processionists. Reports indicate that the agent provocateurs had been posted by the local Congress (I) to hurl stones and bombs over the precisionists. The toll of death reached 23 in the first two days in arson, police’ firing, rioting and bomb explosions. The press reports have described the first two days incidents as preplanned and with active connivance of police.

The “criminals” gangs led by notorious criminals Yadava, Mandal and Cangotia who operate on the river Gangs used the “opportunity” to loot and bum Muslim properties. (The Hindu, “Bhagalpur’s Day of Terror, November 1, 1989).

Four Delhi bound Muslim passengers of Trinsukia Mail Train were dragged out and beaten to death on October 25 between Bhagalpur and Jamalpur railway stations by a riotous mob. (The Telegraph, Calcutta report by Faizan Ahmed, October 26, 1989).

The army was to be called out on October 26 as police force abetted the heinous crimes of gangsters. Names of two officers Arun Jha, District Magistrate and Mr. S.K Dwivedi, Superintendent of police are mentioned in this context. When Mr. Dwivedi was transferred on the second day of the mayhem, the communally motivated police force openly threatened a revolt. (The Hindu, November 1, 1989). The Superintendent of Police’s transfer was withdrawn by the administration on October 27 under the plea that it needed rewording. Informed sources have attributed the withdrawal of the transfer to a verbal order from the Prime Minister. (Janastta, Delhi, October 29, 1989). Several Patna intellectual condemned the Prime Minister for the annulment of the order.

The district administration’s failure provided the marauders to run berserk for full three days which led to murders and ransacking in the localities of Champanager, Nathanager, Tatapur, Shahgan, Ishaqchak, Sahebgani and Rajaun. Nathnagar and Champaganar, two localities where poor silk weavers resided were reduced to shared debris of looms and vehicles and presented a sight of a shelled and battle scarred place. Among the killed were 37 member of five Muslim families of Naya Bazar Mohalla including those of Faiyaz Bhagalpuri, Youth Congress (I) leader of the District. (Daily Sahgam Patna, November 2, 1989).

Amny and Border Security Forces (BSF) were deployed immediately after Prime Minister visited Bhagalpur on October 25. By then the police action against Muslims had spread into the rural areas around the town. The criminal gangster resorted to massacre of helpless Muslims with the help of the local police. Most ghastly massacre of the Muslims took place in Chandeli village, 10 kilometers from Bhagalpur on October 27.Kt came to light only on November 2, 1989, when the army officer Major General G.P.S. Virk found around a hundred persons missing. he had put those hundred persons all Muslims in the protection of the local police who were lodged ina house. It is said the persons were reported missing when Mr. Virk came back to the village to enquire about the persons. Mr. Virk found only three persons alive and the place streaming with blood. One woman was thrown into the pond after having cut off her legs. She was rescued by the army personnel. The army arrested 31 persons, of whom 29 were hardened criminals.

According to the Hindu daily Jansatta Oct 29, 1989) a tractor full of corpses was seen heading from the river Ganga The journalists who followed the tractor also noted the number of the jeep escorting the tractor (DPI4707). The policemen in the jeep prevented the journalists from following the tractor. It is assumed, the corpses were dumped into the river. It is said the massacre took place on October 27 during the curfew relaxation hours between 11 am and 4 pm.

Another report in the Telegraph, Calcutta (Noy 3, 1989) said ‘SP Dwivedi had advance information about the massacre but he neither went there nor sent his for town gangsters attacked the Maya fgets and killed 30 Muslims and injured.

It ay s to Central Reserv’ polis Force (CPRF) helped. the local police in beating and locking up people in the riot town areas. The Hindu quoted Dr. Kalimur Rahman, Medical Officer ‘of Bhagalpur University and Dr. MAI Baig professor and Head of the Department of Botany. Marwari College, Bhagalpur in this connection. Both the persons had sought protection from CRPF and were beaten and locked up in return.

It appears to Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) helped the local police in beating and locking up people in the riot town areas. The Hindu, Madras November , has quoted Dr. Kalimur Rahman, Medical Officer of Bhagalpur University and Dr. M.A. Baig professor and Head of the Department of Botany. Marwari College, Bhagalpur in this connection. Both the persons had sought protection from CRF and were beaten and locked up in return. People were locked up en masse in police stations without any rhyme or reason. The partisan role of local police, CRPF and bihar Military Police (BMP) was fully evident from the media coverage of the incidents. To the contrary, the role of BSF in checking the riots was highlighted by all the newspapers. However in a highly biased manner ordered the 23rd company of the BSF headed by Commandant Rajinder Singh to vacate the town on November 4.

Talking to the newsmen, Commandment Rajinder Singh said the riots were preplanned and the local administration had no intention to punish the guilty or probe into the causes of the riots. He said the BSF had found the well in Sanskirt College compound in Bhagalpur dumped with numerous corpses. It recovered 10 bodies and asked the local police to rec- ‘over the rest. But the police refused and instead sprinkled DDT into the well to help early decomposition. Such was the administration mood against the BSF that is asked Commandment Rajinder Singh to vacate the room in the. circuit house by evening on November 4.

According to Mr. Singh all this was prompted by his warning to the local police to the effect that their unhelpful attitude would be brought to the Notice of Prime Minister. According to Mr, Hassan Ah- mad Qadri, General Secretary of Bihar Jameeatul-Ulema, the number of deaths in Bhagalpur riots from wells, burnt houses, hostels and villages. He told this over the Phone to Daily Sangam on October 31, 1989.

The tragic tale of Bhagalpur Muslims may still unfold many barbaric details which are yet to emerge.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 29, 1989