Sectarian Violence in UP, Assam should be Dealt with through Stern Action

Indian American Muslim Council, an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, on July 26 strongly condemned the violence in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) and areas of Assam, and appealed to members of each community to respect life and the rule of law.

The violence in Assam has claimed over 44 lives and displaced over 200,000 people from 400 villages. The conflagration has led to the largest exodus of people in the state’s recent history. 

In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly city, curfew remains in force in the wake of fresh incidents of violence. The police’s indecisive and weak response to the unrest contributed to the spread of violence to different parts of the city.

Imran, a local zari worker, died of his gunshot wounds on Monday (July 23), which was also a day of Ramadan.

IAMC has called upon the state administrations of Uttar Pradesh and Assam to take all necessary measures to restore peace in the affected areas and to provide adequate relief to the multitudes that have been displaced or rendered homeless.

“The scale of violence and destruction and the magnitude of the human tragedy that is currently unfolding require swift and decisive action from the government to enforce law and order,” noted Mr. Shaheen Khateeb, President of IAMC.

Eyewitness accounts report that police are having trouble enforcing curfew in affected areas, with rioters continuing sporadic attacks and burning houses and properties. “The government should also ensure that relief camps are equipped with adequate food, water, medicines and sanitary facilities for the displaced people”, added Mr. Khateeb.