INDIA: 'Muslims singled out, beaten up in UP village'

TUESDAY, 31 MAY 2011 17:29

Times of India

Ashish Tripathi, TNN

LUCKNOW: The Peace Party has condemned the police atrocities on farmers, particularly Muslim families, at Bhattta Parsaul village in Gautambudhnagar during the agitation against the land acquisition.

According to the fact finding team of the Peace Party, which visited the village, Muslim families were singled out and mercilessly beaten up. Even women were not spared. Dozens of Muslim men and youth have been sent to jail illegally, including those who had nothing to do with the agitation.

These people belong to poor families and are daily wagers. The police have cordoned off the village and they are facing shortage of food and other necessary items, accuses the outfit.

The Peace Party has appealed for immediate relief to the affected families and a CBI enquiry into the whole matter. It has written to the National Commission on Minorities and National Commission on Women for initiating immediate and strict actions against the guilty officials.

The Party has also released a list of affected people. Those in jail include Alimuddin, Bhura, Shaukin, Shaukat Ali, Akhtar and Naushad. People with bullet injuries and multiple fractures include Zahid, Jameela, Praveen, Hameedan, Bano, Nazma, Bundo Khan, Haseena, Harun, Sitara, Naeem, Ikram, Nargis, Salmu, Rubina and Shaira.

MJ Khand, general secretary, Peace Party, said that the party also demands an apology and compensation from the state government for brutal use of force against women, specially Muslims.

The Peace Party was launched in 2009 and in two years time it has built a strong base among Muslims in eastern UP. The party is now trying to expand its base to western UP. It has joined the front of small parties led by Rashtriya Lok Dal for 2012 assembly elections.