Amreli police used PASA to fix Muslims, says SHRC

The Gujarat police seem unperturbed by the taint of communalism that has stuck to the force since the infamous riots of 2002. After a probe into the allegations made by a social worker and journalist, Iqbal Fathemohmad Ghori, the state human rights commission (SHRC) has stated in its order that the Amreli police had tried to frame some Muslims under PASA.

More seriously, the police had behaved in a manner that could have led to communal riots in Savarkundal town of Amreli district, the commission has said. According to the SHRC order, the Savarkundala police received a complaint on January 9, 2009, from a local Hindu paint vendor, alleging that he had been looted by some Muslims.

Some local Hindu outfits immediately called for a Savarkundala bandh the next day (January 10). Instead of acting to prevent the bandh (which could have caused communal tension), the local police inspector MN Trivedi and LCB PSI, Sonara, brought the accused Muslims to Navali (Ridhi-Siddhi) Chowk on January 10 evening, and beat them up in public view. When the complainant, Iqbal Ghori, tried to photograph this police atrocity, PSI Sonara abused him and  booked him under PASA.