Minorities panel for CBI probe into Tonk firing

The National Commission for Minorities has asked chief minister Ashok Gehlot to conduct an impartial inquiry preferably by the CBI in Chhawani Mosque incident at Tonk. The Special Task Force (STF) allegedly resorted to firing here leaving one person dead.

Wajahat Habibullah, Commission chairperson, made this demand in a letter written to the chief minister a couple of weeks ago. The chairman stated that the commission in its findings examined the events while giving versions about the incident that occurred on July 12, 2013.

“Nevertheless, we invite your attention especially to the findings in the note and the need for an impartial enquiry preferably by the CBI. Thereafter, every effort will have to be made to restore the centuries old communal harmony that has hitherto prevailed in Tonk,” said the chairman in the letter to the chief minister.

Later the chairman also criticised the STF for firing in the sensitive areas and sought a separate inquiry altogether. “118 teargas shells were fired into and in the area…which any serious police officer will tell you, was entirely uncalled for. We therefore recommend a separate police inquiry into the conduct of the STF during the incident,” said the chairman in the same letter.

The Union home ministry has also sought the comments of the state government over the chairman’s letter. In a letter written to chief secretary CK Mathew, the joint secretary of the ministry RK Mitra said that a member of the commission Keki N Daruwalla has visited the place in July and drafted a report on the incident.

“The report suggests an impartial inquiry, preferably by a judicial commission and an investigation by an outside agency like the CBI,” said Mitra seeking comments from the CS.

Total recall
On July 11 during the prayer of Ramzan, a scuffle reportedly broke out between two groups over youths playing loud music in a marriage procession

Next day, armed people gathered outside the mosque. To disperse the mob STF team allegedly fired tear gas, killing one.