As the stories of human rights and civil rights violations, and numerous crimes are keep on coming from riots hit Muzaffarnagar through media, BeyondHeadlines patron INSAAN International Foundation (New Delhi) wrote to numerous authorities to take a serious note of the situation. After visiting riots hit areas, our team enquired about education of children, and cases of human rights violations. Then two different letters were sent to concerned authorities for immediate action. Below are those letters reproduced for our readers. – Editor
Letter 1:
[Addressed to The District Magistrate (Muzaffarnagar & Shamli); Basic Education Minister, Govt. of UP; Chief Minister of UP]
Subject: Regarding Education of Riot Victim Children
Sir,
Our team visited relief camps and riot affected villages in the district of Muzaffarnagar and made following observations
- Almost all of the riot affected students who have to appear for board examinations are out of their schools.
- None of these students have collected Admit Card for the examination.
- Schools have also started dropping the name of these students from their admission list.
- They are not aware of the Examination Schedule.
- Do not have books and study materials to prepare for the examinations.
- Do not want to appear for board examinations at examination centers in the areas that have dominant presence of the Jat community.
- Most of the students want to pursue education but their parents are scared of the future.
We hereby request you to please take steps to support and encourage these students to pursue their education. We feel that establishing a special examination centre for these students can solve problem to some extent.
Regards,
Afroz Alam Sahil and Kamala Kanta Dash
INSAAN International Foundation, New Delhi
Letter 2:
[Addressed to UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (New Delhi); The President of India; The Vice President of India; Prime Minister of India; National Commission for Minorities; National Human Rights Commission; Amnesty International]
Subject: Violations of Human Rights in Muzaffarnagar riots
The western districts of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh witnessed a serious communal violence during the first week of September, 2013. At least 59 people were killed and nearly one hundred thousand have been displaced. There are reports of wide spread mass rapes. Nearly four months after the riots many thousands of riot victims are still living in the relief camps.
The state and central government have completely failed in relief efforts. Now, the government of Uttar Pradesh is forcibly closing relief camps making it extremely difficult for the victims to survive the severe winter. At least 34 (thirty four) children have already died due to the cold weather and related factors.
Victims are forced to live in subhuman conditions and constant fear of more attacks. Most of the riot victims are children who are now out of school. Nearly two hundred students, who had to appear for the board examinations in March of 2014, are facing a dark future.
We request you to kindly acknowledge the situation in Muzaffarnagar riots and take steps to stop human right violations of the victims.
We would specifically like you to investigate cases of mass rapes during the riots.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Regards,
Afroz Alam Sahil and Kamala Kanta Dash
INSAAN International Foundation, New Delhi
