All India Fact Finding Report on Genocide in Gujarat Preliminary Report 20th April 2002   The fact-finding team from different people’s organisations from Delhi, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka visited Gujarat from 10th to 15th April 2002. One group of the team covered various relief camps and affected areas of Ahmedabad and Surat. Another group covered Anand, Khera, Baroda and Panchmahal districts. This group also visited Godhra, including the railway station and inspected the burnt bogey of the ill-fated Sabarmati Express. Apart from the affected areas and camps, the groups contacted organisations engaged in relief, protection, as well as peace keeping in various areas.   The camps, localities and organisations visited in and around Ahmedabad included the following: Shah-e- Alam camp Chartoda Kabristan camp Bakarshah Roza camp Pannalal Chaal area, Barachaki Chaal area Darsiki Chaal area, Niraranjan Chaal area Naroda Patia Chara Nagar Chota Chara Nagar Shahibagh camp Bapunagar area Anand School flats 15 and 16 camp Juhapura camp Guptanagar/ Millat Nagar area Jamat –e- Islam office at Juhapura Major hotels and business complexes of the Muslim community which were burnt in the heart of the city.   On 15th April, some members of the team visited various industrial and residential localities in Surat, where a number of textile units (at least 100) of Mulim community were burnt, apart from houses and other establishments.   Important institutions and organisations contacted by the group, which went to Anand, Kheda areas, Godhra, and Baroda included the following:   The group visited the following relief camps: 1. Kohinoor Rahat camp 2. Ismail Nagar Rahat camp 3. Bhalag Rahat camp 4. Surely camp 5. Masjid-Inam Green Park Society. 6. Godhra Relief camp 7. Anjeman Islam Rahat camp 8. Qureshi Jamat Khan Rahat Camp 9. Tanjallia Road-Patrakar Colony, Baroda 10. Best Bakery, Somatalbari Mohalla, Baroda   The group visited Ode village which had witnessed the carnage of 28 persons belonging to the Muslim community. All the houses and shops owned by Muslims were burnt and destroyed in this large and affluent village of 20, 000 people.   The team also visited the Godhra railway station and talked to the station superintendent. The team members inspected the burnt bogey near the station and talked to the railway personnel and local residents who were present during the incident. Information was also obtained from the residents of the area.   The team members met at Ahmedabad in the evening of 13th April and shared the experiences and observations. Important findings of the Team are the following:   Introduction The ruling classes have unleashed the worst-ever fascist outrage on the people and the country, particularly in Gujarat, the veritable laboratory of Hindu fascism. The Gujarat carnage is not only the worst ever programme of the Indian state, but also a qualitatively higher form of state terror, with the covert and overt support of global capital. If the demolition of Babri Masjid was the first major effort of the Indian ruling classes to get into the good books of the Western crusaders against Islam in the backdrop of the Gulf war, the Gujarat pogromme comes in the aftermath of India’s total surrender to American imperialism under globalisation process and close collaboration with Zionism.   While the Godhra tragedy and events are still shrouded in mystery, there is no doubt about the nature and pattern of the Gujarat carnage. For the first time, the villages have been subjected to one-sided communal violence. The attacks were either led by the police forces and in some places at least aided and abetted by the police and the administration. The violence occurred simultaneously in all parts of the state. Free hand was given to the armed brigands of the Patels and Sindhis, for full 72 hours. While curfew was enforced in Muslim majority areas, the hoodlums were let loose. Several mosques have been destroyed and some converted into temples (Hanuman Mandir). The life and property of Muslims were targeted. While in some villages, the Muslims were asked by the neighbours to leave their houses to save their lives, in others they were killed as they stayed back on the assurance of the neighbours that they would be protected. There has been no communal violence in Muslim strongholds including Godhra town, several localities of Ahemadabad and Baroda. The ‘mazhar’ (grave) of Wali Gujarati, the great sufi poet has been demolished and the demolition site is not even demarcated and traffic moves over the polished road built on the sufi monument, one of the peoples cultural heritage of the country.   The state attitude to relief, rehabilitation and punishment of the guilty or giving justice to the victims, gives out the real intentions of the perpetrators of violence. As tens of thousands of the victims ran away from their villages and localities, the administration obstructed the relief efforts of voluntary agencies and concerned citizens. Without any support from the state, most of the affected people took refuge in kabaristans. The Muslim community runs almost all the camps. Even for the meagre relief, the government insists on proof of residence and domicile. The police refuse to register first information reports (FIRs) even from rape victims. They would register only those cases acceptable to them. They are refusing to accept complaints, which name the guilty. They insist on complaints against mobs only, without the mention of the ring-leaders identified by the victims. Even suggestions have been made that if the victims agree to forget and forgive the guilty, they may be rehabilitated.   Even as the Prime minister talked about relief and rehabilitation and also confidence building, the Sangh Parivar insists that the minorities have to leave Gujarat. While the administration insist that the victims should go back to their villages and localities, the victims say that they cannot go without security and restoration of their property, livelihood and houses. The victims have lost faith in the administration and would prefer to get settled in exclusive settlement colonies and feel that only such settlements would ensure a sense of security among them.   Not Communal Riots, Genocide The reading is unambiguously clear. The State Government headed by BJP, the political face of the Sangh Parivar not only facilitated the VHP and Bajrang Dal to unleash a bloody socio-economic and cultural war against the Muslim minority, but also placed the entire state machinery at their disposal. Thus, instead of protecting lives and property of the citizens, the police directly colluded with killers and vandals while the administration remained pretentiously helpless.   The claims of the BJP and its Chief Minister in Gujarat, Narendra Modi that the violence in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and three other districts were spontaneous and a consequence of the Godhra rail incident is obviously baseless because of the fact that any such spontaneous reaction should have been first in Godhra. In addition, any spontaneous reaction or rioting would have had have little planning. However, what happened in this case was no less than a pogrom carried out by the VHP and Bajrang Dal, with the BJP controlled state machinery playing the role of a facilitator of the mass killings of Muslims and destruction of their properties.   First, a `bandh' was declared for two days on Feb.28 and March 1, 2002 in the entire state and a section of local media came out with highly provocative stories. The provocations that preceded the Godhra carnage were conveniently ignored, while the incident was capitalised upon to build up mass anger against Muslims in the context of a well-prepared background. Thousands worked overnight. That the ruling party itself also gave the call is not surprising. This, the victims said, was itself an indication (and a green signal) of what the BJP and Sangh Parivar had planned for the two days. The dead bodies in the Godhra incident were brought to Ahmedabad city, which only served the purpose of fuelling passions and instigation. The Police Commissioner, P.C.Pandey openly told the press that he opposed this and advised the government to halt bringing the dead bodies to Ahmedabad. These fears came true within hours and what followed were the "72 hours" of unrestrained massacres of hundreds of Muslims wherein women and children were targeted in most inhuman manner, besides looting and arson.   As we visited several relief camps including Hazrath Shah Alam Dargah, Gomtipur and Juhapur, we could  see how Muslims have become refugees in their own country. They narrate their tale of woes in utter grief and anger with tears rolling down their dusty cheeks. They also named BJP leaders, legislators and a few ministers who directed the violence on the spot. Another notable aspect was that many women and white collared professionals from middle and upper middle classes are said to have participated in looting and arson. This section, by and large never engaged in such incidents in the past and now their participation in violence against the Muslim community only shows the extent of communalisation of Hindu society in Gujarat.   The violence in Gujarat including the carnage and attacks on the lives and property of the Muslim community was the result of a well-planned conspiracy by the Sangh Parivar. The violence cannot be termed as communal riots. It is not even communal carnage as being portrayed by a large section of the press. It is one-sided inhuman cold-blooded attack, carnage and brutal murders and massacres by the highly planed Sangh Parivar fascists on the Muslim community, which can be termed only as genocide. The systematic violence carried out by the Modi Government is modelled on Israel’s genocide killings of Palestinians.   Gujarat being the only major state under total political hegemony of the Sangh Parivar, the attack on the Minority community was well on the cards, as a sure recipe for communal and political polarisation. The systematic propaganda including spread of venomous literature and household surveys conducted by the women folk of the Sangh all over the state, months before the attack, gives credence to the idea that the violence was pre-planned. The role of NRIs, specific targeting of the property and commercial establishments of the Minorities as also the fact that many of them have been pushed out to the ‘Kabaristans’ and the refusal of the state to provide any meaningful relief and rehabilitation underlines the economic interests behind the carnage. Definitely, the intention is to exclude the community from economic life permanently. By such economic exclusion of the Minority community, the rulers want to entice the majority community with promised benefits of a restricted labour market and communal monopoly over local business as also the imaginary prosperity expected out of globalization   Godhra Incident was not the Triggering Point The Godhra incident is not at all the triggering point of the cycle of violence that followed. The Sangh Parivar issued statements threatening the entire Muslim community of similar consequences even earlier, which it showed in practice in the subsequent carnage. It brought out leaflets campaigning for economic blockade of the Muslim community. The pattern of attacks, destruction and the brutal lynching of children, women and the old aged was similar throughout the state. It was a well-planned and systematic carnage. Godhra incident might have taken place because of the vicious Ram Temple construction campaign, the provocative behaviour of the lumpen Ram Sevaks and finally the attacks carried out by the Ram Sevaks on Muslims at different railway stations throughout their journey. When Ram Sevaks created a big problem in the Godhra railway Station the railway officials should stopped the train or should have sent the protection force in the train.  It is difficult to establish the real culprits behind the Godhra massacre in the S6 coach of Sabarmati Express on 27th February. It is wrong to jump to the conclusion that Muslims did it without a proper enquiry conducted by an impartial judicial agency.   The preparation for the post-Godhra carnage seems to have a long history. In the previous months immediately before the Ayodhya temple construction campaign, the VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS distributed thousands of Talwars (Swords) and Trishuls. The BJP functionaries also participated in all Talwar-Trishul ceremonies, in which processions were organised in every town and even in rural areas. Training camps in firearms were also reportedly conducted in many places.   A Systematic Programme to Isolate the Muslim Community Socially and Economically The Sangh outfits had brought out leaflets and had engaged in systematic campaigns all over the state including in the tribal areas against the Muslim community. Apart from the virulent hate campaign, there was a call for economic boycott and isolation of the community. This also involved a cultural offensive.   The offensive, starting from the Rath Yatra in 1990 continued through the culmination in the new phase of the “Ayodhya campaign” from February 24th onwards and reached a high pitch with the Karsewaks moving towards Ayodhya for participating in the “Yangya” at the Babri Masjid demolition site.   After the electoral defeat of the BJP in UP, the Sangh Parivar apparently decided to bring about a sharp communal polarisation based on anti-Muslim feelings and economic isolation of the minorities.   Well-targeted attacks on the commercial establishments/property of the Muslim community (restaurants, garages, and trucks) and sources of livelihood clearly bring out the intentions of the perpetrators of violence. The precision applied to the carnage is evidentially seen in the manner in which the residential and commercial establishments were targeted. In all the five districts where the team visited the Muslim people told that a few months back a household survey was conducted by the women activists of the VHP, to find out the details of the property. The revision of electoral rolls during the same time seems to have come handy in scrutinizing Muslims from others. Victims also pointed out that some TV Cable operators also helped in identifying houses and other establishments of Muslims. Then there are newspaper reports quoting VHP leaders as saying that they had the "list" ready!   Findings from several areas including Ahmedabad and Baroda indicate a clear pattern of destruction of property and looting. While systematically destroying the houses owned by Muslims, much care was taken to ensure that houses owned by Hindus but occupied by Muslims on rent were only looted and not burnt.   A shocking factor that became known was demonstration of a very high degree of cruelty which left the entire community terrorised. It is said that heavily-armed groups came in luxury coaches and indulged in merciless killings, while locals mainly engaged in looting and arson. Many opined that they were brought from outside.   The real agenda of Sangh Parivar is unveiled. It is on an experiment, beginning from Gujarat with a "Muslim hatavo" campaign through violence. To gauge the success of its experiment, the BJP government conducted Panchayat elections even as the state was in flames and blood. The cruel joke is that those who led the mob cutting humans into pieces and throwing them into fire were elected with big majorities.   Now, the party's next move was on expected lines - directing Modi to dissolve the assembly and seek fresh mandate. Perhaps, in its perception, the situation has been made highly favourable through the bloodbath with almost the entire Muslim minority is under shock and terror. If the party manages the poll to establish a majority, the possibility of Gujarat-like experiments in other states could not be ruled out.   First they faced an economic blockade. Now the Muslims live under political isolation too. Socially the community is boycotted. Their children cannot have education. The shopkeepers among them lost their shops and business. There is no possibility of re-establishing their shops because they are economically not well off enough. Even the well-to-do sections among the Muslims are not able to recover soon because of the economic boycott call given by the VHP-Bajarang Dal clique.   First, they said that the Muslims should go to Arabian Sea. Later they said that they should go to Pakistan. Now they forced them to go to Kabristan alive (Many camps are in Kabristans, as Muslims in Gujarat have no place today to live or take shelter to.). The massacred (dead) Muslims were not allowed to have the privilege of being buried in the Kabristan with proper religious rites. But the survivors are pushed to take relief alive in Kabristans. The isolation is near total. The boycott is successful. The fascism has set in.   The State Machinery Directly Involved The violence, carnage and attack on property was aided and abetted by the state. In many areas, the police led the marauding mobs. In Ahmedabad the attacks were carried out not by a mob, but with the participation of well-organized cadre in RSS uniforms (Khaki Knickers) led by the state police personnel. Invariably in all places in and around Ahmedabad, the State Reserve Police opened fire on the Muslims who were already under attack by the Hindutva hooligans.   The attacks were sudden and carried out by large numbers, about 5000 to 15,000 at a time. In all the districts, LPG cylinders were used as most potential explosives to blast houses, shops, mosques, hotels, etc. Who supplied these cylinders? Victims also told the team that petrol and kerosene barrels were carried in police vehicles. Instead of preventing the attackers, the police fired at helpless Muslims. There is a complete unanimity in the victims' charges against the police that it virtually `presented' groups of Muslim women and children to attackers under the pretext of providing them security. Any resistance by Muslims was countered by indiscriminate firing, killing many on the spot. The worst affected areas included Naroda Patia, which was mainly dominated by poor labourers; a majority of them were from Gulbarga in Karnataka and Sholapur in Maharashtra. The 55 years old Gulam Rasool in Gomtipur Chartoda Relief Camp said that the police fired at his son Hameed (22) from point-blank range.   While the Patels spearheaded the attacks in the entire state, the Sindhi business community also joined the frontline gangs. It has been noted that NRIs played a leading role in organising the violence and arson.  The team gathered revealing facts that clearly show that they finance the criminal politics of RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, and BJP from abroad, while their family members directly participate in violence at home.   In many places, certain ‘godmen’ with strong ideological and financial links with the political bigwigs in the state and abroad also played a major role in spreading the hatred.   After the relief camps were set up, at least for fifteen days the police obstructed the relief efforts/ activities of the Voluntary/ non-Governmental organizations and Muslim Organisations.   No Relief for the Muslims, No Plans for Rehabilitation The relief announced by the Prime Minister is only an eyewash and the state administration is giving all kinds of excuses for denying meaningful relief to the victims. The victims are being asked to produce certain certificate/ proof about residence /death/injury /loss of property etc. The local administration is not at all ready to give any such proof. Moreover, the Muslims are not in a position to go out to approach the Hindu dominated and communal officers for such certificates.   The State authorities are also not ready to provide any security or protection to the inmates of the camps to go back to their residential localities.   The government wants to disband the camps as soon as possible for two reasons: a)      They want to stop the filing of cases and lodging of FIRs against the main functionaries of Sangh Parivar and the police who were behind the carnage which were going on from the camps with the help of democrats and some organizations. b)      They want to avoid any compensation package, which is possible only if the people have not migrated and are scattered.   All those NGOs, which flooded Gujarat a year ago for providing relief and rehabilitation for the Earthquake victims, are nowhere to be seen now. The Western funds and western-funded NGOs have such little interest in Muslims. Yes, it is true. It is not possible to get funds from America and the West both for aiding the VHP-Bajrang Dal activities like carrying out genocide as well as for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims/survivors of these acts, though the west has the recent credit of throwing deadly bombs and food packets at the same time on the heads of the Muslims in Afghanistan.   The Team also noted that the Government is not at all interested in resettling the displaced persons in their localities. If at all, some rehabilitation is intended it is intended to be in outlying areas away from the city and the normal areas of productive economic activities. Even though there is a pretense of ‘relief’, the psychological fear that the brutal attacks of the fascist forces might easily provoke violent reactions from the victims is very high. The Sangh Parivar forces with a view to have stronger communal polarisation might deliberately manipulate such conflagrations. The stridency in announcing the continuation of Modi and early elections would strengthen the apprehension that the Hindutva forces would go to any extent.   The Modi administration refused to postpone the School Leaving Certificate Course exams though thousands of Muslim students under psychological pressure created by the carnage are not in a position to appear. Most of them don’t have houses; they lost their family members murdered or burnt alive before their eyes. Many are staying in the camps where they don’t have books and have no conditions for preparing the examinations. Even where the houses are not burnt and looted there is no atmosphere of amity. Most of the examination centres are in Hindu residential areas. There is no climate for Muslim students to go to these centres.   Officials Evade Answers and Follow the Larger Plans of the Sangh Parivar The team met the officer in-charge appointed to all camps in Ahmedabad, Mr.D Krishna Rao, and the district collector of Ahmedabad, Mr.Srinivas. We also met the Mayor of Ahmedabad, Mr.Himmat Singh Patel. We had long discussions on the carnage and the relief and rehabilitation work with all of them. Mr.D Krishna Rao told us that the officers had received the orders from the Government to take charge of the relief camps only on 5th April more than a month after the camps started. He told us that the government is interested in shifting the people as soon as possible to their areas of residence. However, he could not say anything about where the people would be accommodated as their houses were burnt and destroyed. There is no survey of this destruction made by any administrative wing. There is not even a proposal to conduct any survey so far. Mr. Rao told us that the government administration was finding it difficult to identify the people killed. He says that the surviving kith and kin were giving false numbers of deceased people from each family. Because of this, the government does not want to announce any compensation package for the surviving family members, he argues. Mr. Rao told us that he was personally is interested in shifting the people to new areas and he talked to Modi about his idea only on the previous night for which Modi happily agreed according to him. Mr. Srinivas, the district collector of Ahmedabad provided us a list of camps and the number of people in various camps in the district.   The Mayor of Ahmedabad has a full majority in the Corporation and belongs to Congress Party. He does not know the importance the poet Wali Gujarat. He told us that it was not the responsibility of Municipal Corporation to protect or make a case against those who destroyed the poet’s Samadhi. He said that it was also not his responsibility to conduct any survey of the destroyed houses or Masjids or Dargahs. Corporation is only providing drinking water and looking after sanitation conditions in the camps, according to him. He feels, as a Mayor there is nothing else that he can do.   The team also met the police commissioner of Vadodara and the collector of the same district.  We had a telephonic conversation with the Chief Secretary of the Government who refused to give an appointment saying that he has no piece of information to provide us. The Home Secretary also said on the phone that he could say nothing about the present situation. The Commissioner of Police of Ahmedabad expressed his inability to meet us for he was in trouble already and pleaded with us that we should contact the secretary-level officials at Gandhinagar to get any bit of information.   The Brutality of Violence, Rape, and Sexual Assault The RSS - VHP vandals engaged in sexual assaults and molestation of young girls in front of their family members. Trishuls and swords were used to stab repeatedly until the victims breathed their last. Children and women were thrown to flames. An old destitute and physically handicapped woman, Jainab Bee of Chartoda Kabristan in Gomtipur, who was making a living out of begging, was caught while she was helplessly crawling to save herself and thrown back into a house which was set on fire. Her house is in close proximity to the police quarters from where the police were firing. Qudrat Banu, 30 of Ranganpet in Gulbarga district of Karnataka said ten members of her family were killed and she was the lone survivor.   The savagery perpetrated by the criminal gangs indicate that it was not just the result of communal ill-will alone, but a systematic programme of physical elimination of large numbers of a community and also to subject the community in particular and society at large to terrorisation and trauma.   The RSS-VHP brigades raped many women and young girls before they cut them into pieces and set to fire in many places. They asked the children to say “Jai Sriram”. They threatened to kill if they did not say. However, after saying “Jai Sriram” they cut the throats of the young buds. Otherwise not vocal and shy Muslim women, have lost their inhibitions now. Many Muslim women came forward to tell the sexual assault on them vocally and with much anger. After having such insult and losing, everything there remained nothing to hide for the Muslim women.   We have at least met three families in which the pregnant women were cut open and foetus were thrown into the air or raised on the tips of Trishuls and were burnt along with the mothers.   The Challenge Before All of Us We have to address the demoralisation, trauma and loss of confidence in the Muslim community. First and foremost, efforts should be made to ensure that in this hour of great tragedy, when their citizenship itself is being questioned, all democratic-minded people should firmly stand on the side of them. All our efforts should be concentrated on giving relief and ensuring effective rehabilitation and resettlement and above all in giving moral support.   We have no doubt that the carnage campaign is aimed at socio-economic, political and cultural segregation and exclusion of the biggest chunk of the working community, both rural and urban The sinister campaign combines all the debilitating and dehumanizing aspects of caste and untouchability, racism, apartheid, fascism and Zionism. And in the evolving scenario of global fascism, the battle lines are being re-drawn in India that is Bharat, the oldest colony of the world, the veritable backyard laboratory of imperialism.   We are sure that it is not a process of ‘ghettoisation’ or creation of a new Palatine that is taking place. The Apartheid regime needed the Ghettos for cheap labour power and the Palestinians had the Arab world to go as refugees. Global monopoly capital does not care for cheap labour reserves in the third world and the poor have little role as consumers too. The Indian state (the Prime Minister himself) has declared that the minorities are not required even as vote banks. That is why the victims of Indian fascism are driven out to the Kabaristans (graveyards).   Let us not forget that the “Ram Rath Yatra” started as a counter to “Mandal”, the assertion and possible empowerment of the working communities of India. Liberalization, privatization and globalization also followed soon. While taking Babri masjid demolition as a communal issue, we thought globalization had no alternative. Now, global monopoly capital has reinforced all fascist and monopolistic tendencies everywhere and the Indian state has taken sides with imperialism and Zionism. India is competing with Pakistan and Israel to be the closest ally of imperialism in Asia. The pogromme in Gujarat is very much in the scheme of things. Here, they want to dangle the promised benefits of employment, economic opportunities, and prosperity before the majority community and finish off, exclude and ostracize the minorities.   When America bombed Afghanistan, the Muslims gave a call for boycott of American goods. The call for “Be Indian, Buy Indian” led to communal riots in Malegaon in Maharashtra. The patriotic forces in India could not immediately formulate a powerful slogan against the global forces of monopoly capital, fascism and state terror. That is why the ruling classes are emboldened to go on the offensive. They have called for socio-economic boycott of Muslims. This is a socio-economic, political-militarist and cultural offensive against Indian people.   A Ray of Hope In the highly divided Gujarat society on religious lines, one can rarely see much inter-community relations after the present carnage.  Yet, there is a silver lining in the dark sky over Gujarat. Some Hindu families have taken the risk of saving Muslim families though it is a rare situation. However, it is the Chara community, a de-notified tribe who did a commendable job. They are branded as a criminal tribe. They are given no social respect. They are not treated as human beings by the society in the Gujarat. We met a large number of Chara people who protected and hid Muslims from the Sangh Parivar mob. For example, youths like Shivaji and Ghasi Ravi belonging to Chara community have saved lives of over 70 Muslims putting at risk their lives and that of their own family members. Muslim people from Naroda Patia repeatedly told us that it was only the Chara people who took all the risks and saved about 400-500 Muslims in Jawan Nagar and Hussain Nagar areas in Naroda Patia. However, rumours were being spread that members of Chara community committed the killings in Naroda Patia by Mayabehan Kodnani, a sitting BJP MLA. In the rural areas also in some places, the team met groups of Hindu – Muslim communities guarding their localities together throughout the nights suspecting some communal mobs from outside their areas may come and attack.   The Demands and Appeals: a)      We strongly feel that the Modi government as well as the Vajpayee government has lost all moral, constitutional and political authority to rule. While the Narendra Modi Government organised and implemented the genocide in Gujarat, the central government provided support, justification and protection for the genocide and the continuing socio-economic blockade of the Muslim community. We therefore demand that the Modi government and the Vajpayee government should be dismissed forthwith. The President may constitute a national government at the Centre consisting of secular-democratic parties and individuals.   b)      The Sangh Parivar forces and their political formations, their outfits, leaders, ministers and hardcore elements should be boycotted socially, politically and culturally. We appeal to the democratic forces all over the country to enforce this boycott in a true democratic spirit without engendering any hatred for any religion or individuals.   c)      The people should oppose the efforts of the NDA and Sangh Parivar to force elections on the people of Gujarat at a time when vast sections of the people are suffering the pain inflicted by the worst ever communal carnage by the Hindutva forces and the confidence, sense of security and fairness are at the lowest ebb. President’s rule and elections under a democratic-national government after effective rehabilitation of the affected people would be the only reasonable course.   d)      The citizen’s Tribunal headed by Justice V.R Krishna Iyer may enquire into all the events and circumstances leading to and the aftermath of the communal carnage in Gujarat. The people and all democratic organisations and parties should take its report to all sections of people in the country.   e)      In this situation, we feel that while recognizing the political-ideological nature of the Sangh offensive against democratic institutions and values, the most important task of the democratic forces, groups and individuals is to identify with the victims of the state sponsored pogrom, to stand with them and to give them all possible support in this hour of trauma and crisis. We appeal to all democratic minded people and organisations of the society, to come forward and stand together in solidarity with the Muslim community and offer relief articles, materials and financial resources. The support would be required in rehabilitation and resettlement also. We appeal to political parties, non-governmental organizations, trade unions and social organisations all over the country and abroad to collect one day’s earnings of their members/ supporters and give it for the rehabilitation of the affected persons. This may be routed through the citizens’ initiatives in Ahmedabad. Help in terms of men and material and finances may be mobilised by all and disbursed through the citizens’ initiatives.   f)       All examinations should be postponed in the state until Muslim community finds conducive atmosphere.   g)      Secondly, citizens’ initiatives/committees consisting of active and conscious representatives of different communities and social classes may be set up at all cities, areas, localities. These committees/ groups may attend to coordination of activities/efforts at confidence building, relief and rehabilitation as well as efforts to prevent the recurrence of such events. These initiatives should also emphasise conscientisation and ideological/cultural resistance to saffronisation. These groups may also engage in secular/democratic campaigns against saffronisation of education, distortion of history and all kinds of vulgarization of religious principles and values.   What is to be done now? ·         We should boycott the Sangh Parivar and all their supporters. ·         We should demand for the dismissal of the Vajpayee and Narendra Modi governments. ·         We may call for a national government at the Centre. ·         We should invite an enquiry by a commission of Jurists headed by Justice Krishna Aiyer and others. ·         We shall demand for a trial of Narendra Modi and his accomplices for their crimes against humanity. ·         We should take initiative to form relief and rehabilitation committees of solidarity in Gujarat districts and localities to coordinate activities for moral and material support and to oversee rehabilitation and resettlement. ·         We should send volunteers to Gujarat to provide support to the peoples committees there. ·         We should demand that the state should ensure total rehabilitation of the victims. ·         We should call for the boycott of MNCs and their collaborators. ·         We shall organize and lead cultural and socio-economic resistance against the forces of globalization and Hindutva fascists.   Brief statistics of casualties during the Modi Government-led communal carnage in Gujarat started on February 28, 2002, initiated due to VHP's vicious campaign for construction of Ram Temple at the site of Babri Masjid. (The list is based on information collected from the administration and newspapers. All these cases are verified but still hundreds of villages are not accessible. Therefore, collection and verification of data must still continue. Many more places are sure to be added in the list as and when they come to light.)   Total Deaths in State as on April 11, 2002.   Affected Districts Places Police Firing Torched Total Deaths Injured LRP LCP 19 179 158 394 879 1295 10,204 17,294             List of Muslim Religious Places Destroyed / damaged and Converted During the Carnage.   Mosques – 78, Shrines – 71, Others* – 47, Converted – 9, Total 196. As on April 13, 2002.   Sl.No. Dristricts Mosques Shrines Others Total Converted         1 Ahmedabad           19         14         3     36               5         2 Anand           12         13       10     35               0         3 Banaskantha             0           0         1       1               0         4 Bharuch             1           0         0       1               0         5 Bhavnagar             0           3         1       4               0         6 Dahod           10           5         1     16               0         7 Kheda             2           0         1       3               0         8 Mehsana             2         13         1     16               0         9 Panchmahal           12         12       22     46               0       10 Patan             6           1         1       8               4       11 Sabarkantha           10           7         5     22               0       12 Varoda             3           3         1       7               0 Others * include Madarasas, Graveyards and others unconfirmed Muslim religious places.   District Wise Total Deaths As On April 11 2002.   Sl. No. District Places Torched Police Firing Total Deaths LRP LCP Remarks 1 Ahmedabad         59         188         87       330    937  1175   2 Amrely           1             1           0           1        0        0   3 Banaskantha           6             9           6         19    200        3   4 Bharuch           4             0           0           5      58      31   5 Bhavnagar           2             0           7           7    650      40   6 Gandhinagar           7             1           1         14      12      30 Include offices of Waqf board & GMFDC 7 Junagadh           2             2           2           5        0      27   8 Kheda         12             1         10         33      57    597   9 Mehsana           6           32           3         56    116    100   10 Panchmahal         14           40           8       106    115        0   11 Rajkot           1             0           0           4      70        0   12 Sabarkantha         23           75           8       123  1800    511   13 Surat           7             4           2         11        0    155   14 Surendranagar           1             0           0           0      15      35   15 Vadodara         11             5           6         31    363    210 Total 700 LCP&LRP 16 Anand         10           15           6         54    139      17   17 Patan           3             2           4           8      30        0   18 Dahod         10           19          6         70        0        0   19 Narmada           1             0           2           2        0        0   (Po.Fir = Deaths in Police Firing; To. Dths = Total Deaths; Inj = Injured; LRP = Loss of Residential Property; LCP = Loss of Commercial Property) Collected by: Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, Administrator, IRCG – Cell for Legal Help and Guidance (B-4, Karishma Complex, Sarni Society, Juhapura, Ahmedabad-55.       List of Relief Camps and the number of inmates in Ahmedabad district (The district collector of Ahmedabad supplied this list)                         Sl.No. Name of the Camp Male (Major) Male (Minor) Male Total Female (Major) Female (Minor) Female Total Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Shah-E-Alam Roza 3008 2455 5463 2774 2300 5074 10,537 2 Dharia Khan Hummat Shahi Bagh. Muni School-1,2,5,8 1449 1003 2452 1372 994 2366 4818 3 Manogram Mill. Gomatipur. 321 355 676 336 291 627 1303 4 Sundaram Nagar, Bapu Nagar. 956 866 1822 889 708 1597 3419 5 Aman Chouk, Bapu Nagar. 2982 1890 4872 3290 2021 5311 10,183 6 Chartoda Kabristan,Saraspur 942 826 1768 907 381 1288 3056 7 Dudheshwer, Muni School 1-2 465 298 763 418 281 699 1462 8 Sanklit Nagar School, Juhapura 1412 1206 2618 1356 1142 2498 5116 9 Amin Masjid, Vatva 492 302 794 604 340 944 1738 10 Vatva Dargha 540 80 620 560 87 647 1267 11 Vatva Al-Kuba-Park 356 222 578 298 262 560 1138 12 Munda Darwaza Jamalpur school-3 822 463 1285 577 354 931 2216 13 Jamia Faiz –Al-Noor. J.M. Mill’s Compound, Saraspur. 328 197 525 254 164 418 943 14 Bhogila-Chawl Sarsapur,Muni-5-6 202 197 399 217 140 357 756 15 Dariyapur- Charwat 247 114 361 205 134 339 700 16 Prem-Darwaza, Saryu Das Mandir 160 92 252 144 80 224 476 17 Id-Gah 174 12 186 146 18 164 350 18 Anand Flats, Bapu Nagar 344 388 732 375 315 690 1422 19 Dani Limda, Mangalm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Dani Limda Kishan Nagar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0                               Sl.No. Name of the Camp Male (Major) Male (Minor) Male Total Female (Major) Female (Minor) Female Total Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   21 Shah-Mohmmad Roza, Sarspur 380 319 699 362 299 661 1360 22 Amraiwadi Shri Rama Seva Samithi 250 140 390 200 106 306 696 23 Jayrit Pole, Kalupur 25 29 54 27 21 48 102 24 Lati Bazar 95 36 131 74 47 121 252 25 Beharampur School – 5-6 481 719 1200 496 708 1204 2404 26 Shahpur School- 4 176 10 186 101 8 109 295 27 Zia – Masjid, Vatva 122 85 207 105 81 186 393 28 Muslim Teli Samaj, Ramlal-Chowl. 150 116 266 115 88 203 469 29 Karbala Msjid, Khanpur. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   30   Ghachi Samaj Khanpur.   169   32   201   154   33   187   388 31 Saraspur Roza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 Vatva Camp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 Kankaria –Maninagar school-7-8 208 99 307 193 60 253 560 34 Khavadi – Ramol 489 363 852 412 307 719 1571 35 Hamirkhan Chawl 194 137 331 188 172 360 691 36 Targulawar. Kalupur 249 147 396 216 111 327 723 37 Nutan Mills, Saraspur. 80 60 140 81 63 144 284 38 Shah Bawa Dargah,Gomitipur. 92 69 161 90 56 146 307                                                                           Sl.No. Name of the Camp Male (Major) Male (Minor) Male Total Female (Major) Female (Minor) Female Total Total       39 Rathod Park, Danilimda 65 105 170 143 125 268 438 40 Parikshitlal Nagar Behrampura 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 Mehdi Kuva. Dudheswer 162 56 218 97 51 148 366 42 Sarsapur School-2 222 95 317 184 83 267 584 43 Navi Mohlata, Kalupur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 Chunaravas- Gita Nagar,Vatva. 310 192 502 365 197 562 1064 45 Madhu Bhai Mills Compound 1339 534 1873 1469 532 2001 3874 46 Trikampur Ramol 66 109 175 60 77 137 312 47 Khodiarni Chowl, Juna Vadaj 479 339 818 377 249 626 1444 48 Mehasaniya Vaas Shahrur 186 75 261 186 58 244 505 49 Calico Quarters, Danilimda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 Sundar Chouk, Ghikanta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51 Prathmik Shala, Ramol. 505 128 633 434 79 513 1146 52 Gomtipur Camp, Opp:Rajpur P.O. 392 188 580 408 212 620 1200 53 Rajpur-Vamkarvas Gomtipur. 354 145 499 373 128 501 1000 54 Pada Pole, Kalupur. 132 42 174 143 58 201 375 55 Dhanasutar - Pole, Kalupur. 223 74 297 315 88 403 700 56 Bibi Masjid, Gomtipur. 376 199 575 412 213 625 1200 57 Mohanlal Chowl, Gomtipur. 202 72 274 288 88 376 650 58 Danilimda, 2nd Camp 98 22 120 108 22   130 250 Total   23,471 15,702 39,173 22,898 14,432 37,330 76,503                                     Information on Relief Camps in other Districts / Cities of Gujarat as on 13th April 2002   Sl.No. Taluka / City District Refugees 1 -- Panchamahal 7,350 2 Vadnagar,Kadi, Visnagar Mehsana 2,059 3 Himmatnagar, Modasa,Vadali, Idar, Meghraj. Sabarkantha 9,204 4 Vadodara Vadodara 3,500 5 Fatehpura Relief Camp-Dahod (Sanjeli, Fatehpura, Jhalod, Suksar) Dahod 1,500 6 Muslim Garasiya Welfare Trust - Relief Camp – Haji Colony – Napad. Anand 1,254 from 45 villages     Collected by: Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, Administrator IRCG – Cell for Legal Help and Guidance     The Team, 1)      Prof. K. R. Chowdhry, Professor (Retd.) in Agricultural Economics, NG Ranga Agri University, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). 2)      Harish Singh Taraq, President, AFDR, (Punjab). 3)      Dr.N.Bhattacharya, Reader, (Retd) Delhi University and Convener, Jan Hastakshep,    (Delhi). 4)      Dr. P. Varavara Rao, Revolutionary Writers’ Association, (Andhra Pradesh). 5)      A. Bhoomaiah, Convener, Telangana Jana Sabha, (Telangana). 6)      Dr. Rehana Sulthana, Moulana Abual Kalam University, (Andhra Pradesh). 7)      G.N. Saibaba, General Secretary, AIPRF, (Delhi). 8)      Latheef Mohammad Khan, Struggle Committee for Protection of Minorities’ Rights, (Telangana). 9)      Thomas Mathew, Samajik Nyaya Morcha, (Delhi) 10)   Balabeer Singh, President, AIPRF, (Punjab). 11)   Kumar Burudikatti, AIPRF, (Karnataka). 12)   Mohammad Asad, Struggle Committee for Protection of Minorities’ Rights   (Telangana). 13)   Nardev Singh, Secretary, Punjab Committee, AIPRF, (Punjab). 14)   Vijay Kumar Patil, Staff Correspondent, The Hindu, Belgum, (Karnataka). 15)   Asitosh Jha, Reporter, Deshabandhu, Hindi Daily, (Delhi.)     Contact: G N Saibaba, General Secretary, All India People’s Resistance Forum (AIPRF),PD-50 A, Visakha Enclave, Pitampura, Delhi-110088, Phone- 011-7311155, Email:aiprf@hotmail.com, aiprfdehli@vsnl.net