PVCHR has immediately intervened in the Bazardiha police firing case happened on 11th March, 09 i.e. on the day of Hindu festival Holi and filed petition to appropriate authorities such as State Government, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) & Election Commissioner of India with genuine demands to lodge FIR, medical treatment to the injured, security and compensation. Due to PVCHR intervention after few hours of intervention India Today, a leading magazine published “1 killed in Holi violence in UP”* on its online edition. Times of India, Varanasi edition highlighted “what is bigger tragedy: Cash or Penury”. ** After three days of incidence on 13th March, 09 FIR lodge against involved police official and people under crime no. 122A/09 in Bhelupur police station.
The further consequence started after visit of three participants on the second day of Capacity Building on Writing Skill Workshop to Bazardiha and interview with survivors and discuss with the community leader and gather information for the wall news paper “Awaz –E – Bazardiha” (voice of Bazardiha). ***
After interviewing Abdul Rahman, a survivor of Bazardiha police firing than group moved to Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad house, whose 22 year old son Mohd. Moin died due to the police firing. After taking quick testimony of Mukhtar Ahmad, they saw his daughter Naziya Tabbasum was busy in stitching small clothes. Interviewer asked her, are you stitching cloths for your doll? She says, “no but for the practical assignment, I am studying in class VII in Jai Narayen Inter college”.
*http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/32039/LATEST%20NEWS/1+killed+in+Holi+violence+in+UP.html
**http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Varanasi/What-is-bigger-tragedy-Clash-or-penury/articleshow/4264429.cms
***http://www.mynews.in/News/Police_savagery_on_Muslim_weavers_continues_in_Varanasi__N29517.html
****http://www.mynews.in/Tool_for_communication_to_amplify_the_voice_of_the_excluded_community_N29003.html
Mukhtar Ahmad proudly added, “I will teach my daughter up to my strength.” Hearing the energetic statement of Mr. Mukhtar Interviewer slowly tried to pause and tried to know his view of about educating his son. He simply answered they are getting education in Bal Shramik School, a non-formal school for child labour nearby to his house. After the contribution of entire family Mukhtar he hardly save 40 Rupees in a month to pay his daughter tution fees. Mukhtar is living in a rented house and took 55,000 (Fifty thousand) Rupees debt for the legal proceeding of his son case.
Soon after the completion of workshop Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad* and Mr. Salim** were given psychological support through testimonial therapy. Their testimonies were uploaded on youtube for the advocacy and it was viewed by hundred of peoples’. As the next step of the intensive work PVCHR appoints a consultant for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of condition of Muslim minority in general and implementation of Prime Minister 15 Points for Welfare of Minorities in Bazardiha. The finding of the M&E shared at “Peoples’ Tribunal on situation of Muslim minority” organized by PVCHR on 18th November, 09 at Paradkar Smriti Bhawan, Varanasi.
Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member of Planning Commission, Government of India chaired the tribunal and other jury members were Muniza Rafiq Khan, Registrar, Gandhi Vidya Sansthan, Dr. Mohan Lal Panda, Mr. Kamlesh Chandra, Education Resource Centre (ERS) and Mr. R.B Pal, General Secretary, Voice of People (VOP).
Once the testimony read the sign of grief was noticed on the face of the people present in the hall. When Dr. Syeda Hameed honored Mr. Salim hold tears in his eyes and Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad was feeling proud from inside. Eight other injured survivors of police firing as well as other secondary survivors were also present in the hall. We observed and witness the collective healing process at high profile honor ceremony in the form of Peoples’ tribunal. Even the honor ceremony report “Varanasi police firing victim family honored at people’s tribunal” published in USA based portal TwoCircles.net (TCN) ***
*Mr. Mukhtar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDkoZA63K5E
**Mr. Salim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0pcrw0rxM
***http://twocircles.net/2009nov21/varanasi_police_firing_victim_family_honored_people_s_tribunal.html (TCN is based in Cambridge USA and cover news from marginalized sections of India. Its main focus is on Indian Muslims but also covering and reporting whole range of issues affecting Indians, Muslims and International issues.)
As a next step, Mr. Dilshad Ahmad, Mr. Badru Hasan, Mr. Kausar Ali, Mr. Shamsher Ali, Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad and Ms. Hasibun Nisha of Bazardeeha were awarded with “Jan Mitra” (Peoples’ Friendly) Award for educating their children in the nastiest economic condition without any implementation of any Government Scheme and facing such as police firing and organized violence through communal fascism of Hindu fascist forces. It is innovative way for boosting the moral through honor of a community facing organized violence.*
The Survivors also actively participated in the follow up visit of Dr. Syeda Hameed to Bazardeeha on 19 November, 09, which shows the community healing process and empowerment of participatory and inclusive democracy at grass root level. Instantly PVCHR released statement “the Mockery of State Government of Uttar Pradesh in the case of police firing on Muslims. **
*http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/12/jan-mitra-award-to-muslim-weavers-of.html
*http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4811290-jan-mitra-award-to-the-muslim-weavers-of-bazardiha
**http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/11/mockery-of-state-government-of-uttar.html
PVCHR advocate for the implementation of section D of Prime Minister’s New 15 Points program for Welfare of Minorities” and wrote letter to appropriate authority such as the Prime Minister of India, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, Rahul Gandhi, M.P & Secretary, Congress I, Mohamed Shafi Qureshi, Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities, Mr. Salman Khursid Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Minority Affairs and Ms. Mayawati, Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh*. The section D consists of three parts:-
(i) Prevention of communal incidents,
(ii) Prosecution for communal offences and
(iii) Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots
Again petition was sent to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the disbursement of compensation to the survivor of Bazardiha police firing. District Magistrate benefited only one deceased family with the compensation of 25,000 Rupees. Right to Information, Act (RTI) used to know the status of disbursement of compensation to another deceased family. Legal support is given for the further proceeding of case in District Court.
When on 21st December, 09 PVCHR staff with other trained therapist of the pilot project went to Bazardiha to provide psychological support of other two survivors Abdul Rahman and Mr. Vasim Akram. Mr. Salim briefs them about the benefit of the testimonial therapy.
While taking the testimony therapists noticed survivors were bread earner and unable to continue their medical treatment due to worst economic condition. On the recommendation of the therapists these two survivors were medically supported and were diagnosed in Al –Noor Trauma Clinic by Dr. Shakil Ahmad. Who referred Abdul Rahman to Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University for further treatment.** PVCHR also initiate for the economic stability of the survivors and release appeal to purchase the handloom clothes for the support.*** Even daily Hindi newspaper published still the injury of Bazardiha incidence are unfilled (based on the testimonies).
On 18th December, 09 Mr. Ali Anwar Ansari, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Chief Whip of Janta Dal (U) political party raised question in the zero hours about issue the Bazardiha police firing alleging both State and Central Government and demand for the compensation to the deceased family. Intiative for rule of law and democracy at grass root level continues..........................
*http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/11/regarding-implementation-of-section-d_23.html
**http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2010/01/unfilled-injury-of-bazardiha-police.html
***http://varanasi-weaver.blogspot.com/2010/01/these-pictures-were-sent-with-picasa.html
