Crime And Management

Following this meeting, the team toured the Shah Alam refugee camp, housing close to 9,000 Muslim families. The blood-curdling tales continued. The NHRC team listened to shocking accounts of young children doused with kerosene, rape, murder and relentless pillage. To its dismay, the Commission found that not a single senior officer, except for the collector, was present. No minister or senior government official had visited the camp. The NHRC concluded: "Sanitation was poor, space inadequate and there is every possibility of gastroenteritis breaking out if precautions are not taken."

The refugee camp at Kankaria, comprising a sparse population of displaced Hindu families, however, revealed a disturbing contrast. Information gathered by the NHRC team showed that those staying in the camp had no complaints and were being looked after well. Realising that all was fine, the team did not stay there for long. As it was leaving, the team faced a "hostile local press" which wanted to know why the NHRC chose to spend more time in Shah Alam camp than in Kankaria.

During informal conversations with senior bureaucrats in Gujarat, the Commission learnt that the state administration had been given "clear instructions" to leave the rioters alone. In fact, the Commission has taken note of the telling slogans that were raised by the rioters: "Andar ki baat hai, police hamare saath hai (It's all between us, the police is with us)."

The unmistakable pattern, of mobs methodically damaging Muslim-owned restaurants with Hindu names, especially in Ahmedabad, was another finding of the NHRC team. "Besides ethnic cleansing, there was clear evidence of economic cleansing," pointed out a team member. While interacting with riot victims, the team found that mobs didn't damage property owned by Hindus or injure them in localities with mixed populations. Proof of the hate campaign was seen in leaflets distributed widely, urging "true Hindus" not to frequent hotels and garages belonging to Muslims. This inflammatory leaflet is with the NHRC.

It was while examining this selective targeting that the team chanced upon a Sikh businessman who was threatened by VHP activists. He was warned that his garage would be destroyed since he employed many Muslims. He told the Commission that he had little option but to assure the VHP that the 'ethnic' balance would be rectified. His garage was spared.

Highly-placed sources in Ahmedabad told Outlook that Nampoothiri's initial report placed before Verma was in itself shocking. Here are some of his findings:

• Mobs which indulged in looting were drawn from distant localities so that identification of individuals became difficult.
  
  
• Small shops and commercial establishments were isolated for attack.
  
  
• The size of rampaging mobs was unprecedented, comprising anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000 people.
  
  
• Gas cylinders were used to blow up establishments and mechanical devices used for cutting electrical connections.

Murali Krishnan and Ajith Pillai