From: bond@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Girish)
Subject: Mumbai Riots
Organization: University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 14:37:25 GMT


Recent News on Riots (From UPI):

    NEW DELHI, January 27 -- Fresh outbreaks of sectarian violence
erupted in the Indian capital and Bombay, leaving three people dead and
nine others wounded, authorities reported Wednesday.

    Two people were killed and seven others wounded after the police
opened fire to disperse a mob in riot-ravaged Bombay, capital of western
Maharashtra state, authorities said.

    According to authorities, violence erupted when a mob attacked a
group of Hindus returning from a religious ceremony in north Bombay. The
mob also set fire to a slum.

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Following is the mail I received from one of my friends about Mumbai riots:

I was in Bombay from the 18th of Dec to the 16th of Jan.  From what I saw
and heard Shiv Sena saved Bombay.  You ask anybody and they would say the
same.  The Muslims had planned to burn down Mazgaon dock (property and 
people)  They were armed with AK47s.  Most hindu areas were armed with
petrol bombs to protect themselves if these Muslim fanatics came by.
In Tardeo Muslim fanatics dressed in police uniforms shot a couple of 
people in the night.  It was a drive by shooting.  Belive me a lot
of shit happened.  On the 9th of Jan I saw parts of Bombay burning from
Malabar Hill.  I live there.  A couple of cars were burned outside the
governers bungalow.   A lot of politics was involved...

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After reading the UPI/AP news reports only, I found it hard to believe
in above mail. But yesterday, my friend came from Mumbai and what he is
saying is pretty same. He lives in Jogeshwari. He says: we would have
witnessed many more deaths (Hindus, according to him) had Shivsena
not retaliated.

I also got a chance to read almost all Marathi newspapers from Mumbai
during the week of riots [Maharashtra Times, Loksatta, Nav Shakti,
Nava-Kal, Samana (Shiv Sena daily)]. The newsreports in these newspapers
and the reports from UPI/APnews are totally different. Needless to say,
I tend to believe in local newspaper reports.

These newspapers contain many photos of burnt temples, people firing
from the mosque, crowds on VT station going out of Mumbai etc.

The daily "Loksatta" in one of the editorials, have severly criticised
Jafar Sherif, a Union Cabinet Minister for holding a secret meeting
with Javed Khan, State Minister and many local Muslim leaders/mullahs
during the days of riots. It has also criticised Jafar Sherif for
his controversial comments about Sharia (he said something like Sharia
is more important for him than the law. If anybody knows about this,
please confirm). The state minister, Javed Khan is  MLA from Deonar
where many temples were burnt during these riots.

From these newsreports, it clearly looks like Shivsena was nowhere
during first two days of rioting. People were being burnt alive and
killed but police refused to fire because of the criticism on their
actions in earlier riots. Perhaps, that is why Shivsena retaliated
(Shivsena believes in "Offense is the best way of defense" principle!).

The APnews/UPI newsreport that provocative statements by Bal Thakare
worsened the situation is outright false. All editorials/his statements
in "Samana" (Shiv Sena daily) are not any different than what they
have been writing for years. Actually, he repeatedly requested people
to end rioting and establish peace.

Many newspapers have also accused the landlords in Dharavi area (many of
whom are notorious smugglers) of violence.

After reading these local newpapers, I know why the Central Govt. is
hesitating to take any action against Shiv Sena.

-- Girish.


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