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STORY BEHIND SHARANPUR RIOTS

The 2014 Saharanpur Riots occurred on 25 July of that year in the city of Saharanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The riots occurred between Muslims, incited by Muharram Ali Pappu, and Sikhs led by Shri Guru Singh Sabha, over a piece of land.

Three people were killed and several were injured. The ruling Samajwadi Party calls it an act of RSS, whereas BJP blames ISI though UP police say that the riot was well planned to divide members of the two minority communities.

Violent clashes broke out in Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh over a land dispute as groups of Muslims and Sikhs clashed on the streets in broad daylight. Authorities imposed curfew in the region to bring the situation under control after two persons were killed and at least 12 others injured in the clashes between the two communities over a land dispute. The early morning violent clashes broke out around 5 a.m. Five policemen were reportedly injured as the two sides indulged in brick batting and arson.

The mob also burnt shops and vehicles. People with swords ran after Sikh community while the Sikh groups indulged in stone pelting in protest as the city witnessed violence, a day after the last Friday of holy month of Ramadan.

The land is adjacent to the Gurudwara near the railway station, of which both groups claims ownership. On 25 July, members of the Gurudwaraflagged off the construction to expand Gurudwara premises and clashes broke out the next day.

The Gurudwara management had purchased land 15 years ago, but Pappuclaims that the land belongs to the Mosque and Wakf Board and there cannot be construction without their permission. A petition was filed in the civil court 10 years previously by Moharram Ali Pappu in the civil court, stating that the land belonged to the Mosque.

On 26 July, Muslims supporting Pappu came together from Saharanpur, Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar, and attacked members of Gurudwara Singh Sabha using guns and swords. Members responded to them by pelting with stones. The fighting led to the death of 3 people and

left 33 injured.

Stone-pelters in action during violent clashes between two communities over a land dispute in Saharanpur

The land dispute over a Gurudwara land in Saharanpur near railway station sparked off the violence. The Gurudwara is adjacent to a huge piece of land which the Sikh community has been taking care of for past so many years. The land has been under dispute has been in controversy for some time already.

The land was to witness the ‘lintel’ being dropped today in order to pursue some construction work. The Muslim community alleged that the land belongs to them and there cannot be any construction. The Sikhs defended that the land is adjacent to their Gurudwara and is rightfully theirs since many years.

The talks between the two sides failed to reach any conclusion and violence broke out. Sikhs alleged that the violence seemed pre-planned as Muslims from Moradabad and Muzzafarpur were also called in numbers.

Gun shots were fired on the Sikhs and people with swords ran after the Sikh community in the region. Shops belonging to Sikh community in Nehru Market were set on fire by the angry mob.

A witness in Saharanpur said that angry mob targetted shops owned by Sikh community. Traffic on the national highway connecting Ambala was thrown out of gear as protestors went on the rampage. District officials said curfew has been clamped in Saharanpur city.

Over two dozen shops and vehicles were gutted.A dozen people have been arrested for inciting violence over the land dispute. Police have arrested more than 60 people. The state transport cancelled all 569 buses which pass or terminate at Saharanpur. Forces including PAC, CRPF, RAF and ITBP are deployed in the troubled areas.

The main accused, Muharram Ali Pappu, was arrested on 30 July 2014 and booked under the National Security Act. Pappu is a former councillor of Saharanpur Municipal Corporation and has a criminal record. The police have registered a case against him and 66 others and charged 75 cases against them.

Moharram Ali Pappu had filed a petition in the court against the construction. Prabhjit Singh, a member of Shri Guru Singh Sabha, said that Pappu demanded 25 Lakh for an out-of-court settlement, to which they did not agree, other members which supported him were only intrested in robbing the shops and setting sikh property on fire it seems that they had planned in advance because the fired almost 100 rounds in very less time and policemen stood like audience 7 policemen which arived first on the spot returned after sub inspector got some instructions from seniors.