A communal riot broke out at Hansot lying between Vadodara and Surat on Jan. 14, 2015. The intensity of the riots in an area that had been in communal peace, even during the 2002 tragedy, was a cause of serious concern.  More troubling is the fact that it pitted tribals and Koli Patels against Muslims.

A delegation consisting of JUH Gujarat President Maulana Rafiq Badodvi, AIMMM Gujarat President Maulana Habibur Rehman Matadar,  Maulana Salman,  Zidni Ilma President J.S.Bandukwala, and All India Majlis Tameer e Millat, Gujarat  organiser Munir Kheruwala visited Hansot on a fact-finding mission.

Hansot has a Muslim population of about 5000, out of a total of 11000. The town was on edge due to  one Sunil Patel who  had posted in late December an insulting image of the Holy Prophet on the social media. This had led to tension. Muslims had organized a protest rally. Hindus arranged a counter Dharma Parishad, led by Vithal Patel. The trigger was a minor kite incident on Jan. 14.

Firm Police action could have saved Hansot. Sadly the Police Superintendent  Bipin Ahire, actually directed attacks on Muslims.

Any man with a beard and topi was roughed up, with police a silent spectator. Over 200 bighas of standing sugar cane crop was burnt, in such a way that the touching Hindu plot was not affected at all. Muslim businesses were looted and many
burnt. Within a few hours, the loss was about 4 crores.   Two people died of stabbings and a 33 year old tempo driver was killed.

The violence spread so fast, that it appears meticulously planned. The presence of a Union Minister, Mansukh Vasawa, two days prior to the riot appears suspicious.

About 25 Muslims have been arrested. But the police is most reluctant to arrest Hindus. The principal culprit Vallabh Patel, brother of a local MLA,  moves about town freely. About 200 BJP members have resigned from the party, protesting that the name of the brother of the MLA is not yet removed from the FIR. The other demand is that Muslims must not receive any compensation for the loss suffered.

We protest the manner in which the Gujarat administration is handling this sensitive case. Muslims have almost no voice in this government.

In the interest of justice and to prevent a recurrence of such bloody riots, we suggest :

1) The Government machinery must be neutral and fair. The culprits
must be arrested and the law must take its course

2) Two mosques and one madrassa were vandalized. The Government must
compensate for the same

3) The property and business loss has been huge. They must get
full compensation

4) The burning down of  standing sugar cane crop, must also be compensated

5) Disciplinary action must be taken against the Police Superintendent
Bipin Ahire

On behalf of the delegation, 

J.S.Bandukwala, Vadodara, Gujarat