Sambhaji Nagar tense as political parties gear up for a showdown

Sambhaji Nagar: With the police intensifying the investigation into Wednesday night’s communal flare-up in Sambhaji Nagar and initiating action against the accused, life in the city is slowly limping back to normal. However, citizens are still uneasy, as the political parties’ act of gearing up for a showdown could make the situation take a turn for the worse.

The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance will both hold rallies on Sunday while MP Imtiaz Jaleel of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) announced that his party would organise a rally of party chief Asaduddin Owaisi soon. The politicking that began with the renaming of Aurangabad could worsen in the coming days which, in turn, could have a direct effect on the situation in this communally volatile city, fear citizens.

Meanwhile, the special investigation team (SIT) formed by Sambhaji Nagar police commissioner Nikhil Gupta arrested four more accused in the rioting case—Imran Khan Bismillah Khan, Syed Kalim Syed Salim, Karim Salim Shaikh and Anwar Khan Kadar Khan—and presented them before the court, which remanded them to police custody till April 3. The total number of arrests in the case has reached 12.

The accused were arrested in connection with incidents of arson following communal tension in Kiradpura. The strife reportedly began when a group of youths came out of a Ram temple shouting slogans and had an altercation with locals. Later, a mob went berserk torching public and private vehicles. While an additional police force has been deployed in the troubled area as well as in the city, the SIT has begun its investigation in the case.

While the city remained calm on Saturday, the political atmosphere is expected to heat up. The MVA coalition has planned rallies across the state, and the first will be held at Sambhaji Nagar on Sunday. It is expected to be addressed by top MVA leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP leader Ajit Pawar and state Congress chief Nana Patole. The ruling alliance, which has been protesting against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on freedom fighter V D Savarkar, will hold the first rally of the Savarkar Gaurav Yatra. Both the sides are likely to ensure a high turnout.

Sambhaji Nagar MP Imtiaz Jaleel, reacting to the ruling party and opposition rallies, said he had no problem with them. “But the AIMIM has not held a rally in a long time and so we are going to organise one of our leader Asaduddin Owaisi soon,” he declared. “When asked about the possibility of communal polarisation in the city, Jaleel said that his party was not holding the rally immediately, and it had nothing to do with polarisation.

For the people of Sambhaji Nagar, which is returning to normalcy, the political rallies are a cause for worry. “Such a tense situation and riots affect the daily business of thousands of traders irrespective of whether they are Hindu or Muslim,” said Jagannath Kale, who runs a seeds and fertiliser business. “The way things are in politics, there is always a fear of violence.”

Bhalchandra Kango, member of the Communist Party of India’s national secretariat, said that political parties in Sambhaji Nagar were engaged in polarisation. “Though there is peace now, it is possible that such violent incidents will be made to recur for political gain, as elections are going to be held in the next one year,” he said. Kango added that over the years the police had failed to take strict action against rioters and their masterminds, and so there was no fear of the law.

Jaleel criticised the police for appointing an SIT under the senior police inspector in a riots case. “For a proper investigation, the government should order an inquiry by a retired high court judge,” he said. “I am going to write a letter to the chief minister and home minister about this. An SIT under a senior police inspector is not acceptable.” He added that he had come to know how the riot took place and would share all the details with the investigation team.

With two political rallies coming up on Sunday, the police are focusing on maintaining law and order in the city. “We have planned a bandobast,” police commissioner Nikhil Gupta told HT. “Senior officers and men are being deployed. Vehicular movement and parking has been planned, and instructions have been given to the organisers (to avoid causing untoward incidents).”