New Delhi: "Police excesses" have occurred in
Bharatpur communal riots in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, a fact
finding team of the party has said in a report submitted to
Sonia Gandhi, sources said.
The team, which conducted a survey of riot-affected
area, also examined the "firing in the mosque" during the
riots between Meo Muslims and Gujjars there. All the eight
persons killed belonged to the minority community.
"There have been police excesses," a Congress leader, who
declined to be identified, said.
The Congress delegation, which visited Bharatpur on
Monday and submitted its report yesterday, included Vijay
Bahuguna, Rashid Alvi, Viplov Thakur and Deepender Hooda. The
violence had broken out over a land dispute.
The team met members of both communities and district
officials during which the locals are learnt to have told them
that the government did not take pre-emtive steps and the
situation would not have flared up had such measures been
taken.
Rajasthan PCC chief Chandrabhan yesterday told PTI in
Jaipur that "administrative lapse" was responsible for the
violent clash in Bharatpur.
He also said that the unfortunate incident could have
been averted if the district administration officials had
taken timely action.
Alvi, however, steered clear of such questions saying, "It
will not be proper to point out when a judicial inquiry as
also a CBI inquiry has been ordered.
"We are satisfied that the government has announced a CBI
as also a judicial inquiry."
He also said that the state government had immediately
transferred the DM, SP and Additional SP of Bharatpur after
the incident and paid compensations of Rs five lakh to the
family members of each of the victims.
PTI
