Ballabhgarh clash: Protest in Delhi seeking arrest of culprits

NEW DELHI: Members of civil society and some minority and human rights organisations today staged a protest demanding "immediate" arrest of those behind the Ballabhgarh clash of May 25, in which five persons were injured and 20 houses burnt after a fight erupted between two communities over construction of a religious structure.

The protesters, along with around 30 victims of the incident, staged the demonstration outside Haryana Bhawan here, demanding adequate compensations for the affected and setting up of relief camps with provision of food, drinking water and health facilities to tackle the ongoing heat wave.

The protesters shouted slogans against the Haryana and central governments, alleging they failed to take swift action in the matter.

More than 100 members of a community have taken shelter at Ballabgarh police station after the clash in Atali village in Haryana's Faridabad district.

"The first demand is those who attacked people, set afire homes, FIR be lodged against them immediately and they be arrested as there has been no arrest in the matter yet. Second demand is that those who suffered losses be compensated immediately. Twenty homes have been completely gutted.

"Third is until the villagers don't return to their homes, (the government) should arrange for their relief camps, where all the facilities are provided including food, health facilities," Shabnam Hashmi, founder of Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), said.

Hashmi, who paid a visit to the site where violence took place, expressed concern over inadequate facilities provided to the victims, especially women, at the make-shift camp at the police station.

"Women and children are left fear-stricken.. trauma counselling is required for them. The official who removed police force from the village just before the attack took place, he be suspended and enquired," Hashmi said.

Claiming that assessment of damage to property carried out by the state government was "improper", the activist said another round of proper survey is required to provide just compensation to the victims.