THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, July 7: Pahley Kalan village in Palamu district is under a prohibitory order for 48 hours. The village is getting back to normalcy. It witnessed a sharp communal convulsion on Sunday evening.
In fact, the seeds of communal discontent were ‘sown’ in the July 3 Central Peace Committee (CPC) meeting chaired jointly by the DC Sameera S and SP Reeshma Ramesan, where one each member of the majority and minority communities had raised voices of mutual distrust and discontent quite loudly. On July 6, there took place communal disharmony.
The communal frenzy was tackled with neutrality, as no two communities have alleged any tilt of the police towards any of the two sides.
Sources said everything was going smoothly till late Sunday afternoon when quite abruptly, communal commotion set in.
There are conflicting versions in regard to the tackling of the situation. One version is police were ill-prepared. The other version is police saved the situation from going far more worse.
Such was the gravity of the situation that DC Sameera S had to rush to Paton at night, overseeing things there for peace to be given a big hand by both the communities.
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The Jharkhand Story correspondent on Monday spoke with the SP Reeshma Ramesan. Here are the excerpts of the telephonic interview.
Q: Was the Sunday communal fracas at Pahley Kalan village not avoidable when, on July 3, ominous signs had developed in the Central Peace Committee meeting?
SP: Police were quite vigilant and alert. It had its eyes on it. A road dispute was presented first. But this fracas occurred away from the disputed road. It was sudden.
Q: The police were there, true, but not in such a number that is required for tackling such a communal discontent. Why?
SP: There were adequate police men. More than the strength as given in the joint order of such a festival.
Q: When the fracas broke out, everyone looked for more and more police to be around, which was wanting. The Paton CO had sent a letter seeking more police men. Was CO’s letter overlooked?
SP: Our response was fast and prompt. The CO did ask for it. We took note of that. There were cops and officials too.
Q: Were the police caught off guard?
SP: No. Police were very much in command of containing and controlling the situation.
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Q: Rumours flew thick and high?
SP: Absolutely correct. There were rumour mongers doing extra time. Now they will repent for what they did. Police are identifying such elements. No rumour mongers can get away. They will face the music.
Q: What was a tractor doing in the Muharram procession? Was it to fragment the procession?
SP: We are looking into it. The driver of the tractor has injuries.
Q: Was the Muharram procession booed, jeered or mocked at by the other community?
SP: This allegation is there. We have drone views. We have video recording. We will definitely find it out. No one can escape.
Q: Did the then police had PAS (Public Address System) with it?
SP: I tell you there were left some Muharram processionists who got late in completing their rituals. As it was night and rainy time our cops reached helped them get home in police vehicle. We then had our PAS.
