Around 200 activists, academics and “concerned citizens” have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief ministers of all the states, urging them to take steps to prevent “police harassment” taking place during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The letter has been signed by individuals like CPI-ML Politburo Member Kavita Krishnan, former Panjab University Students Union president Kanupriya, Meera Sanghamitra of National Alliance of People’s Movements.
The letter begins by expressing gratitude to law enforcement agencies, especially the police, for implementing social distancing and facilitating the supply of essential goods and service during the lockdown.
However, the activists allege that many violations have also taken place.
“Across many states, police have beaten, threatened, filed FIRs or imprisoned people seen in public,” the letter says.
Some of the cases they have highlighted include:
“The incidents of such high-handedness and brazen action are not stray, they have emerged from all parts of the country -- pointing to the gross dereliction of duty on the part of the administration,” the letter alleges.
The signatories also point out that the targetting of Muslims has also increased especially after the COVID-19 spread that took place due to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin in the second week of March.
“In addition, now, the members of the Tablighi Jamaat who participated in the congregation at Nizamuddin are also being hounded and criminalised by the state, police and media,” they allege.
The letter also points that religious gatherings have taken place in other communities as well, some even after the gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin
“This targeting of Muslims has worked to divert public attention away from the safety precautions that need to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Rather than focusing on safety measures, the public is now busy in blaming the Muslim community,” they claim.
The letter puts forward three main demands from the government:
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)