Delhi Police wants to know your religion

Delhi Police wants to know your religion
SUNETRA CHOUDHURY

NEW DELHI, JAN 14: Why does Delhi Police want to know about your religion? Since the attack on Red Fort, a survey has been on in some areas -- confirmed by police stations and residents -- but senior officials say no one is being asked about his or her faith. Junior officials, however, confirmed they had been instructed to investigate the antecedents of Muslims as they were ``most likely to harbour militants''.

In the area under South District's Chittaranjan Park police station, the beat constables have been going from door to door since they received the Commissioner of Police's order on December 22. However, since the constables themselves fill up the forms, the residents do not get to see the column for religion.

The Indian Express came across two kinds of forms -- one a general form which lists details of family, guests, tenants, property dealers etc. and another quite exhaustive. This covers everything -- from religion, vehicle details and arms owned to even your cable operator, electrician, plumber and gas agency.

According to SHO Harcharan Singh Varma, this is being done all across the city after the Red Fort incident. But why is religion important? ``It is for our record.'' He said people were letting out their premises on high rents. ``This will ensure that they are careful about who they keep as tenants.''

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) P Kamraj said he was unaware of any such form. When he was told the information had come from his police station, he expressed surprise. ``Delhi Police is not interested in the religion of the tenant or owner,'' he said. ``That (religion column) could have crept in but it should not be there.''

According to advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is fighting a public interest litigation in Delhi High Court on Bengali Muslims in the city, said said the police were doing something beyond their job. ``They are not empowered to randomly ask about religion,'' he said, adding,``It is valid only when it is related to some investigation.'' He said this could be a way of harassing the minorities.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, of course, supports the move. It, in fact, complained that despite the police compiling details in 68 out of 123 police station areas, nothing was being done against the Bangladeshi Muslims. ``It is in the tense areas where Muslims or criminals live that they have got figures,'' explained VHP member Rajendra Yadav.

The residents of the south Delhi area are quite worried over the drive. According to the East Pakistan Displaced Persons Association member Jyotirindra Chakraborty: ``There are not many Muslims in this area. This kind of an exercise is justified only in places where there is a large concentration of Muslims.''

The Verghese family living in the area have been subjected to this before. ``When Graham Staines was killed, they came to our house and asked us if we were Christians. I raised my eyebrows,'' she said. They were then living in Paharganj. However, this time the policemen have been more discreet and not asked them about their religion. The Khans living next door haven't been asked either. The forms were nevertheless filled and the religion was anyway evident.