Ahmedabad most communal city; hatred against Muslims brewing since 2002, says former DGP

The recent revelations about the possibility of Hindu extremist organisations behind the Malegaon and Modasa blasts is ‘not surprising’, feels R B Sreekumar, former Director General of Police (DGP), Gujarat. He said this is the result of their concerted plan of mass action against Muslims.

Sreekumar said: “The situation has been ripe since the 2002 riots. Even then Hindu radical outfits like the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad were involved in large scale rioting and violence. A lot of hate literature was being distributed and there is every possibility of more militant elements being born out of all this.”

Sreekumar, who was the ADGP (Intelligence) during and after the riots, has in his various confidential reports flagged down the possibility of more targeted violence in the future. All the confidential reports prepared by him during that period are a part of the affidavits he submitted before the Justice Nanavati-headed riot inquiry commission.

In a confidential note titled ‘Current Communal Scenario in Ahmedabad City’ sent on April 24, 2002 to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Sreekumar had profiled the city in the aftermath of the riots.

‘Discovery of terror elements in Hindu outfits not surprising’ At one place the report says: “Reports indicate that extremist sections of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal are planning mass actions against Muslims in certain strongholds of the minorities…clashes between Hindu and Muslim ghettos by using sophisticated weapons may become a routine affair.”

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