Ahmedabad: The Gujarat chapter of Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has called for a judicial investigation into the recent communal clashes that occurred in Surat’s Variali Bazar, Syedopura, and Katargam areas. The violence erupted after allegations of stone-pelting by some Muslims at a Ganesh Chaturthi pandal.
In its fact-finding report, led by APCR Gujarat President Shamshad Pathan, General Secretary Ikram Mirza, and activist Hozefa Ujjaini, along with Sugeet Pathak from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, the organization emphasized the need for immediate action against those responsible for inciting the riots. The report also urged that political leaders and legal professionals working towards peace should not be falsely implicated in the unrest.
APCR called for stringent investigations into extremist organizations that spread hate through social media, demanding that such groups be banned. To prevent future communal clashes, the organization recommended enacting specific laws and establishing fast-track courts for timely justice.
The group also urged the government to provide compensation to those injured and those whose properties were damaged, following Supreme Court guidelines and the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme. Additionally, APCR highlighted the need for an inquiry into alleged police excesses during the riots, calling for legal and departmental actions against officers involved in misconduct. They also demanded accountability for biased media coverage that violates Press Council of India norms.
In addressing gang violence, APCR referred to the Supreme Court’s directives in Writ Petition No. 754/2016 and the Gujarat High Court’s recent ruling, emphasizing the need for adherence to legal procedures. The organization urged the state government to form Ekta committees at various levels to promote peace and unity.
