Indian American Group strongly condemns Bihar government’s stand on Forbesganj firing, reiterates demand for justice for victims
Wednesday April 4, 2012
Indian American Muslim Council (http://www.iamc.com) an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos today condemned Bihar government’s characterization of Forbesganj police firings as a “minor incident” that did not merit CBI inquiry. The Bihar Government made this deeply insensitive assertion in its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in response to the notice seeking the state’s response for a CBI inquiry into the last year’s Forbesganj police firing incident.
On June 3rd, 2011, four civilians including a pregnant lady and 10-month old child were killed, and nine more were seriously injured when police opened fire on unarmed and peaceful demonstrators at Forbesganj. The demonstrators were protesting against the acquisition of village land by a factory owned by local BJP politician. “Despite clear evidence of police atrocities, the Bihar government has failed to prosecute the guilty police officers and ignored calls for justice and compensation to the victims,” noted Mr. Ahsan Khan, Vice President of IAMC. “By terming the Forbesganj firing as a minor incident, the Bihar government has brazenly marginalized the murder of its citizens,” Mr. Khan added.
Eye-witness accounts and videos taken at the firing site revealed gruesome police atrocities including a police constable repeatedly stomping on an injured protestor hit by a police bullet, and police chasing protestors into their homes before opening fire on them. The incident occurred in the presence of senior police and administrative officers, including the Superintendent of Police who gave the firing orders. No action has been taken to date against the offending police and administrative officers present at the incident.
IAMC calls upon the Bihar Government to immediately accept the demands for a CBI inquiry into the Forbesganj firings, and to take all necessary steps to provide just compensation to the victims.
Indian American Muslim Council is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation.
For more information please visit our new website at www.iamc.com.
RELATED LINKS:
Forbesganj killings minor incident: Bihar Govt. tells Supreme Court
http://twocircles.net/2012apr02/forbesganj_killings_%E2%80%98minor_incident%E2%80%99_bihar_govt_tells_supreme_court.html
Forbesganj firing Supreme Court issues notice to Bihar Govt
http://twocircles.net/2011oct10/forbesganj_firing_supreme_court_issues_notice_bihar_govt.html
ANHAD Report on the police firing in Forbesganj
http://twocircles.net/2011jun11/anhad_report_police_firing_forbesganj.html
Forbesganj firing: Bihar rejects NCM suggestions
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/forbesganj-firing-bihar-rejects-ncm-suggestions/896320/0
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