Police Summons Kargil Politician Over Tweet on Tripura Violence

Prove veracity of violence, officials tell Sajad Kargili

Srinagar- The Ladakh police has summoned prominent Muslim political activist Sajjad Kargili over his tweets on the violence against Muslims in Tripura.

Kargili was summoned to the Baroo Police Station over a tweet highlighting the violence in the north eastern state.

Kargili told Kashmir Observer that he has been booked under sections 107: to commit a breach of the peace or disturb, and 151: disturbance of the public peace, of the Indian Penal Code and was produced before the Tehsildar Kargil on October 31.

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“The Tehsildar asked to respond to the notice on 2nd November,” he said.

The show cause notice by the Kargil Police on October 29, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer, reads that Kargili “has tweeted a post wherein you have written that in Tripura since last week Muslims are being targeted by Hindutva mob their houses, Mosques are being vandalized and burnt etc with two photographs depicting fire incidents.”

The notice further says his tweet on Tripura has a tendency to create an impression among the common people “that such an occurrence” has taken place and therefore is likely to spread hate / dislike against members of a particular community as a result it may disturb peace and tranquility in the area.”

On October 27, Kargili had tweeted: “Very sad news is coming from #Tripura for a few days, since last week Muslim are being targeted by Hindutva mob, their houses, mosques are being vandalised and burnt. Strongly condemn these non stop attacks on Muslims in Tripura.”

A day later Kargili, who had contested the 2019 general elections from the Laddakh constituency and given a close fight to the BJP, had condemned the violence and called for police action against the mobs

“Let’s condemn the brutal attack on Muslims in Tripura. Hate crimes against Muslims are on Rise (sic) in Tripura. Arrest the culprits & stop the violence immediately,” Kargili had tweeted, along with a link to a news report.

Meanwhile, the show cause notice further stated that “Since Kargil district has lots of visitors from other parts of the country comprising members of different religious communities and such tweet by you may result into harassment of such visitors.”

The violence against Muslims in Tripura has largely been played down by the National media. The Ladakh police, going a further step ahead, has directed Kargili to prove that the violence ever took place and accused of spreading hatred.

He has been directed to “produce reliable, trustworthy and concrete evidence to show that such an incident has actually taken place to establish veracity and genuineness of the news and your intention of spreading hate in the District.”

Tension are high in Tripura following the razing down of several mosques and Muslim-owned properties by Hindu mobs, according to reports in the BBC. The violence followed clashes between Hindu groups and the police as well. Security has been tightened and restrictions on gatherings have been enforced in the affected areas.

The summon also stated that the content of Kargili’s tweets “may be a big threat to the tourists coming from different parts of the country particularly the members of Hindus and Buddhist communities who are in minority in District Kargil.”

Kargil is a Muslim majority district in the Ladakh union territory that was carved out from Jammu and Kashmir state after the abrogation of the region’s special status and it’s bifurcation in August 2019.

“Why action warranted under law of the land may not be taken against you? The contents of your tweet may have resulted in the harassment of visitors / Tourist and Local populace of minority community in District Kargil in particular and UT Ladakh in general and other parts of the country,” the summon notice adds.

Anayat Ali Chowdhary, SP Kargil refused to comment on the summon. He told Kashmir Observer that Kargili was booked by the Tehsildar and not by the police.

Reacting to the summons, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that it “is a glaring example of how the UT administration of Ladakh wants to silence those who speak against the violence. Ladakh Union Territory administration must understand that by such acts genuine voices can’t be suppressed.”

Tarigami further said that the recent violence in Tripura has “created an atmosphere of hatred in the region.” Tarigami added that “some communal elements are fanning passions against the minority community in Tripura under the garb of communal violence in Bangladesh” and accused the Tripura government of inaction. “The Tripura BJP government is not doing any thing against those, who are disturbing communal harmony there,” he said.

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