APCR probe questions police, administration role in anti-Muslim violence in MP
Bhopal: A fact-finding team of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), a civil rights advocacy group based in India, has raised serious questions over the role of police and the local administration in handling the communal violence that erupted in Multai town of Betul district, Madhya Pradesh, on October 9.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a press conference in Bhopal, APCR State Secretary Syed Javed Akhtar said the team’s investigation revealed that a minor bike collision between two individuals was deliberately given a communal colour, leading to widespread anti-Muslim violence. The team documented incidents of assault, ransacking of shops and carts, attacks on religious places, and damage to private properties belonging mostly to members of the Muslim community.
Media reports said, the local police failed to register any FIRs from the side of victims who are Muslims after the incident, leaving the affected community gripped by fear and insecurity. Several poor traders reportedly suffered losses ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 40,000 after their shops and carts were looted or vandalised.
The APCR team urged the authorities to preserve all CCTV footage and video evidence, register FIRs from the victims, and initiate impartial action against the culprits. It also demanded immediate financial assistance for the affected families and an independent probe by a senior officer or agency to ensure fairness.
“The purpose of APCR is not to support any side but to uncover the truth and ensure justice for all citizens. The role of the administration and the initial approach of the police raise serious questions that must be answered through an impartial investigation,” Akhtar said.
The team said it will submit its detailed report to the Madhya Pradesh government, Human Rights Commission, and senior authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in the judicial process.
