Deepal Trevedie

Ahmedabad, Feb. 13: After Christians, it is Muslims. The state intelligence depart- rnent in Gujarat has now sought information from the police about what it calls "Muslim activities" in their respective areas.

Document No. 2/2.com/muslimactivity/84/99 issued by the DGP (intelligence) office by the superintendent of police, Mr P.B. Upadhyay, seeks information about those Muslims "very often" involved in anti-social and anti-national activities. It also wants to know the list of "active' members of the Students Islamic Movement of India, the Darul Ulema and the "type" of degrees issued by them.

Muslims in the state are shocked by the segregation of communities in the official circular. Eminent lawyer and activist Girish Patel categorically says that this is in violation of Article l5 (a) of the Constitution. The Gujarat government stresses that it has not been consulted by the administrative machinery, and the intelligence department emphasises this is "simply a routine exercise."

"The anti-minority stance of the BJP government in Gujarat is totally clear now. Why communication and circular only for Christians and Muslims'?" questions Father Cedric Prakash, coordinator of the United Christian Human Rights Forum, which is demanding withdrawal of the circular seeking demographic details about the state's Christian population.

The circular seeking information about Muslims has been issued immediately after the one on Christians. The Christian circular had the outgoing number 642 on it; this communication has the number 643 handwritten on it.

. However, a senior home department official, on condition of anonymity, said the Muslim circular was not as controversial as the Christian one. A police officer said the intelligence department version is that this is a routine exercise but has been wrongly framed due to "foul wording" by juniors.

"Though it is normal for the IB to gather information, is it proper to seek information only about specific communities?" asks Father Prakash.

The following are the 10 questions (sic) raised in the circular sent by the DGP’s office on February 2. (Unlike the circular on Christians, this has no forwarding note or no specified deadline for furnishing the information.)

1. In communal riots that has occurred in your district/city in the last five years, who are the persons (Muslims) involved and what were the complaint number, location of crime and IPC used against them. What were the court verdict and how and how many times has the person been arrested under IPC 107, 151, 110 or Pasa, Nasa etc. Please send us the details.

2. Please open and send the dossiers of persons involved in crime and having a communal mentality.

3. Where are the Students Islamic Movement Of India (Simi Offices ) in your district/city ?'' Immediately get prepared a list of their office bearers, their names, addresses, telephone numbers, office address besides dossiers of all active members. Send a man with these copies here.

4. Where are Darul Ulema located in your district/city? What is the strength of boys and girls studying there? Which country, state and district are they from? What are the types of degrees issued? Are they government recognised or not? Please let us know what aid do they get from abroad and which foreign countries

5. Which are the Muslim organizations in your district/city. Who are its top leaders? Please let us know their names, addresses and member strength

6. Which are the areas in your district city where Iztema-Khas are organised. Please send us the names of religious leaders participating and the leaders conducting this activity

7. What is the population of Pak citizens in your district /city'' How many of them have not gone hack and how many of them have got citizenship. Please let us know their present activity and other details.

8 Which all Muslims in your district/city are involved in narcotics and smuggling activities? How many times have they been booked under Cofeposa, Pasa ,Nasa'? Please send us their names and dossiers.

9. Which Muslims in your district city are often involved in knives or serious fights and murders. Please open the dossiers and send us copies.

10. Which political leader gets these criminally involved persons freed? Please inform us their names and political affiliations.

(The Asian Age, February 14, 1999)

Seema Mustafa
in The Asian age, 12 February 1999

New Delhi, Feb. 11: Police chiefs of all districts in Gujarat have been asked to, find out what "type of trickery is being used by the Christian missionaries" in their areas.

In a 13-point circular issued by the state director of police (intelligence), the police commissioners and DSPs in Gujarat have been asked: "In your districts what type of trickery is being used by the Christian missionaries defilement activities? How are they increasing it?"

The circular, Reference No: D.2.Hindu-Christi/83/99, is dated February 2, 1999, and is signed by Mr. P.B. Upadhyaya. The English translation of the circular available with The Asian Age confirms beyond doubt earlier reports of a census being carried out by the Gujarat Government, which has created tremendous insecurity amongst the Christian community in Gujarat. A copy of the circular was also sent "for information" to "Police Ahmedahad; IGP of all Ranges (Thru DS pol Control)." It6 has asked for the information before February 12.

The circular, which was faxed to the police officers from the Ahmedabad office of the director of police (intelligence), Gujarat state, gives a two-line introduction before going into the specifics. The introduction is: "Presently the incidents of class conflicts between Hindus and Christians are increasing very much. It is very necessary to stop these activities."

The 13 specific points seek in information from the police network asking the officers:

"in your district:

1) What is the total population of Christians?

2) Which all places do they live in?

3) At which places are their missionaries located? (along with the number and name

4) They are encouraged by which foreign countries?

5) From which foreign countries and how much amount of grant do they get? How do they make use of it?

6) Population of Christians in your district, taluka-wise and village-wise. You are requested to give information about the name, address and telephone numbers of their main leaders.

7) in the last five years, how many cases of class-wars between Hindus and Christians have been registered in your district? What was their result in the court?

8) How many Christians are involved and in which all offenses? You are requested to certainly send the name, address and the case registration number of the offender along with their dossiers.

9) in your districts what type of trickery is being used by Christian Mlssionaries defilement activities? How are they increas ing it?

10) ? How many and what type of vehicles do they possess? You are requested to inform the number of vehicles

11) Amongst them, how many have got what all types of licenses for keeping weapons? When were these licenses issued to them?

12) What all arrangements have been made by you for their security? You are requested to inform the number and the approximate amount of expenses incurred after their security.

13) You are requested to send the dossiers of all such Christians who are involved in criminal activities and having criminal attitude."

The circular ends with "NOTE: You are kindly requested to send the above information after completing the necessary procedures before 15.02.1999."

New Delhi, Feb. 15: The Gujarat government's first order for a census of the Christian community issued on December 3 1998 clearly stated that the information was being sought at the instance of state minister Mangu Bhai Patel and was to be submitted to the government "within a definite time period."

The census, according to the circular, was limited to the Dangs district where the highest number of atrocities against the minorities have been recorded and was issued through the office of the deputy superintendent of police Dangs, Ahwa. This came in the midst of an increased attack on the Christians in the Dangs district and directed the police network in the district to furnish facts "regarding Christian priests and Christian religion within five days "

The circular marked "confidential and timebound" has the reference number TB/1819/1998 and copies were sent to CPI, Ahwa, Dangs;PSI, Ahwa PS; PSI, Waghai, PS. The circular listed seven points for specific information after stating, "with reference to the above according to the suggestion of the honourable minister, Mr Mangu Bhai Patel, with Jai Bharat greetings, this is to inform that presently the Christian priests are carrying out proselytization activities in full force. This has come to the notice of the honourable minister and the leaders of this religion are making police complaints on the basis of false presentations and exaggerated charges. Please collect the facts about the following points within five days and give it to us personally. Please note that this information has to be given to the government within a definite time period."

The specific points on which information was elicited were:

I) How many villages have churches, how many of these on the official records, check the veracity of this with the records maintained by thc talathi cum- mantri

2) What is the numerical strength of the Christians in the villages of Dangs, collect the details about the male-female population separately

3) Give details about how to lodge complaints regarding churches, which are not legally noted on the talathi records

4) Details about the complaint lodged regarding attempt to damage and burn down churches in villages

5) Separate details about cases of promoting religious ill feelings

6) Details about the ownership of the land on which churches are built, whether land is private owned or government waste land and

7) Whether churches are pucca or kutcha, made of bamboo etc., whether wood belongs to owner or the forest department."

(The Asian Age, February 16, 1999)

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Last updated: February 23, 2000 .