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A year later, Ramabai Nagar residents smart under bloody memories

The sound of gunshots still reverberates in the minds of the 17,000-odd residents of the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar situated at Ghatkopar in north-east Bombay. It was in this colony that 10 dalits were killed in police firing exactly one year ago, while protesting against the desecration of a bust of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

The incident triggered off one of the worst agitations in Bombay in recent years . To quell the angry crowds the next day, the police once again opened fire at Kurla, killing one more person. The 11 persons who were killed included an old woman and a young lad. The residents demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which was not granted.

The incident triggered off violence all over Maharashtra, and the opposition, including the Congress, demanded the immediate dismissal of the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government. A delegation of the Congress, the Janata Dal as well as the Samajwadi Party submitted a memorandum to state Governor Dr P C Alexander as well as the then Union home minister Indrajit Gupta demanding the ouster of the state government. The latter admitted that the law and order situation in the state was not satisfactory, but it was not that bad as to invite dismissal of the government.

Even when then prime minister and Janata Dal leader Inder Kumar Gujral was in Bombay to inaugurate the golden jubilee celebrations of India's Independence on August 9, he visited the colony and addressed a meeting. He was accompanied by then railway minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who promised jobs to the next of kin or other family members in the railways.

The incident generated so much ire that a mob of Shiv Sainiks allegedly ransacked the official residence of leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, Chhagan Bhujbal, which is a stone's throw from the state secretariat, Mantralaya.

On the other hand, the residents of the Ramabai Nagar turned so aggressive that they did not allow political leaders to enter their colony, including Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athavale, now MP from Bombay north-central.

The Maharashtra government promptly set up a judicial inquiry commission headed by Justice S D Gundewar on July 16. The commission has tol date examined over 60 witnesses in over 120 sittings, and received 140 affidavits. Among those who have been examined by the commission include the police sub-inspector M Y Kadam, who ordered the firing.

Among others who deposed before the commission was Rajendra Agarwal alias Gupta, who was earlier a Shiv Sainik. He alleged that Bhujbal had summoned him to his bungalow and asked him to desecrate the bust of Dr Ambedkar.

The RPI will observe July 11 as a day of mourning in memory of the dalits who were killed in the firing. Some RPI activists will also tonsure their heads at the Hutatma Chowk in South Bombay to condemn the Sena-BJP alliance for the brutal incident.

What is interesting is that the actual culprits behind the incident are yet to be arrested although a crime investigation department inquiry was ordered into the incident.

UNI

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