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Commission blames police, intelligence failure for 2013 riots in India's Muzaffarnagar

Xinhua, March 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

A judicial inquiry into the Hindu-Muslim riots of 2013 in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh has blamed police laxity and intelligence failure for the violence that claimed over 60 lives, officials said Monday.

The 700-page report on violence that took the name of Muzaffarnagar riots was tabled by the local government in the state's Assembly (lawmaking body) on Sunday.

The one man commission headed by retired Justice Vishnu Sahai also accused the media of putting out exaggerated reports and spreading rumours that fuelled violence.

However, the inquiry has absolved the state government and other politicians who were accused of making provocative speeches during the clashes.

The clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Muzaffarnagar district, west of capital city Lucknow, triggered after the killing of three men protesting the alleged harassment of a local woman.

Subsequently, circulation of a fake video showing two men being lynched fuelled more violence, which spread to neighbouring villages in the district.

The polarization of the two communities saw thousands of people fleeing their homes and taking shelter in relief camps.

The state sought help from Indian army, which imposed curfew in several villages for days together to contain violence and restore clam.

India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) termed the judicial commission's report on Muzaffarnagar riots as an attempt to cover up the role of the Uttar Pradesh government.

The party demanded a probe into riots by India's premier investigating agency - Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati rejected the commission report and described it an "eyewash" to save the state's ruling Samajwadi Party government.

"The report proved that the work of judicial commission was not to punish the guilty and deliver justice to affected people, but to give clean chit to the government," Mayawati said. Endit