Tortured to extract statements: Report on Muslims arrested in connection with Nuh riot

The communal riot that erupted in Haryana's Nuh district between Hindus and Muslims during July and August 2023, which later spread to other parts of the state, resulted in the deaths of at least six people and injuries to several others. The situation has come under scrutiny after it was found that most of those arrested, mostly belonging to the Muslim community, in connection with the case had no corroborative evidence against them.

The violence, which began with clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities during the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra on July 31, 2023, resulted in the deaths of two home guards and injuries to at least 15 others, including several police personnel.

The conflict quickly spread to neighbouring areas, with a mob attacking a mosque in Gurugram on the same night, where the naib imam was killed. The violence claimed at least six lives and left numerous individuals injured.

Following the unrest, police filed 60 first information reports (FIRs) across seven stations, leading to 441 arrests by June 2024. However, a recent report by the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) casts a critical eye on the handling of these cases. According to the PUDR, 81 out of 89 cases related to the violence lacked independent or corroborating evidence to justify the arrests made.

The PUDR's investigation, which involved multiple fact-finding visits to Nuh and surrounding villages, highlights significant flaws in the evidence presented against the accused. Many cases relied solely on the disclosure statements of the accused or their co-accused, without any corroborative evidence or incriminating material. Such statements are typically inadmissible in court without additional supporting evidence.

The PUDR also observed that the police's credibility was further undermined by reports of widespread custodial violence. The report detailed instances of severe physical abuse, including a method known as the “roller treatment,” where suspects were subjected to excruciating pain using a heavy iron roller.

This treatment, which involves rolling the iron roller over the victim’s thighs and genitals while they are forced to remain naked, leaves no visible marks, making it difficult for medical examinations to detect the abuse.

In one notable case, an individual with a 75% orthopaedic disability was implicated in 17 separate FIRs related to the same incident. The court, upon granting bail, questioned the feasibility of such involvement given the individual's physical limitations.

Additionally, the PUDR report criticized the administration's actions in the immediate aftermath of the violence. Authorities had conducted a demolition drive targeting homes and shops primarily owned by Muslims, which they justified as a measure against illegal encroachments. However, the timing and scope of these demolitions, which also involved burning the homes of Muslim migrants and threatening them with violence, raised suspicions of discriminatory intent.

The PUDR has called for an independent inquiry into the police's actions during and after the violence. They also demand departmental action against those responsible for the reported excesses and compensation for the survivors. The call for an investigation underscores the need for accountability and justice for those affected by the violence and its aftermath.