7 i: os THE SRIKRISHNA COMMISSION Ad i cua OYUN Ta MTOR rem eae) rT tera December 1992 and January 1993 ih ome)REPORT OF THE SRIKRISHNA COMMISSION Appointed for inquiry into the riots at Mumbai during December 1992 and January 1993 ABRIDGED AND REPRODUCED BY INDIAN MUSLIM FEDERATION (UK) Indian Muslim Federation Hall Trinity Close London E11 4RP Tel: 0181 558 6399 Fax: 0181 539 4192 Note: The cover of this reproduction, photographs, translation of some of the words and notes in square brackets in it are our additions — IMFBombay, prima urbs of this country, was rocked by riots and violence unprecedented in its magnitude and ferocity, as though the forces of Satan were let loose, destroying all human values and civilised behaviour. Neighbour killed neighbour; houses were ran- sacked, looted and burned, all in the name of religion, as if to vindicate painfully the cynical observation of Karl Marx. “Religion is the opium of the people”. L. K. Advani (now Home Minister) During his Yatra INTRODUCTION Firiiedaysn Decerberin 552 6th to 10th December 1992) and fif- teen days in January 1993 (6th to 20th January), Bombay, prima urbs of this ‘country, was rocked by riots and vio- lence tinprecedented nits magnitude and ferocity, as though the forces of Satan were let loose, destroying all human values and civilised behaviour Neighbour killed neighbour; houses ‘were ransacked, looted anc burned, all fn the name of religion, as if to vindicate painfully the cynical observation of Karl Marx. “Religion isthe opium of the peo- ple”. Those fateful fifteen days saw the people on the streets opiated beyond the call of right and wrong, The blood- shed persuaded the Government of Maharashtra, at the instance ofthe then Prime Minister, Shri P. V, Narsimha Rao, to constitute a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the gruesome incidents of riots and violence, By a notification Home Department No FIR-5653/Bambay- January 1993, the Government of Maharashtra constituted this ‘Commission of Inquiry. ‘Congress I was the party in power in the State when the Notification appointing the Commission was issued, but went out of power in the Assembly elections of 1995. The coalition Government of Shiv Sena [an extremist regional Hindu party]-Bhartiya Janata Party was installed by about 15th March 1995. By a Notification Home Department No FIR-3696/Mumbai- 1/Appointment/JC dated 23 January 199, the Commission was disbanded. As could have been expected there was a backlash of meclia and public protests, A group of Writ Petitions were moved before the Bombay High Court chal- lenging the Government's action of dis- banding the Commission. By the time the Wit Petitions were heard and about to be decided the Government at the Centre changed and the Bharatiya Janata Party led coalition assumed power for about two weeks. During, those two weeks, the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpeyee, addressed a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Manohar Joshi, advising him to revive the Commission and the Commission was reconstituted by the Notification Home Department No FIR-56%6/Mumbai-1 Appointment/JC dated 28th May 1996, TENSION BUILDS UP time and again, the Hindutvawadis (as the Hindu ‘communal parties are popularly called) raised a shrill cry for con- struction of a temple at Ayodhya at the very place where the Babri Masjid stood, claiming that it was the hallowed place where Lord Shri Ram, the embodiment ofall that is Indian, was born. This was, of course, stoutly resisted by the Muslims who refused to give up even an inch, Thanks to the inevitable judicial delays, the issue smouldered in Courts, till the Nineties when the Bharatiya Janata Party revived it to regain lost political mileage. The Rati Yatra [chariot journey] of Shri L.K. Advani, leader of the Bhartiya Janata Party, refocussed attention on. the Ram Janama Bhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. The inevitable clashed and minor cases of rioting, which took place along the route of Rath Yatra, as reported by the news- papers, were the distant thunder- claps portending the storm to come. ‘As preparations for Kerseoa [vol- untary work] at Ayodhya were in full swing, large numbers of Kersecaks” [volunteers] were recruit- ed all over the country, the expecta- tion being that lakhs [tens of thou- sands] of Kerseomks would congre- gate on 6th December 1992 The issue of safety of the Babri Masjid became suibjudice before the Supreme Court, as the Babri Masjid Protection Committee apprehended. that the Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Uttar Pradesh, led by Shri Kalayan Singh, would show scant regard for its safety. The issue ‘was also raised on the Floor of the Lok Sabha. The then Prime Minister, Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page 1Shri Narsimha Rao, assured the House that the safety of the Babri Masjid, and all that it represented in a secular democratic polity like India, would be fully safeguarded. A categorical undertaking was given by the Chief Minister of Utar Pradesh before the Supreme Court that no harm would be allowed to befall the Babri Masjid during the Kerseva. On 6th December 1992, a large ‘number of local policemen, who ringed the Babri Masjid, were attempting to stop the surging multi- tude of Kerseonks from proceeding beyond the barricades built around it. Itis alleged that the District Magistrate present at the spot refused to give an order of firing to the Military and Para-Military forces and that the Constabulary declined to fire on the Kersevaks who they considered their own brethren, Hordes of Kersevaks broke through the barricades, forcibly entered the Babri Masjid structure and succeed ed in demolishing it, CAUSES ‘ews of the demolition of Babri Masjid spread by 1430 hours on 6th December 1992. The ery of dan- ger to Islam reverberated in the air, ‘The Muslim fundamentalists seized this opportunity to aggressively propagate that Islam was in immi- nent danger since proponents of the Hindu nation had been allowed a free hand to destroy in broad day light, under the very nose of the armed forces, the Babri Masjid, a standing symbol of Islam, despite assurances and undertakings by the Uttar Pradesh State Government and the Government of India that no harm would be permitted to be caused to the Babri Masjid during Karseoa at Ayodhya on 6th December 1992, The sight of a large contingent of Armed Constabulary and Central and State Para-Military forces stand- ing mutely without raising a finger to protect the mosque being pulled down and the fact that some of them ‘were even seen to be fearful over the said fact, caused deep hurt and anguish beyond endurance to the Muslims. The irresponsible act of the Hindutoa parties in celebrating and gloating over the demolition of Babri structure was like twisting a Knife in the wound and heightened the anguished ire of the Muslims. The celebration rally organised by Shiv Sena in Dharavi jurisdiction is an example. The Muslims protested, and protested angrily on the streets Large number of Muslims congregat- ed near Minara Masjid in Pydhonie jurisdiction at about 2320 hours on 6th December 1992 and came out protesting, The police mishandled the situation and by their aggressive posture turned the peaceful protests into violent demonstrations during which the first targets of the anger of the mob became the Municipal van and the Constabulary, both visible signs of the establishment. It is sig- nificant that the mobs were not armed, not even with stones and sticks, though they were angry and ‘wanting to vent their spleen against anyone in authority. The situation was misdiagnosed, mishandled and. turned messier, From 7th December 1992 onwards there was a qualitative transforma- tion in the situation. Large mobs of “Muslims came on the streets and there was recourse taken to violence without doubt. There were violent attacks on the policemen in Muslim dominated areas like Bhendi Bazar and its vicinity. By this time the protest had degenerated into a full scale commu- nal riot between Hindus and ‘Muslims. Eleven temples in different jurisdictions were damaged, demol- ished or set on fire. The Hindus did not fall behind and damaged Mosques and Madrassas in different jurisdictions’ Though the police found their resources stretched, they were unwilling to take the help of the Amny for carrying out operational duties. Army Columns were used only to carry out flag marches which had little impact on the, by now, hardened and emboldened rioters. ‘The imposition of curfew from the night of 7th December 1992 also did The irresponsible act of the Hindutva parties in celebrat- ing and gloating over the demolition of Babri structure was like twisting a knife in the wound and heightened the anguished ire of the Muslims. That there was a general bias against the Muslims in the minds of the average police- men which was evident in the way they dealt with the Muslims, is accepted by the officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner, V, N. Deshmukh. This general police bias against Muslims crystallises itself in action during January 1993. Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page 2There were attacks going on against the Muslims and their properties in different areas... From 8th January 1993 at least there is no doubt that the Shiv Sena and Shiv Sainiks [members of Shiv Sena] took the lead in organ ised attacks on Muslims and their properties under the guidance of several leaders of the Shiv Sena from the level of Shakha Pramukh [Branch chief] to the Shiv Sena Pramukh [Chief] Bal Thakeray, who, like a veteran General, commanded his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate by organised attacks against Muslims. not appear to deter the clashing ‘mobs in view of its effete enforce- ment. ‘The Commission is of the view that there is evidence of police bias against Muslims which has manifest- ed itself in other ways like the harsh treatment given to them, failure to register even cognisable offenses by Muslim complainants and the inde- cent haste shown in classifying offenses registered in “A” summary in cases where Muslim complainants had specifically indicated the names and even addresses of the miscreants. ‘That there was a general bias against the Muslims in the minds of the aver- age policeman which was evident in the way they dealt with the Muslims, is accepted by the officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner, V. N. Deshmukh. This general police bias against Muslims crystallises itself in action during January 1993, The final tally of casualty figures for December 1992 and January 1993 are as below:- Dead 900 (575 Muslims, 275 Hindus, 45 unknown and five oth- cers). The causes for the deaths are Police firing (356), Stabbing (347), Arson (91). Mob action (80), Private firing (22) and other causes (4), Injured: 2,036 (1105 Muslims, 893 Hindus and 38 others) The immediate causes of the com- munal riots on 6th December 1992 were: (a) the demolition of Babri Masjid, (b) the aggravation of Muslim sentiments by the Hindus with their celebration rallies and (©) the insensitive and harsh approach of the police while handling the protest- ing mobs which initially were not violent The events which took place between the period 12th December 1992 and 15th January 1993 indicate that there were attacks going on against the Muslims and their priori- ties in different areas; There were also several stabbing incidents car- ried out by professional criminals in different areas of the city, with the intention of whipping up communal frenzy. The communal passions of the Hindus were aroused to fever pitch by the inciting writings in print media, particularly Sanna and. ‘Navakal, From 8th January 1993 at least there is no doubt that the Shiv Sena and Shiv Sainiks [members of Shiv Senal took the lead in organised attacks on Muslims and their proper- ties under the guidance of several leaders of the Shiv Sena from the level of Shakha Pramukh [Branch chiefl to the Shiv Sena Pramukh [Chief] Bal Thakeray, who, like a vet- eran General, commanded his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate by organised attacks against Muslims The built-in bias of the police force against Muslims became more pronounced with murderous attacks n the constabulary and officers and manifested itself in their reluctance to firmly put down incidents of vio- lence, looting and arson which went on unchecked. WHO ORGANISED THESE INCIDENTS? ecember 1992: As far as the ‘December 1992 phase of the rioting by the Muslims is con~ cerned there is no material to show that it was anything other than a spontaneous reaction of Ieaderless and incensed Muslim mobs, which commenced as peaceful protest, but soon degen erated into riots. The Hindus must share a part of blame in provoking the Muslims by their celebrations rallies, inciting slo- gans Rasta Rokos [Road blockade] which were all organised mostly by Shiv Saniks, and to a mark extent by BJP activists. January 1993: Turning to the events of January 1993, Commission's view is that the several incidents of violence took place during the period from December 1992 to 5th January 1993, large scale rioting and vio- lence was commenced on 6th January by the Hindus brought to fever pitch by communally inclined propaganda unleashed Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page3by Hindu communal organisa- tions and writings in newspapers like Samna and Navakal. ‘There is no material on record suggesting that even during this phase any known Muslim indi- viduals or organisations were responsible for the riots, though a number of individual Muslims and Muslim criminals elements appear to have indulged in vio- lence, looting and rioting. POLICE’S INEFFICIENCY AND PREJUDICE the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the police pre- ceding the aforesaid incidents were inadequate. The intelligence machin- ery of police did not give informa- tion in good time about the possible damage to Babri Masjid, nor was an accurate assessment made of the sit- uation if such a contingency arose. The response of the police to appeals from desperate victims, par- ticularly Muslims, was cynical and utterly indifferent. On occasions, the response was that they were unable to leave the appointed post; on oth- cers, the attitude was that one Muslim killed, one Muslim less, ‘The bias of policemen was seen in the active connivance of police con- stables with the rioting Hindu mobs ‘on occasion, with their adopting the role of passive on-lookers and finally, in their lack of enthusiasm in regis- tering offenses against Hindus even when the accused were clearly iden- tified. Despite clear clues the miscreants were not pursued, arrested and inter- rogated particularly when the sus- pected accused happened to be Hindus with connections to Shiv Sena or were Shiv Sainiks. WITNESSES [The second volume of the report, consisting of 148 pages, contains a detailed account of the statements, examined by .e Commission int 26 Police Station areas ‘of Mumbai, of a number of victims, politicians, police officers and journalists. We are, however, producing abridged versions ofthe stntemen come of the victims, ‘one police officer and one journalist— IMF] en NTOP HILL POLICE STATION ‘The evidence of Reshma Umar Makki, a young lady of 27 years, who was herself a Maharashtrian Dalvi, before she fell in love with Umar Makki and converted to Islam, is very revealing, Her house was also surveyed on 3rd January 1993 and an indelible mark was put on her door by the surveying party. On Sth January 1993 there was an attack on her house by Shiv Sainiks who made enquiries about her Landya hustand” [circumcised hus- band, a derogatory term used for Muslims by Hindutvaites] Reshma hid her husband inside a box type mattress before opening the door and informed the attackers that her husband was not in the house. The attackers were armed with swords, choppers knives and lathis. Another attack took place on 11th January 1993 by an armed mob of Shiv Seniks. They abused her as to why she got married to a “Laridaya” and. whether all Hindus were dead. She identified the mob out of whom she clearly recognised one Ume, a Shiv Senik living near Sundar Hotel. He and three to four other boys entered her house, placed a chopper on her head and threatened her that if she spoke up, she would be stripped, raped and killed. She says that when she contacted Senior Police Inspector Vinayak Patil for help, he refused to help and retorted, “if a Muslim dies, there will be one Muslim less” NE 18 year old girl was kid- napped and, in spite of the The bias of policemen was seen in the active connivance of police con- stables with the rioting Hindu mobs. The role of the police dur- ing this incident has been distressing. On occasions, they acted passively and permitted the pillaging mobs to carry on their nefarious activities, sometimes, they even encouraged them and joined them. Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page 4Yasmin Hasan Wagle, saw Shahnawaz being taken towards police vehicle, when one of the Constables standing behind him shot him from behind, almost at point blank range. Senior Police Inspector refused to help and retort- ed, “If a Muslim dies, there will be one Muslim less.” names of culprits being disclosed to police, they took little action in this matter and the gir! was not traced thereafter. ETWEEN 9th January 1993 to 12th January 1993 a large num- ber of Muslims, numbering about three thousand, who had left their houses for fear of attack had congre- gated near Sunder Vihar Hotel. They were surrounded by forty to fifty thousand Hindus and had to spend almost three days under constant fear of attack till they were rescued from there with the help of Army column on 12th January 1993. When an attempt was made to sup- ply food to the marooned Muslims, the vehicles carrying the food were chased away. Finally when the Army Column was transporting the marooned Muslim families, it was also attacked by the Hindu mobs which had to be dispersed by firing resorted to by the army personnel. ‘The role of the police during this incident has been distressing. On occasions, they acted passively and permitted the pillaging mobs to carry on their nefarious activities, sometimes, they even encouraged them and joined them. In these cir cumstances, the lapses in the investi gations into the offenses registered ‘were probably not cases of negli- gence, but deliberate attempts to suppress material evidence and sab- tage investigations. The evidence on record clearly points out that the police were communally biased against the Muslims. In short, the conduct of the police during the incidents was such as to cause loss of faith in the law and order machin- YCULLA POLICE STATION Abdul Haq Kasim Ali Ansari owned a tailoring business, Tabussum Enterprise, at Narielwadi, Mazagon, On 7th December 1992 his establishment was attacked by Hindus from his locality with whom he was very familiar. Abdul filed a complaint in which he named the miscreant as Sada, Chotu, Sunit, Rajesh Mhatre and fifteen to twenty other persons, The miscreant had looted his establishment, carried away some valuable machines and set fire to the establishment. When the incident of attack took place, Senior Police Inspector, Patankar, Inspector, Wahule and Sub Inspector, Ram Desai were present near his establishment. In the morning of 8th December 1992 between (15-30 to 06- 00 hours Soda, Chotu, Sunil and Rajesh and some other persons again attacked Ansari’ factory with stones, Ansari made a complaint by telephone to the Byculla Police Station requesting. police help. Between 07-30 to 08-30 hours police ‘came to the spot. This time the police party was led by Inspector Wattle who barged into the factory and started assaulting Ansari and his Cuttermaster with an iron rod resulting in the fracture of his hand. Ansari was thereafter dragged by Police Inspector, Wahule to the police van and taken away to the Police Station, being assaulted all the time. Half of his workers had run away because of fear and the other half locked themselves inside the factory. The police broke open the factory’s entrance and arrested the workers inside. While Ansari, his brother and others were in lock up, no medical treatment was made available to them, and whenever a complaint of pain was made by Ansari, police officers Desai and Wahule retorted that they should consider themselves lucky that they had only broken hands and not bro- ken legs. To add insult to injury, the police filed a false case against Ansari and his workers. On 8th December 1992 Ansari handed over a written complaint to the Police Station. On 4th January 1993 Ansari was called to the Police Station. Inspector Wahule insisted that he would have to compromise with Sada, Chotu, Sunil and Rajesh The evidence of Senior Police Inspector given on the issue before the Commission appears to be whol- ly unreliable. The Commission has no doubt that there was deliberate scuttling of the investigation by the Police, because the accused were influential Shiv Sainiks, "HERE is one incident which is very serious in the view of the Commission and amounts to cold blooded murder by the police. Between 11.00 to 11-30 hours on 10th January 1998, after having arrived at Pathan Chaxwl, the police forcibly entered the premises of the Muslims and started picking them up. They Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page 5entered the residence of one Hasanmiya Wagle, terrorised his wife and his daughter Yasmin at the point of rifle, picked up Hasanmiya’s 16 years old son, Shahanwaz and dragged him out, kicking him and assaulting him with rifle butts. Yasmin Hasan Wagle, saw Shahnawaz being taken towards a police vehicle, when one of the Constables standing behind him shot him from behind, almost at point blank range. Immediately, the policemen dragged the body of Shahnawaz by the feet and dumped it in the vehicle and took it away. ‘Yasmin and her mother came down later and saw that the spot where Shahnawaz was shot down had a pool of blood. Yasmin Hasan Wagle is a young, intelligent and educated girl who gave evidence before the Commission. Her evidence was brief and precise and clear, though punc- tuated with bitter sobs. The Commission is inclined to accept her evidence as true. Despite over- whelming evidence which, in the opinion of the Commission, clearly indicts the police for the cold blood- ed murder of Shahnawaz, the Deputy Commissioner of Police has adroitly white washed the affair. ONGRI POLICE STATION Zulekha Hasan Sheikh, an old lady of 65 years was standing near the staircase when the curfew was relaxed. She had sent her grandson to bring bread and milk. At that time twelve/thirteen SRP men asked her as to why was she standing there and then beat her on her back, hips and hit her with lathis [sticks] ‘on her hands. They behaved in an ‘obscene manner and, while beating her on the knees they taunted her that she looked good dancing even at her age. -T. MARG POLICE STATION |About two hundred to three hundred miscreants gathered in the byelanes of S. K. Patel Marg and indulged in stone throwing and throwing other missiles at the hous es and garages located in Diamond Jubilee Compound and set fire to them. One Haroon Rasheed, Editor of Urdu Blitz’, resided in this Diamond Jubilee Compound. He made a written complaint of arson and the loss caused to him. No effort at recording his detailed statement was made, nor was the statement of any resident of Diamond Jubilee Compound recorded, though the Senior Police Inspector admitted that it was a serious incident and that he had no explanation for not recording statement of any witness The chawls in Diamond Jubilee Compound housed about eighteen tenants which accommodated about two hundred Muslim residents. On the night of 8th January 1993 cries of Jai Sriram were heard from mobs out side the Compound. Haroon made a complaint to the Police Station and sought protection. Two policemen were posted to keep watch in front of the Compound, However, when the attack actually came, the police on duty were nowhere to be seen. ‘The mob came with a handeart full of soda water bottles, brick bats and stones which were freely used against the Musiim tenants. The mob had a free hand and went around systematically smashing up the vehicles parked on the two sides of road and also inside the com- pound. The police and SRP jawans Were just silent spectators. Some of the SRP jawans had deliberately removed their name tags. A jeep full of police came but they were inter- ested in only talking to the Shiv Sainiks; their leaders and were seen joking with them. The mob shout- ing “Apne Allak Mian ko Bulavo” {call your Allah] and “Landyabliai aaj hum sab ko mar dalege” [circumciseds! Today we will kill all of youl. According to Haroon, the incident witnessed by him led him to believe that the attack was planned by Shiv Sena since the persons leading the mob were known faces who used to play cricket with the boys from the Diamond Jubilee Compound. In his capacity as a journalist, Haroon had taken interviews of the then Chief Minister Shri Sudhakar Naik, and the then Commissioner of Police, S. K. Bapat, during which he asked them point blank question as to whether the police were colluding with the Shiv Sainiks. In reply, Shri Naik said that he admitted the blame to some extent, the fact could not be completely discarded and that there was alliance formed with police, using force by collecting hafta, Whenever a complaint of pain was made by Ansari, police officers Desai and Wahule retorted that they should consider themselves lucky that they had only broken hands and not broken legs. Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page 6Thakeray was directing the Shiv Seniks, Shakha Pramukhs and other activitists of Shiv Sena to attack the Muslims, to ensure that they gave tit for tat and ensure that “no single landya” would survive oral evidence. me A srier esis te Vat mnarsingro Deshauk was working as Additional Commissioner of Police, SB-1 CID during the relevant period. He was incharge of the intelligence branch of the Bombay police and it was his duty to brief the Commissioner of Police and the Government of Maharashtra regarding his assess- ‘ments made on the basis of intelli- gence inputs gathered by his Department. He had not come across any material to indicate that arms, ammunition and other offen- sive materials were smuggled into the country for being used in the riots of December 1992 and January 1993, nor was he sure that the weapons used in the incidents of pri- vate firing were of foreign make and/or smuggled. A significant fact admitted by Deshmukh is that an impression was carried by most of the police person- rel that Muslim youths were prone to crime, though he was quick to add that there was no such impression amongst senior officers. Mr Deshmukh was fair enough to accept that, possibly, this inbuilt impression amongst the members of the police force might have affected their han- dlling of the riot situations in December 1992 and January 1993. TUNES Yor MOHITE is another journalist working as senior reporter of the Marathi eveninger “Mahanagar” edited by Nikhil Wagle, and an active social worker of Rashtriya Seva Dal. On 8th January 1993 at about 19- 00 hours he had visited the office of Bombay Municipal Corporation. He learnt about trouble erupting in the city and, therefore, decided to leave Before leaving the Bombay ipal Corporation office he peeped into the Mayor's cabin and the Mayor, Shri Handore, who was sitting alone, invited him to come in. He started a discussing with the Mayor Shri Mayor Handore about the riots and what could be done. He mooted the idea that the leaders of all parties like Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Muslim leaders should issue a joint appeal to the peo- ple to exercise restrain and maintain peace, Mohite suggested to Shri Handore that instead of making a verbal appeal, it would be better if a memorandum was jointly signed by all the leaders of the different parties and given wide publicity. At the insistence of Shri Handore, Mohite prepared one draft. While Mohite was writing out the appeal Shri Handore telephoned the offices of different newspapers informing them about what he proposed to do. Handore took his personal assis- tant and Mohite in his official car and first went to the house of Haji Mastan. After some discussion, the signature of Haji Mastan was taken ‘on the the Memorandum of Appeal. From there all of them went first to Mayor's Bungalow at Shivaji Park. ‘Thereafter all three went to the resi- dence of Bal Thakeray. There were discussions between ‘Thackeray and Shri Handore about the riot situation during which Shri Handore was trying to impress upon ‘Thackeray that he should find a way out. In the mean time, there were sev~ eral telephone calls received and answered by Thackeray. From the conversation which was heard by Mohite, which he has reproduced in extenso in his affidavit, it was clear that Thakeray was directing the Shiv Seniks, Shakha Pramukhs and other activitists of Shiv Sena to attack the Muslims, to ensure that they gave tit for tat and ensure that “no single Iandya would survive oral evidence. While these kind of instructions were being given by Thackeray on tele- phone, Shri Ramesh More and Shri Sarpotdar also came in and reported the situations in their respective areas. They were also given similar instructions. He also told someone from Jogeshwari to catch hold of A. A. Khan (Additional Commissioner of Police North Regionland probably the only Mustim in whole of the police forcel) and send him to “Allah's home’ at once and finish off “that womanizer” Mundkur, but to take precautions while finishing them off. Report of the Srikrishna Commission Page 7JUSTICE BN KRISHNA ‘is a prac tising and orthodox Hindu... He performs puja [worship] before ‘coming to the court every day and he can recite hundreds of siokas. Colleagues say he frequently quotes rom the Ga and Hind scriptures” \j | “A polyglot, Justice Srikrishna has command over nine languages apart from English—ranging from Malayalam to Urdu. He practiced law for 28 years before becom- ing a High Court judge in 1990” Courtesy Indian Express Website 07/08/98. (htto:/expressindla, com/ie/deily/1 9980807/2 1950644. html.) ‘THE INDIAN MUSLIM FEDERATION (IMF) UK is the largest and oldest organisation of ‘Indian Muslims in the UK and has. NGO status with United Nations. The IMF was founded in 1969 by British Indian Muslims in the wake of the anti-Muslim riots in Ahmadabad. The IMF arranges meetings, holds seminars and publishes newsletters on the plight of Indian Muslims ‘The IMF maintains contacts with the British and Indian govern- ments, representatives of the United Nations Organisation and its specialised agencies and governmental and non governmental organisations. Indian Muslims living in the United Kingdom are eligible to become full members of the IMF while associate membership is ‘open to anyone who supports and agrees with its aims and objec- tives and supports the cause of the Indian Muslims. ‘The IMF also runs the following services for the local community: ‘An Asian elderly Day Care Centre, RAHAT ‘Advice on immigration, education and legal problems Recreation and sports facilities for the local youth Luncheon club for senior citizens and elderly people English, maths, Urdu and Gujarati classes Celebrations on National and religious festivals