The number of persons who died in the communal violence in Burhanpur has gone up to ten even as curfew is clamped and shoot-at-sight orders are issued in the City.The communal riot has brought to focus the absolute failure of the district administration and police in anticipating the situation. A provocative song that was played in the religious procession (rath yatra), caused tension.
This incident occurred on Thursday. But there was still tension in the City and the district officials failed to apprehend that until an incident of stone pelting led to riot, the very next day. Large-scale arson and rioting was witnessed.
The police fired at the mobs, which resulted in the death of three persons. Later reports said that the figure of the dead went up to six. But recovery of three more bodies from a village near the City and the death of two other persons in hospital, raised the toll to 10. Burhanpur is a sensitive town with Muslims accounting for more than 50% of the population.
With elections in Madhya Pradesh drawing nearer, communal incidents have seen a rise. Still, the failure of the government and the administration in tackling the situation, puts a question mark on the functioning of police.The report of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has recently indicted the Indore administration for the riot early this year.
