Minority Oppression in Bangladesh
Report of the Public Inquiry Commission 

(3rd Installment)

By Mukto-mona Dhaka Source

   

The Second issue before the Commission was to determine:

 

2. Whether news of minority-repression are mere propaganda or excess coloration of political opponents of the present government or of mass media ?  

Government Reaction and Explanation 

From the facts presented above and summary of reports presented in the appendix, one gets a clear idea how religious and ethnic minorities, especially Hindu religious communities, had been tortured, persecuted and oppressed for four months from September to December 2001. On the contrary Government described most of reported stories of minority repression as excessively colored.  

The Government-stand became quite clear from speeches and utterances made by different ministers time to time. Regarding minority-repression the interior minister Mr. Altaf Hosen Choudhury�s contention was- �press reports about attacks on the religious minorities' - (are) �baseless, exaggerated and politically motivated�. In addition to that he depicted those events of tortures and persecutions on minorities as �arranged show�. His utterances in this regard are quoted here : �In fact, it is entirely a staged drama, a preplanned game. A certain (political) party is sponsoring terrorism to undermine the BNP and create people's mistrust about the ruling party. .... We smell political motive (in such occurrences). Money is being spent on terrorists and, in cases, the BNP people are also being used.� (Daily Star, 16. 10. 01) 

The government has classified the events into three categories. As for example the interior minister has put the attacks on minorities in three classes : some are conspiratorial, some are based on rumors, and some are partially true. The last class has two kinds- personal jealousy and political. (See Editorial, Sangbad 17. 10. 03) 

The Commission opines that the news published in dailies, especially reports sent by local (mofussill) correspondents and reporters have factual basis. All those reports could not be rejected just depicting as exaggerated; or there is no scope to treat those reported incidents lightly. On the contrary the Commission opines that the courage shown by the mofussil (local) journalists, and by publicly bringing out factual news of minority repression and torture to the nation they set examples of sincere and honest journalism are very praiseworthy. Along with this, the Commission also praises honest roles of those field workers of different humanist organizations who collected and still collecting data on tortures and persecutions visiting many affected areas in an attempt to unfold truth and fact. It would be inappropriate to throw away their collected facts and information or calling those as being spoilt by exaggeration.  

A few important incidents of minority repression are presented here as examples. 

�                Instantaneous barbarous killing of Mohan Bhowmik (45), and Harish Chandra Bhowmik (35) following an attack with bomb explosion on a Hindu family in a village Kharua within Barura election constituency of district Comilla. (Sangbad 01. 10. 01);

�                Setting of fire on houses of minorities at Raozan, and armed attacks and persecution carried out in 17 minority inhabitant villages (Sangbad 01. 10. 01);

�                Forcible eviction of thousands of minorities from villages in the district of Bagerhat.

�                Mental and physical torture inflicted on an elderly primary teacher (retired) Nirod Baran Barua, a follower Thathagata Buddha, of Barua para of village Rumkha Palong in Upazila Ukhia in Cox�s bazaar.

�                Setting of fire on the house of Ratna Ghosh, a lady UP member (Paschim Gujara Sarkar para) at Raozan;

�                19 Adibashi families threatened to evict from their villages in Rajshahi;

�                11 thousand minorities left their home at Kaliganj of Jhenaidaha because of torture of armed terrorist cadres; 

�                10-15 thousand refugees from upazilas Gaurnadi and Agaijhara of district Barisal, and different localities of Bagerhat district took shelter in a remote union Ramshil under Kotalipara upazila of district Gopalganj;

�                Assaults-persecutions on minorities followed by lootings, destruction of temples including tutelar deities in minority inhabitant localities of village Charkumaria (5-6 km from Bhola town) under sadar upazila. Setting of fires on Medicine Pharmacy and dispensary of an elderly physician Bijoy Babu of the same village. Severe beating and physical torture on a respectable gentleman Fariduddin and his wife followed by looting of their properties for giving shelter of some minority families in his house ( in spite of this, they failed to protect the honour (ijjat) of the helpless minority women taking shelter there). The mistress of the house, wife of Fariduddin, even after identifying a young girl as her own daughter could not save chastity of the girl from lust of those debauchees; for this reason she was too physically tortured.

 The Public Inquiry Commission does not think that motive of treating these kind of incidents taking place throughout Bangladesh, as cited above a few only for illustration, as �sporadic� or �isolated and exaggerated� as being right. 

Leaders and workers of many human rights societies and social organizations after visiting different affected localities upheld their experiences of minority repression in news media with an honest attempt to draw attention of the government to dreadful and frightening situation in regard to minority repression. Some of the notable such organizations are �Sammilita Samajik Andolan (United Social Movement), Sachetan Nagarik Samaj (Conscious Citizen-society), �Media Alliance for Election Monitoring in Bangladesh (MAEM)�, Mahila Parisad (Womem Association), Nari Pragati Sangha (Women Progressive Assembly), Ain O Salish Kendra (Law and Arbitration Centre), Citizens� Voice, Nagarik Adhikar Sanrakshan O Sampradayikata Pratirodh Kamiti (Committee for Preservation of Civil Rights and Prevention of Communalism) PRIP Trust, Hindu Boudha Christian Oikya Parisad (Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity-Association) etc. The Commission took into account of their experiences with due importance and sincerity. 

Apart from organizational levels many honorable personalities of our country on their own as for example educationists like Professor Musharraf Hosen, Professor Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Professor Anisuzzaman, Professor Ajoy Roy, Elderly teacher Mr. Choudhury Khorshed Alam, Professor Sayed Anawar Hosen, Professor Showkat Ara, Professor Meshbah Kamal, Professor Hayat Mahmud et al, well known political persons Pankaj Bhattacharya, Rashed Khan Menon, and Nirmal Sen, Cultural personalities Ali Zaker, Mafidul Haque, Wahidul Haque, Litterateur Bipradas Barua, Humanist Justice K. M. Sobhan, Freedom fighter Ziauddin Tariq Ali et al visited many minority-repressed localities. The Commission considered their experience and contention of their visits as humanist and factual. Calling these personalities as �Awami-follower Intellectuals� and ignoring their experience and factual reactions mean an attempt to deny the facts of �dreadfulness of those events�. Firstly, their social status not politically based- none of them are directly involved with Awami League politics. For this reason the Commission took cognition of their contention with utmost importance. The aforesaid intellectuals and others from Conscious Citizen-forum (Sachetan Nagarik Samaj) expressed their clear opinion on the grave issue of Minority repression, which needs deep consideration. (See Appendix 5, pages 88-89). The Public Inquiry Commission opines that Nation�s mortification, feeling, and aspirations have found expression through this timely declaration.   

Next, the Commission proceeds to take into consideration of reactions of political parties of different opinions and ideologies. 

Reactions of Political Parties

 

As the 4-party alliance now forming government fought last election against its chief political opponent Awami League and since the alliance considers Minorities as vote-bank of Awami League, it is quite likely that Awami League might bring in charges of minority repression of excessive nature, and it might have serious grievances against the government. But apart from Awami League other political parties also did express their intense condemnation on minority persecution and demanded immediate stop of this inhuman barbaric repression.

a.       On behalf of Jatiya Party (Ershad) a deep concern has been expressed on �Continued attacks on minorities at different places of the country� stating that �It is not only condemnable, - it is detrimental for the image of the country in the eye of the outside world� (Jugantar, 07. 10. 01).

 

b.      Ganaforum leaders condemned and called for immediate stop of �reckless attacks, setting of fires, looting that are being let loose in the name of post election violence on the minority and Adibashi population in 20 districts of the country�. (Sangbad, 07. 10. 01).

 

c.       In a joint meeting of 11-parties held on 6th October, 2001 a deep anxiety was expressed over repression and harassment on members of minority communities and demand was made for immediate stop of �forcible occupation and persecution� of minority communities. (Sangbad, 07. 10. 01).

 

d.      Besides, 11-parties held an assembly of anti �terrorism-communalism� on 21st March 2002. It has been stated in the proclamation adopted in the assembly-

 

* �Events of Communal violence are still continuing along with countrywide general terrorism. Denial of occurrence of communal violence, especially on the part of the government has encouraged all terrorists and communal forces in particular.......� (See proclamation adopted in an 11-party convened public meeting of anti 'terrorism-communalism�, held on 21st March, 2002).

 

  1. Mr. Nur e Alam Ziku, Executive President of JSD (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal)

      and Mr. Hasanul Haque Inu, General Secretary said in a statement, �Inaction and

      lapse on the part of the Chief Executive of providing safety to the minorities is an

      unpardonable offence. For this failure he must be answerable.� (Bhorer Kagoj,

     10. 10. 01)

 

  1. In a statement issued on 10th November, 2001 Worker Party President Rashed Khan Menon and its General Secretary Bimal Biswas appealed to the Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to take the issue of cessation of assaults and repression on minorities as immediate and prior task of her government. (Janakantha, 11. 10. 01).

 

  1. Mr. Nirmal Sen, General Secretary of Shramik Krishak Samjbadu Dal, on behalf of his party, called upon all concerned to take immediate steps for safe return of all minority refugees to their abodes from all displaced localities where they have taken temporary shelter. He mentioned in his statement that thousands and thousands of members of minority families have taken refuge at Kotalipara. Responsibility of rehabilitating them is not only of the government, it must be borne also by all political parties including BNP and Awami League.

 

  1. In a public assembly called by Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) in Muktangan (Open Premise) on 15th October, 2001, the party condemning inhuman repression on minorities throughout the country called upon the countrymen to build up social resistance against communal barbarism 

 

Reactions of other Social organizations: a brief summary

 Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parisad called upon the countrymen to stand beside their minority brethren. (Prathom Alo, 09. 10. 01; Bangladesh Observer, 09. 10. 01).  

On 9th October 2001, different socio-cultural organizations appealed to all concerned to stop immediately continued repression on the minorities. The organizations, among many others include Sammilita Samajik Andolon, Christian Sushil Samaj (Christian Civil Society), Yubo Union, ADAB, etc.... Besides, a group of intellectuals and educationists including Professor Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Professor Mozaffar Ahmad, Professor Wahiuddin Mahmud, Dr. Ahmad Kamal, Dr. Hosen Jillur Rahman, Dr. Pervin Hasan, Professor Zaheda Ahmed, Professor Hasna Begum, Journalist Ataus Samad, Choudhury Rafiqul Abrab called upon all concerned to stop this inhuman barbaric atrocities on minority community.

 

Teachers of Dhaka University under the banner �Conscientious Teachers� brought out a procession on 17th October 2001 from Aparajeya Bangla to Central Shahid Minar in protest of torture on minorities throughout the country. (Daily Star, 18. 10. 01). Samajtantrik Students Front with a procession went to the office of interior-ministry and submitted a memorandum asking the government for immediate stop of minority repression. The Front then hold a meeting in front of high court premises expressing opinion that failure on the part of the caretaker and BNP government to take immediate steps to stop armed assaults on different halls of residence in DU campus and elsewhere and continued persecution on weaker sections of population have encouraged evil forces and anti social elements. The meeting condemning government�s failure deplored its unconcerned attitude, "It is a great regret that both the governments have termed the newspaper reports on attacks on minority community exaggerated."

 

The Commission also evaluated soft but significant reactions expressed by some foreign diplomatic circles. A gist of their reactions as appeared in the news media is presented below.

 

Concern of the Diplomatic Circles.

Diplomats of Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and England of the 7-member European Union expressed their deep concern over post election continued minority repression to the Foreign Minister Dr. Badruddoza Choudhury on 18th October, 2001. They impressed upon the minister that not only the Hindu communities are being persecuted, other minorities are also receiving same treatment. As an example the delegation cited incident of torture on Christian communities at Savar and different places alleging that in those incidents terrorists supporting government parties were involved. The delegates further opined that if such atrocious activities continue whatever gain the government has achieved so far would be tarnished soon. The foreign minister however said, � The issue of assaults on minority communities are being publicized in an exaggerated fashion. In order to discredit the government, an interested quarter from the very beginning are doing this in one or two isolated localities with definite motive.�  (Jugantar, 19. 10. 01) 

Even before meeting the foreign minister, Ambassador of the European Commission His excellency Antonio D. Souza expressed his deep anxiety over post election violence, - especially over incidences leading to killing, persecution, raping, looting and forcible occupation of properties involving members of minority communities. Demanding to take appropriate actions against the culprits, he also requested the top BNP leaders to contain BNP workers of committing atrocities or taking any kind of revenge against the minorities. (Janakantha, 14. 10. 01) 

            The positions of 4-part alliance government and Awami League are at opposite poles, politically speaking. For this reason the Commission have only mentioned reactions expressed by political parties other than Awami League. Many of those parties are very much opposed to Awami League, some are even closer to BNP than AL from ideological standpoint. But most of these parties brought in allegations of wide spread minority repression throughout the country following general election in October 2001. The 10 intellectuals we mentioned above are politically neutral and none of them belongs to any political party. Under this backdrop the statement(s) issued by Interior Minister on behalf of his government to the effect that stories of Minority repression are baseless, politically motivated does not contain any essence of substance.  

The Commission already expressed its considered opinion that reports of minority repression appearing in the news media are based on facts. One cannot reject those incidents just describing these as exaggerated. 

It has been stated on behalf of the government that there is no term called �Minority� in the Constitution. This may be true from the viewpoint of the constitution, - but absence of the term minority in the constitution signifies that all citizens irrespective of caste-religion-gender are equal in the eye of the state. The responsibility of the state and duty of the government in charge running the state are to protect constitutional rights of people of all communities. But in effect it is seen that a section of the population for reason of being belonging to particular religion(s) has been persecuted and became victims of torture during the post election period. The state has failed to provide safety to a particular section of the population, and the government cannot shrug off its responsibility for the failure. By clouding the truth with a sugarcoated statement like �We are all Bangladeshi� one might derive pleasure of self-satisfaction, but by making such statement one cannot make truth a lie. To the Commission such statements coming from the government appears to be an expression of mentality of by passing a human problem. Instead of facing true reality attempts to cover the truth with flimsy pretence do not glorify us as a nation.  

 

2(a). Dimension and Intensity of Repression

 

Pre Election Period

If one scrutinizes published reports of minority repression during pre election days it becomes evident that members of minority communities in 30-35 districts were under severe threat and pressure. The principal districts are :

 

(a). Rajshahi division (4 districts)                : Dinajpur, Rangpur, Naogaon, Nator

(b). Khulna division (7 districts)                : Bagerhat, Nrail, Jessore, Magura, Jhenaidah,

                                                              Satkhira, Khulna

(c). Barisal division (4 districts)                : Perojpur, Jhalokhati, Barisal, Bhola

(d). Chittagong division (5 districts)                : Chittagong, Cox�s Bazar, Feni, Noakhali,

                                                              Lakshmipur

(e). Sylhet division (2 districts)                : Habiganj, Sunamganj

(f). Dhaka division (8 districts)                : Manikganj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Mymensingh,

                                                              Netrokona, Narsinghdi, Faridpur, Rajbari.    

 

During pre election period persecutions on minorities were confined to some localities. Intensity of repression in northern region of the country did not reach dreadful peak. Wide spread assaults on minorities, giving threats of various kinds and act of frightening continued till election date in minority inhabited localities in the districts of southern region including Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong. Nature of these acts of frightening was: (a). Threatening of minority voters for not going to polling booths and using technique of repression to create such atmosphere; (b) to create a state of uneasiness and panic in the minds of minority voters so that they leave their abodes to take shelter in safer areas. The main objective of such act of terrorizing was political, not mere looting or garbing of properties. But the later objective was also fulfilled when the first one was accomplished. 

 The Commission opines that terrorists were able to achieve their objectives to a large extent. In achieving the objectives they resorted to following techniques :

  1. Physical torture, exerting physical and mental pressure;
  2. Destruction of houses, shops, business establishments, looting and setting of fire
  3. Molestation of temples or places of worship, and destruction of deities;
  4. Torture on women and indecent and objectionable behavior towards them;
  5. Extortion of huge amount of money in lieu of protection or threatening them to leave the country.

 Terrorists applied both physical and mental pressure on the members of the minority communities: extortion, threatening to either leave the country or to go away to other places, destruction of houses, looting and setting of fire, molestation of temples etc fall within the mental pressure, whereas raping and sexual torture, occupation of property with physical force, killing or causing severe injuries, physical torture and forced eviction from their abodes etc. constitute physical pressure. All such incidents did take place in the opinion of the Commission.

 Most terrible situation was obtaining in the following zones: all upazilas of the district of Bhola; three constituencies of Barisal district such as Barisal-1 (Gaurnadi-Agaijhra), Barisal-2 (Uzirpur-Babuganj) and a joint constituency of Barisal-Perojpur (Banaripara-Swarupkathi); all upazilas those include 4 constituencies (Patuakhali 1-4) in Patukhali district; sadar upazila of Perojpur and 5-6 upazilas including Nazirpur; 9 upazilas including Raozan, Rangunia, Mirersarai, Anowara in the district of Chittagong; Rupsa and Terokheda upazila in Khulna; sadar, Kachua, Morelganj, Mangla upazilas in Bagerhat; Dagonbhuiyan, Sonagazi, Parasuram, Chhagalnaiya in the district of Feni;  a few upazilas including Shahjadpur in Sirajganj; upazilas of Mithapukur and Badarganj in Rangpur; Devidwar upazila and three other upazilas including Barura of Comilla; a few upazilas including sadar and Kachua in Chandpur district; a few upazilas in Manikganj. Some major incidents of minority repression of pre election period are shown in Appendix 6 (pages 90-95) from which one might get a glimpse of nature, intensity and dimension of atrocities. 

 

Post Election Period

 The nature and characteristics of repression during post election period although to a large extent remained same, but its magnitude, dimension, extension and intensity of atrocity increased manifold. (See pages 5-12; and Appendix 7, pages 95-97).

                Post election wide spread violence rapidly spread throughout Bangladesh. But intensity of atrocities took violent form in the districts under Barisal, Khulna, and Chittagong divisions. After analyzing the reports published in news media and those prepared by different organizations it appeared to the Commission that (1) most severely affected districts are Barisal, Bhola, Bagerhat, and next to these are (2) severely affected districts- Chittagong, Sirajganj, Pabna, and Rajshahi. Mid level terrifying situations were seen in the districts of Jhenaidah, Nator, Gazipur, Kishorgamj, Feni, and Patuakhali etc.

 

2(b). Nature and Characteristics of Repression       

 

The current incidents relating to minority repression may not be classified as communal riots in the conventional sense the term is used. But violence and atrocities committed against minority communities bear some, easily identifiable, unique characteristics. These are, according to judgment of the Commission :

 

  1. With few exceptions towns and cities remained more or less unaffected. On the other hand it spread widely in villages, small towns and suburbs.
  2. No local effective resistance was organized or automatically grew by or from among the local people. One or two isolated individuals when tried to resist or stand by the side of the repressed people they were also severely persecuted. The larger section of the local society witnessed these extremely ugly barbarities like helpless and detached spectators. The Commission came across such a spectator in Lord Hardinge union under Lalmohan upazila. In a survey work conducted by Ain o Salish Kendra and a team of investigation of the Civil Committee in those localities, feelings of a local school head master, a Muslim inhabitant of the nearby locality was recorded. In this locality Annada Prasad is one of the most affected village. He experienced dreadful night of violence and atrocious activities taking place at �Vendor Bari� residence complex in Annada Prasad village. He felt very sad, and knowing fully well these were shameful incidents he did not take any initiative to organize a preventive measure. He spent a sleepless night like a silent observer, though feeling guilty of conscience.
  3. The indifference attitude of police and civil administration and their failure to combat local violent activities were quite apparent. As a result the local miscreants felt encouraged and interpreted police and civil administration�s inaction as direct or indirect support of the government. The armed political cadres and opportunists took full advantage of prevailing anarchical law and order situation. 
  4. All political parties, small or big, progressive or conservative failed to organize effective measures to prevent continued minority persecution. Immediately after the general election when members- men and women of the minority community were being persecuted, their abodes were being looted- burnt to ashes, honour of their daughters-daughter in laws-wives were being molested then at those very moments local leaders of victorious parties or of defeated ones were in safe city-shelters, - some were out of fear, some were out for victory celebration. Indifferent attitudes of local public representatives in the affected areas were apparent almost everywhere. Leaders of most political parties were found wanting to organize preventive measure to counteract evil beastly forces. Even the small parties except issuing statements or visiting some isolated affected localities failed to stand by the side of the persecuted members of the minority communities at their hour of distress and prepare a counter-stroke formation around the affected families.
  5. Mostly affected persons were- helpless wretched villagers i.e. low income-group cultivators, landless cultivators or agriculture based laborers, day laborers, small shopkeepers, fishermen, and poor Adibashis. The womenfolk of these classes of people mostly became victims of gang-raping.
  6. There are some characteristics in the nature of minority repression:

 

From the information available to the Commission it was found-       

 

�         Inhuman physical tortures were affected on the members of the minority communities irrespective of sex and age.

�         Women were physically and sexually tortured irrespective of their marital status and ages: even minor girls of 8-9 years old or elderly women (over 40) were not spared from sexual assaults.

�         Intensity of cruelty in many cases surpassed those of past records. Inventive techniques and methods affecting cruelty and repression were applied. Firearms, chopper, falchion, Chinese axe, hammer, heavy iron rod, iron chain and even drilling machine were used.

�         Extortion, looting of properties of business centres and household properties, destruction, setting of fire etc.

�         Catching of fishes from fish cultivating ponds, forcible occupation and or destruction of shrimp enclaves

�         Destruction of betel leave sheds and cutting of trees from gardens etc.

�         A judiciary system (establishment of public courts) was introduced by the 4-party alliance leaders-workers in the affected areas of the country, especially in Rajshahi district, districts of southwest (Jhenaidaha and Jessore) zones of the country, and southeastern districts (Barisal and Chittagong) for trying those who voted for symbol of boat. Targets were Awami League activists and minorities. In most cases judges elected were local BNP leaders. 

�         Imposition of taxes on minority families in affected areas of various kinds �Safety tax� or �defence tax� and in some other locality �minority tax� in lieu of safety and permission to stay back in the country.

�         In post election days continued threats were given to minority families to immigrate in large scale to India. Migration was of two kinds (1) internal, i.e. shifting to other relatively safer localities within the country, and (2) migration to neighboring country India.

�          Never before such disgraceful insult and dishonor to humanity occurred. Those who were quite respectful in the society even a few days before turned into detestable persons. An ex-student who bestowed his head to his old teacher just a month ago with respect did not feel hesitant to cause severe physical injury to his old teacher, or patients who received treatment from their kind hearted physician days before did not hesitate to ransack his dispensary following the general election.

 

A few incidents of causing disgrace to humanity are cited here as examples:  

 

a. The incident took place in Dewara village under Kalaroa upazila in the southern district of Satkhira. For committing offence of casting vote for boat-symbol an elderly gentleman Eusuf Ali (50) of the village was banned to come to nearby village bazaar by BNP workers of the locality. But for domestic requirement one day he came to the market. The BNP workers and known terrorists urinated on his head in presence of hundreds of people in the bazaar. Even after this distasteful, act no body was arrested by the police (Janakantha, 12. 11. 01)

 

b. One woman, abandoned by her husband, of Chhentia village within Jamalpur Sadar upazila had some quarrel with one BNP worker Alaluddin regarding casting of vote. Alal warned her of severe consequence if she cast vote for �boat�. Taking offence of alleged voting for boat, Alal on 19th October night at about 10 pm dragged her mentally retarded daughter, aged 14, to a near by paddy field and then after pushing a piece of cloth into her mouth he rapped the girl throughout the night

 

c. The place of occurrence of the event was Daspara locality in a village Dashpara within Mirersarai police station. A frightening storm of atrocities blew away fifty Hindu families of the village (Night of 2nd October 2, 2001). The priest of the local temple, a most respected man in the locality, Sunil Das was brutally beaten to death. The matter did not end there. The attackers not only ransacked Hindu mahallah (Ward) but also threatened each and every family of the ward if they did not accept Islam within 10 days they would be forced out to leave for India. (See report of  Ain o Salish Kendra, pages 58, also see page 47)          

 

d. The place of occurrence is Haldarpara Mahalla (ward) of Khetupara union under Santhia upazila of Pabna district. Here live 20 poor Hindu families. Following the victory of 4-party alliance candidate Moulana Matiur Rahman in the election his followers and BNP workers distributed dishes of rice mixed with pulse and beaf to each and every Hindu family. This happened on 9th October, 2001

 

�         Mental Torture : Never before minorities were exposed to such tremendous mental torture and psychological pressure. The type of mental harassment may be enlisted as follows- molestation of temples and places of worship, destruction and steeling of deities, exerting pressure and threat to leave the country, teasing of girls, raping of - daughters in presence of their parents, wives in presence of their husbands, and daughter in laws in presence of their mother in laws.

 

See Appendix 7 (pages, 95-97) where some statistics of minority repression during post election period have been presented

     

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