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Authorities battle to contain communal tinderbox in Malpura

Josy Joseph in Malpura, Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government, struggling to restore normalcy in Malpura, is worried about the possibility of communal tension spreading to rural areas, which it believes could be "explosive".

Villages in Rajasthan, scattered along mountains and deserts, are treacherous to reach. It is not possible for the police and other authorities to reach villages in time in case of a flare-up.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Singh Shekhawat told rediff.com that the government is "tightening security in villages and getting more Rapid Action Force and state police personnel to patrol villages. We have also formed village level committees and appointed liaison officers to deal with security agencies."

He said police protection has been provided to 56 villages around Malpura. Malpura and Tonk are under heavy police guard and curfew continues.

"The state government is keeping a close watch on the situation in the villages. We won't allow the tension to spread," he said.

The problem is compounded by the fact that in the villages everyone knows everybody else.

Deputy Inspector General Satyanarayan Jain admits that it is this factor that makes Malpura, town of just 25,000 people, a communal tinderbox.

Shekhawat says trouble started in Malpura only after Kailash Mali, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader whose murder started the present round of riots, returned to the town.

The minister rules out any external involvement in the riots. "Not at all, we have investigated that. There are no external elements involved. It is between local people," he told rediff.com.

Malpura has about 10,000 Muslims and 22,000 Hindus.

"The '92 riots created a lot of bitterness. The town never recovered from it," the police officer says.

Ramodhar Khera, a supporter of Mali, says, "We are divided forever."

Another, Ram Gopal, adds, "When Muslims attacked us in 1992 we only retaliated."

In villages silent walls are coming up and communities are beginning to speak the language of hatred. It's a communal cauldron that the authorities are desperately trying to contain.

RELATED REPORT:
One murder led to a communal carnage

EARLIER REPORTS:
Curfew imposed on Tonk city
Curfew in Malpora town following communal clashes

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