Congress team reports 'police excesses' in Bharatpur

"Police excesses" have occurred in Bharatpur communal riots in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, a fact finding team of the party has said in a report submitted to Sonia Gandhi, sources said.

The team, which conducted a survey of riot-affected area, also examined the "firing in the mosque" during the riots between Meo Muslims and Gujjars. All the eight persons killed belonged to the minority community.

"There have been police excesses," a Congress leader, who declined to be identified, said.

The Congress delegation, which visited Bharatpur on Monday and submitted its report on Tuesday, included Vijay Bahuguna, Rashid Alvi, Viplov Thakur and Deepender Hooda.

The violence had broken out over a land dispute. The team met members of both communities and district officials during which the locals are learnt to have told them that the government did not take pre-emtive steps and the situation would not have flared up had such measures been taken.

Rajasthan PCC chief Chandrabhan yesterday told PTI in Jaipur that "administrative lapse" was responsible for the violent clash in Bharatpur.

He also said that the unfortunate incident could have been averted if the district administration officials had taken timely action.

Alvi, however, steered clear of such questions saying, "It will not be proper to point out when a judicial inquiry as also a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry has been ordered.

"We are satisfied that the government has announced a CBI as also a judicial inquiry." He also said that the state government had immediately transferred the DM, SP and Additional SP of Bharatpur after the incident and paid compensations of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of each of the victims.