Hubballi: Chairman of the State Minorities’ Commission Abdul Azeem on Thursday said that a report documenting the communal violence that recently erupted in Old Hubballi would be submitted to the government, along with suggestions on maintaining communal harmony in Karnataka.
Azeem, who paid a visit to those spots in Old Hubballi that had been witness to unrest, expressed regret over the violence. “The incident should never have occurred. I have compiled information from the liaison officers on the case, and everything they have said will be documented in the report,” said Azeem, who discussed the recent unrest in Old Hubballi with the twin cities’ police commissioner.
Azeem stressed the need to constitute peace committees, comprising doctors, lawyers and prominent personalities, to help keep the peace. “I have suggested this to Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner Labhu Ram, who sustained injuries during the communal clashes. I have recommended that he order a fair and bipartisan probe into the incident. Hurling stones at a police station is tantamount to disrespecting the Constitution. Members of any community must not give in to emotional decisions,” he said.
State Minorities’ Commission secretary Mohammed Nazeer, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation commissioner B Gopalakrishna, joint director of social welfare department Purushottam, Hubballi tahsildar Shashidhar Madyal accompanied Azeem on his tour.
Meanwhile, Azeem conferred with prominent members of the Muslim community at a meeting convened at Circuit House. They expressed their opinions, and proffered suggestions on keeping the neighbourhood peaceful.
On his visit to the Hanuman temple, Azeem inspected the windows of the shrine that sustained damage when stones were hurled indiscriminately during the unrest. He also visited the hospital, which bore some of the brunt of the violence.