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The Supreme Court today issued notice on a plea seeking investigation into alleged inaction of state police during the recent incidents of communal violence in Tripura stating that despite the gravity and sheer magnitude of the incidents, no concrete steps have been taken by the police against the miscreants and rioters.

A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna said in this regard, "We'll issue notice and hear it."

The petition has been filed by Advocate Ehtesham Hashmi through Advocate Prashant Bhushan stating that no arrests have been made by the police of persons who were responsible for desecrating mosques or vandalising shops and delivering hate speeches targeting the Muslim community.

Bhushan submitted that, "Not registering of FIR, sending Section 14A notices against lawyers who presented fact-finding report, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act proceedings against the journalists, not a single arrest has been done."

The plea further states that , "Instead of taking adequate steps to prevent the hate crimes that took place over a period of ten days or providing adequate relief to the victims thereof, the Respondents were hand in glove with the perpetrators of the aforementioned hate crimes."

It was also submitted that, "The Petitioner in the capacity of an advocate had personally visited the places where the aforementioned hate crimes were committed to publish a fact-finding report." 

The said report was published on November 2 by the Petitioner and three other lawyers. The following findings were inter-alia published in the report:

a) 12 Mosques were damaged

b) 9 shops owned by Muslim businessmen were damaged

c) 3 houses owned by Muslims were vandalised.

The plea alleges that, "Muslims are openly targeted by rioters and no protection has been extended to them by the Respondents and no arrests of said rioters has been made by the police authorities."

It states this alleged conduct of the police is arbitrary and mala fide and it affects the victims' right to justice.

Cause Title: Ehtesham Hashmi Vs. Union of India & Ors.