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Kattankudy clashes: HRC report seeks answers from Police Chief
By Asif Fuard
The Human Rights Commission has asked Police Chief Chandra Fernando to respond to a report by the Commission, following what was widely seen as police inaction during the Kattankudy clashes in 2004.

About 200 houses of Sufi followers were allegedly burned down by Wahabi Muslims reportedly over a controversial book published by a Sufi leader. The damage to property was estimated around Rs. 40 million.

Sufi Muslims were forced to leave their villages in the East as Wahabi Muslims reportedly attacked them and torched their houses as local policemen stood by watching.

The report was issued based on an HRC inquiry after ten victims petitioned the Commission citing Police Chief Chandra Fernando, DIG Eastern Province Rohan Abeygunawardena and SSP M. Munasinghe among others are respondents.
The charges against the Police included harassment and physical torture of complainants, failure to provide adequate protection on the day of the attack, October 31 of 2004 and failure to provide protection to the complainants -- even one year after the incident.

According to the HRC report, armed Wahabi Muslims allegedly damaged houses and buildings including an academic bureau and a meditation centre of the Sufi Muslim community.

The report also charged that a person called Hanifa, who had earlier belonged to the Sufi sect, and later joined the Wahabis had been assaulted by the Sufi followers which resulted in more assaults between the rival groups. The reports said that although police had been informed of the escalating attacks, little action had been taken.According to the affidavit of the Kattankudy Police Officer-in-charge, the mobs had been dispersed with the assistance of officers from other police posts and personnel from the Army including the Special Task Force.

Some of the recommendations made by the HRC report included creating an environment that would enable Sufi Muslims to practise their persuasion without hindrance and giving protection to those affected to return to their villages to rebuild their livelihoods and damaged homes.
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