Concerned over the demolition of a centuries-old dargah in Vadodara that led to communal flare-up, the Centre on Tuesday said the role of the police during the violence would be probed and those found guilty punished.
"There is a Places of Worship Act which guaranteed status quo to any structure existing on August 15, 1947. Cases could be filed against those who have violated this law and punished," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in Rajya Sabha.
Replying to clarifications sought by some members to a short duration discussion on the Vadodara violence which killed six persons, the minister said the Centre directly cannot do so as "we don't have the right to intervene directly in state matters".
Patil said people's sentiments should be kept in mind and not how old the dargah was -- 50, 100 or 300 years old.
On the role of the police during the violence in Vadodara, the Home Minister said he has received different versions on it, but assured the House that an inquiry will be conducted and those found guilty would be punished.
On the issue of compensation to the victims, he said it has been the stand of the United Progressive Alliance government to provide compensation to the innocent killed. "We will see what the state government has done. Otherwise, we will think what the Centre can do from its side," he said.
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