According to Khan, Hindutva groups - which deny the allegation - have been trying to polarize Hindus for some months in Uttar Pradesh in a bid to create a wave in their favour ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Will there be long-term consequences of these riots?
Khan told IANS: "This will depend on the government. If it does not act against the killers, then the virus will spread. But if the guilty are punished, then a strong message will go out that this is not acceptable."
But despite the violence, Muslims in Uttar Pradesh may not dump the ruling Samajwadi Party, he said.
"This is because Muslims don't have too many options outside of the SP and BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party). The Congress has no structure in UP."
