Business Standard

Tales of amity surfacing from riot-ravaged areas

Image

Press Trust of India Muzaffarnagar
As gory details of communal clashes are propping up from rural areas widening the gulf between two communities, several tales of heroics and amity are also surfacing.

In certain cases, people of the minority community have entrusted majority community with their belongings and cattle before fleeing their homes.

In several villages, people of the majority community gave shelter to people who had fled their homes out of fear.

Mohammad Dilshad, a daily wager and a resident of Dulhera village was all praise for Sanjeev Balyan, 'pradhan' of his village.

"Balyan rescued us from a group of two hundred strong mob," Dilshad said, adding that Balyan with a group of 20 armed villagers saved us from the rioting mob.
 

The village head took us to his home and provided with security, food and shelter and later escorted us to a safe place, he said.

"From there, we came to Islamabad area in Shahpur," he said.

Around 1,500 people from nearby areas, including Kakada, Kutba, Kutbi, Goyla, Garhi have taken refuge in Islamabad locality, said Yunus Ahmad, a resident of the area.

All the Muslims have fled from Kakda village since the eruption of the clashes, leaving behind their cattle and other belongings.

Pramod Kumar of Kakada village said that it was due to rumours that the Muslims have fled their homes.

Kakda village has a population of about 8,000 and out which around 2,000 are Muslims. But not a single Muslim family is left in the village.

Mohd Shanawaz, a resident of Shahpur village, said that Hindus and Muslims were living together for decades but it is for the first time that this kind of incident has happened.

Meanwhile, BKU spokesman Rakesh Tikait said, "Had the government taken timely action, this situation would not have happened.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Sep 11 2013 | 12:15 AM IST

Explore News