Author: Palak Nandi
Publication: www.expressindia.com
Date: May 9, 2002
URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=16851
These are the 1,000-odd riot victims
for whom relief is an eyewash. While some have been driven away from their
houses, others had no choice but to leave their houses badly damaged in
the riots.
Relief seems to be a far-fetched
idea because since the past 15 days, they have been spending their days
either on the streets or in a half-constructed building.
About 550-odd residents of the Prem
Darwaja Vagheri Vas, Dariyapur, had no choice but to leave behind their
belongings and take shelter in a near-by temple, following the violence
of March 21. These Dalit families claim that they had been attacked by
the people belonging to the minority community, who damaged their houses,
property and drove them out of the area.
''We had no choice but to take shelter
at this temple. However, the temple cannot accommodate all of us hence,
we are compelled to live in this half-constructed building,'' says Gautamiben
Dhirabhai, a resident of the Vagheri Vas.
This half-constructed building is
right opposite the temple, in the same premises and though it does not
have a single fully-built room, it is the 'house' for more than 400 people,
while the remaining sleep in the temple.
The situation is no different at
a similar relief camp in Kalupur. The Bahuchar-Mata-nu-Madir, located at
Bhanderi-ni-Pol at Kalupur, is currently accommodating about 518 riot-affected
victims. They are the residents of areas located between Kalupur Darwaja
and Kalupur Tower and which witnessed violence on March 21.
While a few of these people sleep
at their neighbour's house, some sleep in the temple while the rest, mainly
the men, sleep in the lanes, just outside the temple. The temple area is
called as 'border area' by the local residents, as across the temple is
the locality of the Muslims. ''There is a continuous flow of stones, petrol
bombs and even bullets at times, from across the border. All of us avoid
even going close to the border,'' says Nirmalaben Dave, whose house has
been damaged during the riots.
The inmates of both the camps have
demanded for a building, but as yet none of them have been allotted one.
''We have been demanding for the Kalpur Municipal school number 14 and
19, for a long time now, but we have not been allotted the school building.
Because of the space shortage, these people have no choice but to eat and
sleep in the lanes,'' says Paresh Thakkar, organiser of the camp, who lives
nearby.
For years, both Hindus and Muslims
lived together in the area. Now the mutual trust and faith between the
two communities has been replaced by fear, panic and hatred.
''For more than 60 years, we lived
peacefully and there was never any problem. However, on March 21, a few
people of my locality came to me and told me that I should leave my house
for good and if I return, they will not be responsible for the consequences,''
says Badamiben Prajapari, who lives alone with her son.
''It is not safe for these people
to live here as one does not know when the stone-pelting and violence will
begin. Already, the third floor of my building has been damaged due to
the petrol bombs,'' says Bhagyovadan Khatri, trustee of the temple. But
the refugees are apprehensive about returning to their houses.
''About five of us were injured
in a private firing on March 21. All of us now are very careful and avoid
going to their area, except in a group'', says Hitendra Shah, who was injured
in the incident.
