Bulldozers Displace Muslim Families in Bareilly: A Community in Crisis | Bareilly News – Times of India

BAREILLY: After a communal clash during a Muharram procession in Bareilly in July led to the death of a Hindu man and injuries on both sides in Gausganj village, an FIR was filed against members of the minority community and 58 out of 65 named individuals were sent to jail. The remaining families had to flee the area as continuous threats made it difficult for them to stay and some of their houses were also razed by bulldozers. Now, almost four months later, these families, comprising mainly marginal farmers and labourers, have no money left to fight the cases. They cannot even return to their homes, or whatever is left of it.
The daughter of a man lodged in jail told TOI on Saturday: “Either our houses were razed, or the belongings were looted. We can’t return home and are forced to live either at our relatives’ place or on the roads. We tried lodging a complaint, but the local officials threatened us. They said that they will only help us enter the village if we don’t file any complaint about our looted houses. The other condition they have kept is that we should ask the remaining accused to surrender, despite the fact we don’t know about their whereabouts.”
Another affected woman said that among the 58 people lodged in jail, five are students, while others are either farmers or labourers. “Our standing crop fields were harvested by locals and our houses were looted. Police are not helping us reclaim our dwellings. In fact, they don’t want most of us to return to our village… Miscreants from both sides were involved in the unfortunate incident that day, but why are only we being targeted?”
A member of another affected family, whose locked house was looted, showed a video in which all the valuables inside were missing. The clip was shot by a member of the majority community. The village had never witnessed any communal clashes since independence, despite there being a mixed population of both communities, she pointed out.
Moreover, there are two minors — 16 and 17 — among the five students arrested by the cops. Their studies are impacted and careers ruined by this case. “There were 10 guests from other villages, and they also paid the price of being here. Everything seems nightmarish. We don’t see a ray of hope anywhere,” the woman added.
When queried, additional SP (Bareilly) Mukesh Mishra told TOI: “There are a few accused still not apprehended in the case, and the investigation is on. Also, we have not received any written complaint from any Muslim family requesting help. In case their houses are looted, they can definitely register an FIR at the police station, and the police will take action.”
Bareilly SSP Anurag Arya was unavailable to comment on the matter.