Saharsa village mourns its sons
NARIYAR (SAHARSA): Anger and gloom gripped the Nariyar village in Sahara over death of seven of its residents in the horrific fire in Delhi.
While kith and kin of the deceased are waiting for the bodies of their loved ones, father of a an alleged factory owner, Md Zubair, is facing wrath of the villagers. Zubair, who is also a resident of the village, produced jackets at his factory. He is said to have taken as many as 50 persons, mostly between 13-30 age group, of the village, 10 kilometres away from district headquarters, to New Delhi to work at the factory at Anaj Mandi where 43 people lost their lives in the devastating fire on Sunday.
Zubair’s father Hasan Imam is facing the ire of the locals who hold his son, who lives with his family in Delhi, responsible for the deaths.
Md Sattar, 70, resident of Nariyar village lost two of his sons, Md Mubarak (24) and Md Gyasuddin
(22). “My sons worked in Zubair’s jacket factory...he killed my sons.” He further alleged that Zubair would keep his sons locked inside the building which gutted. “They took my sons to Delhi and later they were kept like slaves with no freedom to move anywhere and they had to spend their lives under strict surveillance,” he alleged.
Md Khursheed Alam, who lost his 18-year-old son, Md Faisal, said it was mistake on his part to believe in Zubair promise.
“He ruined me...i could remember how he took my son when he was just 13 making big promises,” tears welled up in his eyes. He alleged, “Zubair locked the labourers inside the building so that they could not escape.” He burst into tears while recalling his son’s phone call when he was trapped in the fire. “My son continued to call me till he was burnt to death...i was here helpless,” he said and became unconscious.
Md Wasim, who lost his father Md Shamim, 50, said, “My father also worked in jacket factory and used to send money to support the family of five children.”
The wait for deceased families to get the bodies are getting longer. Due to procedural formalities the body could not reach the village on Monday. The bodies are likely to reach the respective villages by Tuesday.
At least nine people of Saharsa and one of Araria were killed in devastating fire.
Saharsa sub-divisional officer (SDO) Shambhu Nath Jha said “Eight people, seven of Nariyar village and one of Nauhatta village, were killed in fire.” He added, “We are arranging to bring their bodies back to their families.”