Year since Ikhlaq’s death, communal faultlines get deeper
BISADA: A group of youngsters stop your car at the entrance of Bisada village in Uttar Pradesh’s Dadri, about 50km from New Delhi. They demand to know who you wish to see, and why.
After the probe and a few phone calls, they let you pass, but with a warning. “Do not roam around for too long, especially in the area where the Muslims live.”
The communal cauldron continues to simmer in Bisada, a year since 55-year-old Mohammad Ikhlaq was lynched on the suspicion of slaughtering a cow for a family feast.
Hindu families have stopped visiting their Muslim friends. The Azaan during Namaz is not played on the loudspeaker. Kids from the two communities do not play matches and no festivals are celebrated together.
“It is not the same anymore,” says Rahul, one of the boys doing sentry duty at the entrance.
“Earlier people used to come out in the evening and sit together to discuss politics, games and films. Women used to go to buy vegetables. Kids used to play cricket matches, but after the incident, everyone prefers staying indoors. The Muslims do not come to this side where we live and we do not go near the Masjid,” he says.
Hindu families are vexed over the arrest of 18 youngsters for allegedly killing Ikhlaq, apprehensive Muslims have sent their kids out of the village over fears of being cornered.
“If they can kill Ikhlaq, they can even target us too. We have asked our children to stay in Dadri and not come back,” says Mohammed Azhar, a villager.
“In most Muslim households, the men were employed by Hindus as carpenters or ironsmiths, but since the incident, they have stopped engaging us, so there is no work left here. It is better that our children stay out and work in Dadri, which is safer,” he says.
Fellow villager Mohammed Iqbal asks his children to stay indoors, he fears for his family’s safety and wants to live.
“Though no one admits it openly, there is fear. Earlier, we all used to visit each other on festivals. Since the incident, the Azaan is not followed on the mike. It is all done quietly. We are in a minority and we can not afford to raise our voice .”
Hindu families have started blaming Muslims for the arrest of their children.
Kiran Rana, mother of accused Vishal, calls the arrest a “political gimmick” for votes.
“The government is being proMuslim because they need to build a vote bank. They cannot afford to ignore them. To prove their sympathy, they have put my son behind bars and given crores to Ikhlaq’s family as compensation,” she says.
Earlier people used to come out in the evening and sit together to discuss politics, games and films... but after the incident, the Muslims do not come this side where we live and we do not go near the Masjid. RAHUL, A local resident
“Now it is proven that he slaughtered a cow, then why is his brother not being arrested?” she says. “My children were not armed. The killing was not pre planned.”
Dheeraj Singh, father of Saurabh and Gaurav, who were also arrested, shares similar views.
“Police randomly picked up children from Hindu households without investigation, just because they were under pressure to make arrests. Both my sons were sleeping when the incident happened. I have been shuttling between court and police station, leaving all my work, to ensure that justice is done. But a year has passed and my sons are still behind bars. No Judge is ready to give them bail,” he says.
Om Vir, father of Sandeep, another accused, is angry. Says his son is innocent because he was recovering from malaria that unfortunate night and sleeping next to him. “We heard the mob shouting but did not even step outside the house. Why was he arrested? The anger among us Hindus for Muslims is justified. While we are suffering here, Ikhlaq’s family is being facilitated, like he was martyred. For what? Slaughtering a cow?” he asks.