Seven days after riots broke out in North-east Delhi, people are facing acute shortage of chicken, mutton and fish around 100 meat shops have been burnt and vandalised in Karawal Nagar, Chand Bagh, Khajuri Khas, Dayal Pur, Bhajanpura, Shiv Vihar, Brijpuri and Maujpur areas. The meat shops mostly belonged to Quraishi community which is traditionally involved in the meat trade.
Meanwhile, the situation in northeast Delhi on Sunday morning remained peaceful with residents gradually coming to terms with the damage in communal riots in the area earlier this week. Security personnel have been conducting flag marches and holding regular consultations with locals to assuage their fears.
Shabir Qureshi who owns a meat shop in Chand Bagh area said that his shop has been burnt by unidentified mobs. "I have lost my livelihood. The shop was on rent. Now everything has been finished. In the last four-five weeks, we have seen 10-20 percent loss on earning in our chicken sell due to rumor of coronovirus in chicken", said Qureshi adding that he has no money and his sister's marriage is fixed for May.
Bilal mutton shop owner Akeel said that nothing has left in the shop. Mobsters looted the shop and vandalised it. His shop was on Chand Bagh road. There were over 100 meat shops that burnt and vandalised during riots on February 24 and 25.
Devanand Nagar, whose chicken shop in Karawal Nagar also vandalised by rioters on intervening night of February 25-26. Devanand said that there was 500 kg mutton and 500 chicken at the shop when it was looted. He has had to supply muttion to a caterer at a marriage party in Bhajanpura on the same day. He said that it will take 10-15 days to renovate the shop. Most of the shop owners are lower middle class in these areas. Their business was down due to rumour that chicken is infected with coronovirus.
According to Nasir Ali, president of Ghazipur Fish and Chickent market, said that supply of chicken and fish in riot affected areas has not been resumed so far. It is estimated that 50-60 percent meat supply from Ghazipur market to these areas.
Local residents say that there is no chicken and mutton shops left in riot affected areas in Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Khajuri Khas, Karawal Nagar, Johripur, Maujpur areas. The violence in northeast Delhi has claimed at least 42 lives and left over 200 injured.