Prevailing tension in Muhammadpur Raisingh and Hussainpur villages of Muzaffarnagar ruined festive mood in the district as majority of villagers confined themselves to celebratory worshipping and rituals only.
Residents of the riot-hit district, particularly in rural areas, preferred to remain indoors on Sunday fearing backlash. local traders claimed that communal flare-up hit the sales, which nosedived to 50 per cent this festival season.
Meanwhile, rioters kept prowling in groups in villages. Therefore, majority of people from both communities preferred to stay put at homes.“We only come out when it is unavoidable and we have to purchase essentials. We prefer to walk in groups to avert any possible attack. This Diwali, we just performed rituals,” said a resident of Meenakshi Chowk area of Muzaffarnagar city.
Meanwhile, two youth died and another was injured when a group of rioters opened fire at them on Sunday in Rampuri area. Mukul Sharma and Shashank Tyagi, both residents of the same locality, died in the attack. They were attacked near Sherpur Chungi when they were coming from nearby bus stand on a motorbike. The rioters hit their vehicle from behind and then opened fire. The victims tried to escape but were surrounded by hooligans and were beaten brutally. Mukul died on the spot, while Shashank succumbed at hospital. Critically injured Pankaj Tyagi is admitted at Anand Hospital in Meerut.
Miscreants have also started taking advantage of vulnerability of people in relief camps. A gangrape incident was reported from a relief camp situated in Shamli area on Saturday evening.
Two persons have been arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl who was staying at a relief camp in Fugana area. Police said residents of Fugana village managed to sneak into the shelter at the Jogya Kheri village and forced the victim and her eight-year-old sister to accompany them. They took them to a nearby field where they took turns to rape her. Victim’s sister raised an alarm and villagers of neighbouring area reached the spot and caught the duo. They were thrashed before being handed over to the police.
When the news of the killing of youths from majority community spread in the city, police tightened the security arrangement and conducted flag march at various parts but the situation were visibly tense.
Angry locals also blocked roads at Rampuri and pelted stones at policemen. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and sought a compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the kin of the victims.Meanwhile, refugees, residing at 17 relief camps, have blamed the UP Government and district administration for their poor condition.
They have said that earlier the authorities promised to rehabilitate and compensate them properly but they are still waiting for the help. Even not a single consignment of food was supplied by the government in any relief camp in last two weeks and the people are forced to live in worse condition.
“We are on mercy of god as no official or representative of the UP Government have come to address our problems. Even they have not given a single penny to the victims and refugees and have not provided land for making houses. We will raise the issue in mahapanchayat on November 7 and if necessary we will meet Akhilesh Yadav also,” said Zahoor Hasan, a cleric helping refugees in a relief camp in Bassi-Kalan area.