Rukhsar, a riot victim from Bawdi Village, is living in a relief camp in Tiwali Village and does not want to go back home as she fears for her life. The memory of the violence that engulfed Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts for nearly two weeks is still fresh in Rukhsar's mind, as the 18-year-old allegedly saw eight of her relatives being killed by a mob. The teenager saved her life by taking shelter in a hideout near the village for two days.
later, Rukhsar somehow managed to reach the relief camp and has been living here since then.The hapless girl, who frequently breaks into sobs, is desperately searching for her parents who have gone missing from the time violence erupted in the area.
Though Rukhsar is living among a crowd of 1,500 people, she feels lost and alone in the crowd and keeps searching for her parents and relatives.Recalling the horror of the riot, Rukhsar said that their neighbours, who belonged to different communities, had locked them in a house to keep them safe.
"However, the rioters came to know of the safe house and set it on fire. When we attempted to escape, the hoodlums fired bullets at us and killed eight people, including my uncle, cousins, sisters and other relatives. My father and mother, who somehow managed to flee, have been missing since then," she said between sobs.
Rukhsar is not the only riot victim who does not want to go back to her village. Insecurity and fear is looming large over the 50,000-odd victims who have taken refuge in 45 relief camps in Western Uttar Pradesh. None of them are willing to return to their villages and homes as they still fear for their lives.
The victims, while blaming the local administration for the whole incident, said that the hoodlums are still active in many areas and if they return to their villages, they will be targeted by the rioters.
The displaced people have requested the district administration to provide permanent accommodations in those areas where people of their own community reside. The scene at Kamalpur relief camp, where several Hindus have taken shelter, is no different from the one in Tiwali Village.
lokendra Kumar, a labourer from Shahpur Village who is now living in a shelter with other members of his family in Kamalpur Village, said he was displaced from the village on September 7 and cannot go back home as he fears that the risk to his life and that of his family is very great.
Narrating the incident, Kumar said that three of his neighbours were eliminated by the mob who wanted to kill his family also. luckily they managed to flee and succeeded in reaching the shelter.
"I am a debt-ridden labourer and the sole bread earner in my family. The recent crisis has put me in deep trouble. I can't decide what to do with my life and where to live as the safety of my family is of paramount importance to me," he said.
As if the loss of homes, belongings and livelihoods is not enough to cope with, the victims residing in these shelters have to deal with inadequate food supply and poor sanitation facilities.
Many claim only those camps that were visited by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav are looking after the victims well and the others are in shambles.
lamenting the loss of lives, the people are blaming the inaction of the local administration and the State Government for the tough situation they find themselves in.
"So many people have been displaced from their homes and are being forced to live in relief camps. Though the locals have been offering them food and other articles for the last two weeks, the Government has no time to take care of them. Only those camps which were visited by the Prime Minister and UP Chief Minister are being provided with food and other relief material," said Haji Said, who has been managing a relief camp in Tiwali Village in Shahpur.
Wajid Saifi, a riot victim, whose hand was injured during the riots, was very critical of Akhilesh Yadav.
Saifi said that when he showed his injuries to the CM and said that he could have died if the weapon had touched the upper part of his body, the CM cut him short, saying: "You are safe, so no need to imagine what could have happened."