Days after attacks, the fear-stricken Muslims are leaving Gurugram-Nuh area of Haryana. Imran Ali, a migrant worker from Bihar, said, “My family does not want money. They only want me to return back to the village.” He had fled Gu-rugram, also known as Gurgaon, in fear during the violence on July 31.
Ali (25) had returned to Gurugram two weeks after violence only to collect his belongings. He told the media that his family strictly told him not to work in Gurugram and to return immediately. He said, even after much persuasion, they did not agree and asked him to return back immediately.
On July 31, anti-Muslim riots erupted in Nuh distirct of Haryana after Hindus during a Yatra used abusive language against Muslims. Six people were killed while 88 were grievously injured in the riots.
A Muslim resident of Nuh, whose house was razed by the authorities during demolition drive, said that he had long expected that BJP’s religious rhetoric will cause riots in their area which will target Muslims.
The Nuh violence had spread to Gurugram, as mobs rampaged through the streets, chanting Hin-dutva slogans and targeting Muslim shanties and businesses. The Gurugram police had failed to stop the riots. So far, 230 people have been detained by the Nuh Police while 79 people have been arrested by the Gurugram Police in connection with the riots.
“Hindu groups are openly spreading hate against us. Among hundreds of people, the Hindu groups are announcing to boycott Muslims, not buying anything from our shops, and not renting out houses, etc. They ruin our business and hundreds of Muslims have left Gurugram. However, few of them will return after the situation gets back to normal. Police and administration completely failed to protect Muslims in their own country,” said Ahmad Khan, while leaving the city.
“Hindus think everything in this country be-longs to them: the police, the administration, and now even the roads. It is as if we Muslims have no rights in this country,” Khan said.
After riots erupted shanties and scrap shops belonging to Muslims were set ablaze in Gurugram. In Gurugram’s Sector-57, a mob also targeted an under-construction Mosque and attacked five people in which an Imam (cleric) was killed while others received injuries.—KMS
