|
|
|
|
|
On Eid, Saharanpur cloaked in curfew Saharanpur, July 29 Three days after a clash between Sikhs and Muslims over disputed land had left three dead and many injured, the trust-deficit between the two communities, heavy barricading and cops on vigil kept people apart. Curfew was relaxed for three hours in the morning permitting Muslims to offer prayers at the local Idgah and mosques, but it failed to cheer the community members who headed straight back home after prayers. There were no street stalls selling sweets, no vendors vying for people’s attention, no toys for kids, no air of merry-making and no camaraderie associated with Eid. There was only the rush to get back home safe. Fear loomed large on deserted streets and tension was palpable as a contingent of cops stood guard on the Ambala road that separated the Sikh and Muslim strongholds. Torched vehicles and shops came as a frightening reminder of all that had transpired in the wee hours of July 26 when Sikhs and Muslims had come to blows near Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara. The clash was triggered by a dispute over land the gurdwara claims to own, while Muslims believe that a mosque stood at the site not so long ago. The construction of a hall at the “disputed” site triggered collapse of the on-the-surface bonhomie that existed between the communities as its members took each other head-on and the police could do little. People of both the communities believe the tragedy had been simmering for over two years. Gurdwara’s executive member Gurnam Singh said on the night of clash Muslims had come with country-made pistols, a self-inflammable chemical and hand bombs and had attacked the gurudwara and sewaks. “We want houses of Muslims to be searched so that all these illegal weapons are recovered. We also need police protection. Those who attacked us were instigated by a local leader who had a criminal bent of mind and made money by disturbing the city’s peace,” he said. However, those left disheartened on a day of celebrations were children. Mohd Raza, 10, Mohd Kaif, 8, and their friends admitted that there had never been such a “dull” Eid. “We didn’t get gifts, Eidi, new clothes and good food. Markets were closed, no milk was available to make seweiyan and we could not visit our relatives. The elders say that a clash between Sikhs and Muslims has disrupted life. We are scared whenever the police comes calling,” Raza said. Qazi Sultan Akhtar’s son Nadeem Akhtar, also the additional Qazi who manages the affairs for his father, said they were ready for a dialogue with Sikhs. “Our priority is to restore peace in the city. We will cooperate in whatever way we can but construction cannot happen where the mosque stood,” he said. As Eid ends, menacing clouds still hover in the sky with neither side willing to relent. Singh alleged that a local leader instigated the violence and the police also witnessed the miscreants firing in the air and hurling bombs and stones at members of the Sikh community. “There is no dispute over any piece of land as it belongs to us. We have orders from the district courts to substantiate our claim. The court, in its order, had categorically, mentioned that there was no mosque at the site as is being claimed by the other community (Muslims). Everything is in our favour, including a report by the City Magistrate, and we are still being denied our right,” he said, adding that the construction of a hall on the gurdwara premises had been going on for long on the plot.
Claiming that loss had taken place on both sides, the qazi said a dialogue must begin to restore peace and harmony. “If they have court orders, they must produce it before the administration. The members of both the communities could have discussed the matter and arrived at a consensus. However, the quiet manner in which they went about constructing the hall did anger members of our community. They burned our shops in their area and our men went on a rampage in theirs, but we must now pick up the pieces and re-build the harmony of our city,” he
emphasised.
Tension mars festivities in riot-hit city of UP Saharanpur, July 29 In the first phase, the curfew was lifted from 7 am to 11 am in Old Saharanpur, a Muslim-dominated area. People went in nearby mosques and Eidgah to offer prayers. No public celebrations were allowed to be held near the mosques or Eidgah as in the past. In view of the prevailing tense situation, the administration reportedly didn’t allow people to offer prayers in five mosques falling in Hindu- and Sikh-dominated areas in New Saharanpur and one in Old Saharanpur. In the second phase, the curfew was lifted in Hindu- and Sikh-dominated areas in New Saharanpur from 3 pm to 7 pm. But residents here preferred to stay indoors and most roads wore a deserted look. District Magistrate Sandhya Tiwari said 165 establishments, including shops and rehris, had been identified which were damaged during violence. She said the number of damaged shops might go up as the survey by patwaris was on. She said 22 FIRs had been lodged and 44 persons had been arrested in connection with the violence so far. More arrests would be made soon, she said. Three persons were killed and 33 others injured as communal clashes broke out here over the construction of a hall in a gurdwara on Saturday. Mobs had gone on rampage, looting shops and setting them on fire. Vehicles were also torched.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Satwinder Singh said the entire operation was pre-planned, as a Muslim coming to a mosque to offer prayers could not have come armed with chemicals, pistols and bombs. He demanded a thorough probe into the violence. 
However, Akhtar claimed a private mosque at the “disputed site” existed as late as 2010, but it was demolished and the gurdwara started the construction. “We are not against the gurdwara but the plot where the mosque existed has to be left out since the original owner of the land, Hasan
Ashari, never sold that piece of land. Also, if the gurdwara carries out construction under the cover of darkness, there is something fishy about it,” he said.