Naroda Patiya 2012: Fear lingers,hope lives

300-odd Muslim families still feel unsafe some times,but a few are also partners in business of Hindu friends.

3 min readAhmedabadFeb 28, 2012 05:02 AM IST First published on: Feb 28, 2012 at 05:02 AM IST

“Where and how to flee this area is on top of our minds,” says 60-year-old Zubeida Sheikh,a riot survivor still living at Naroda Patiya,where rioters left over 100 dead in this eastern locality of the city in 2002.

“We are hearing a lot of rumours,mainly about a possible bandh call given by some Hindu groups for tomorrow. We are scared as 300-odd families living in this area are surrounded by residential areas of Hindus,” says a frail looking Zubeida,who lost her husband in the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre.

“But I do not have a place to flee to. I will continue to stick to this place as long as I live,” says the widow,soon realising her helplessness.

She is not the lone terrified soul here.

“Fearing trouble,a few families have already left the place. Even I am ready to leave by evening if tensions mount,” says Zeburnissa Nagori,who lives in a one-room accommodation with her teenage daughter.

Families are looking to take refuge with friends and relatives living in Vatva and Juhapura (that have Muslim ghettos).

Nazirkhan Pathan,who escaped the rioters in 2002 by hiding himself inside an underground water tank,says some members of the majority community still treat them with suspicion.

Pathan,who is in-charge of the Iqra primary school,set up after the 2002 riots in the area,says,“Currently,there are about 120 students studying here. Only 10 of them are from Hindu families. There numbers were more earlier,but the distrust between the two communities saw many leave.”

“There are no Muslim localities nearby. So whenever tensions run high — it was tense when the verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case came — the families living here start thinking of escape routes,” says Maulana Sheikh Masood Alfaizani,the young Imam of the local mosque.

However,there are some who are willing to put the bloody past behind.

Jayprakash Gavender,who runs the Amber Cotton Threads in partnership with three Muslims in Jawahar Nagar,says,“I feel completely safe coming to this part of the city. There is complete harmony and understanding between the partners as well.”

Mohammed Javed,one of the three 12th grade Muslim students studying at Krishna Nagar Vidya Vihar school,says,“We are all friends. I do not feel discriminated because I come from a different community.”