Homecoming in Naroda for a few hours

A survey team from the District Collectorate came up from behind, but left the family alone for a few moments. When the surveyors finally started asking them questions, the answers came in nods and shrugs.

After a few minutes, Sheikh, a rickshaw driver, put his thumb imprint on the paper thrust in in his hands. ‘‘It hardly matters. Nothing is left,’’ he said and turned away.

A little ahead in Pandit ni Chali, Mansoori Zakir Hussain, a taxi driver, hesitated before entering the narrow lane where his partially demolished house is. Two policemen from the Crime Branch encouraged him to go in, and when he finally did, he broke down. ‘‘I hid some gold bangles and money in this before fleeing,’’ he said, pointing to a small black pouch lying on the floor. Hussain and 450 other residents of Naroda Patiya, who’re now at the Shah Alam relief camp, were brought here today by Crime Branch officials and District Collectorate officers to conduct house-damage surveys. Crime Branch officials initially had a tough time convincing the frightened residents to accompany them to Naroda Patiya, where around 85 Muslims were killed by armed mobs on February 28.

‘‘Around 70 people came in one truck in the morning. They agreed only after we told them that three inspectors, six sub-inspectors and at least 40 policemen would accompany them,’’ Assistant Commissioner M.T. Rana told The Indian Express.

However, once the first truck had left, District Collectorate officials conducting the house-damage surveys were able to persuade others to accompany them as well.

Around 370 people then travelled to Naroda Patiya in three trucks, accompanied by two circle officers and four guards of the Revenue

Department.

Outside, the Naroda main road was swarming with more than 100 Crime Branch and District Collectorate officials. A 50-member team of Crime Branch officials, including writers, recorded panchnamas from the residents whose houses had been reduced to ashes and rubble.

After two-and-a-half months, many said that they could not recall the precise details of the events of February 28 and what they had left behind.

‘‘The panchnama is okay. I am just happy that I could see my home today… whatever remains of it,’’ Mohammed Abdul, a steel furniture maker, said.

Residents carried away whatever was retrievable, especially vessels and stoves. ‘‘We need foodgrains so that we can cook at the relief camp. We are sick of eating the camp food,’’ said Younisbhai. A fortunate few managed to smile through their tears. Ahmed, a mechanic, found his spanking new scooter unharmed although his house was gutted.

An autorickshaw, an engraved Koran case, a boy’s cricket bat and a watch that was still ticking were some other belongings recovered from the debris.

Since the residents are too afraid to leave the camps, District Collectorate teams decided to complete the survey of all those who accompanied them today. Y.W. Christian, Circle Officer and Executive Magistrate in the Revenue Department, said 16 teams had fanned out in Naroda-Patiya today. ‘‘We have to finish this today, otherwise they may not like to come here again tomorrow and the work will remain unfinished. Within two or three days, we will give them the cheques for house compensation,’’ Christian said. ‘‘These people have lost everything. The least we can do is help them get the money as soon as possible.’’