Last hope for riot-hit fades

Javed is not the only one to be in such a situation. Hundreds of inmates of Haj House in Kalupur and Qureshi Hall in Mirzapur are facing the same problem.

The news about closure of the camps has come as a big blow to Hatijabiwi Munar Shah Sheikh, who lost her son five days ago due to prolonged illness. Her younger son had died during the Gulbarg massacre. ‘‘My sons were the earning members of my family. Where am I to go with two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren?’’

The relief camps at Vatva and Khanpur closed down earlier this week. As many as 500 riot victims are living at Qureshi Hall and a similar number have sheltered at Haj House. Most inmates of Haj House have shifted to a friend’s or relative’s place but the inmates of Qureshi Hall are facing a dilemma. Most of them are residents of Chamanpura, Behrampura, Naroda-Patiya, Gomtipur and Saijpur-Patiya areas.

Organiser of Qureshi Hall Attaulah Khan Pathan said, ‘‘We understand their problem. They have no place to go and no money to rent a house. But how long are we supposed to run the camp? We have requested the Collectorate to make some arrangements for these people.’’

City Additional Collector Gaurav Prajapati said that the camp organisers had given in writing their request for closure of the camps. ‘‘The camps have been declared closed only after the organisers gave a written intimation to Collectorate officials about a week ago,’’ he said.