Several riot-displaced families that had taken refuge in Asara,a predominantly Muslim Jat village in Baghpat,have gone back to their homes,or what is left of them. But many are yet to muster the courage or the resources. Like Zaheer,who couldnt go back even for the marriage of his three children. For there isnt anything left to return to. Abbu had kept some jewellery,foodgrain and other things aside for our wedding but now everything is lost, says Shama Perveen. So,her father had no choice but to cancel the wedding of Shama and her sister Anjum planned for September 20 and the Nikah of their brother Irfan the next day. Zaheer of Lisad village in Shamli provided for his wife and four children by ferrying schoolchildren in his jugaad,a low-cost vehicle assembled locally. That was until September 5. That day,the Jat khap panchayat met and demanded compensation for two boys who had been killed reportedly by Muslims. The murdered boys had earlier killed Shahnawaz. It wasnt long before the tension over the killings turned into a communal cauldron with some people asking for the removal of local SP Abdul Hamid. Someone informed Zaheers family on the phone that some people at the panchayat were planning attacks on Muslim villages. Zaheer and his family ran for their lives. We ran without even slippers. Our village had just 25 houses and we didnt know if our neighbours would attack us or those from outside. I have since called up people from my village and they say our house has been levelled, says Irfan,struggling to control his emotions. My mother wanted to start a clothes and tailoring business and had bought on loan Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh worth of clothes and fabrics. I am sure all that has also been destroyed. Although they are safe for now in his uncle Sulaiman Thekedars house in Baghpat,Irfan is overtaken with worry whenever he hears someone approaching. And they have all but given up hope of going home anytime soon,assurances of safety notwithstanding. How can we go back if the same people who,for all we know,looted our lives and set our homes on fire are the ones calling us back? asks Shama. Her uncle Thekedar adds,In Lisad,at least 119 huts have been razed to ground. Since no one from the administration or anyone else who can be trusted to be in charge or bring peace has made any effort to contact them,they cannot even think of going back.
