NEW DELHI: It’s been two years since the north-east Delhi riots, but many of the affected people are still running around incessantly, submitting documents to the sub-divisional magistrate, hoping for compensation that they feel is their due. Some such hopefuls told TOI that they had worn out their shoes visiting the district administrative offices, only to be dismissed with a string of excuses about their cases.
Mustafabad resident Arif’s boutique tailoring shop in Mahalakshmi Enclave was burnt down on February 25, 2020. “I suffered losses of around Rs 6 lakh. I filed an FIR and visited the SDM’s office and was told I needed to fill some forms. This was done, but nothing has happened so far,” said Arif. “I have had to make my sons aged 13 and 15 years quit school and work to make ends meet. We also had to sell the jewellery we had saved for my daughter’s wedding. Only one thing remains for me to do: consume poison and die.”
It’s not just Arif who is at his wit’s end. Many others too are in the same predicament. While some have been asked to produce documents that perished when their houses were destroyed by the mobs, others have been instructed to submit photographic proof of the attack on their properties, which they don’t have having fled from their houses for days altogether.
Shezad Ashgar Zaidi, 50, whose electronics and computer store was looted on February 25 two years ago, said he went to his ransacked shop to locate his education certificates. “Everything, including laptops and other equipment, were gone and whatever remained had been burnt down. I couldn’t find my certificates,” said Zaidi. “I did click some photographs as a record of things that were stolen or burnt, but a mob attacked me and only set me free after I deleted those pictures. How is one supposed to get proof in such a scenario?”
Zaidi claimed having filled several forms and received Rs 5,000 as compensation. “When one has lost not only stocks worth lakhs of rupees but livelihood itself, how is this puny sum going to help? I approached MLAs and MPs, to no avail,” sighed Zaidi.
Mohammad Aslam Khan, 49, resident of Shiv Vihar, ran for his life and the rioters took away his two motorcycles and everything from his house. “We filled forms, provided our bank account numbers, but we have received no help,” he said. “My two bikes only cost around Rs 2 lakh, but the mob also took everything from our home, our fridge, TV and all other essential things. I have four children and don’t know how to secure their future.”
Najis, 33, and her husband, Aseen, 35, suffered a similar fate. The Shiv Vihar residents were lucky to be saved by their Hindu neighbour but lost all their household items. “The rioters broke the rear wall of our house and carted away our belongings. We stayed at Idgah for a month before returning home,” revealed Najis. “My husband suffers dizzy spells frequently and can’t do much work. We have four children and we are surviving on help from here and there.”
Idgah provided temporary residence for a month to Ashrafi Begum, 60, and her husband, Zaleel Khan, too. “The rioters stole the Rs 3 lakh we had collected for our daughter’s wedding as well as the house registry papers,” claimed Begum. “The officials asked us to show proof of the stolen cash and jewellery. We showed pictures of our son’s wedding to prove the jewellery was ours but had no evidence of the cash. This only got us a small sum as compensation.”
Several similarly struggling families in Shiv Vihar are seeking help from Neev-Foundation for Legal Aid. “Most cases for compensation are stagnant in Delhi High Court. Two years after the riots, we are still getting requests for sustenance from the victims,” said Mishika Singh, founder-chairperson, Neev.
This article first appeared on timesofindia.indiatimes.com