A week after Pratapgarh violence,no Muslim family has returned home

Azam Ansari,a resident of Pariyawan village nearly 4 km from Asthan,said people had seen how police virtually remained mute spectators even as their houses were burnt for several hours.

“I took an 18-year-old boy to his house in Asthan. He could not muster the courage to enter his house. He stopped about 50 metres from the village and cried inconsolably. We had to return,” said Ansari. His maternal aunt used to live in Asthan. But she is now putting up at the madarsa in Barai near Kunda,where most of the “refugees” have been accommodated.

Ansari added that it was the visit of the politicians that vitiated the atmosphere.

The police,however,claimed that the safety of those wanting to come home would not be compromised. “At least four platoons of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC),along with four station officers,have been stationed in the village. Further,Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl SP),Hamirpur,Circle Officer (Soraon) from Allahabad and the newly appointed CO of Kunda were keeping an eye on the situation,” said Addl SP (Pratapgarh),Radhey Shyam. Kiran S,who has been appointed as the new SP of Pratapgarh following suspension of the then SP O P Sagar,but is yet to take charge.

The ASP added that nearly half a dozen suspects have been detained. “We are trying to ascertain their identity. Efforts are also on to nab others,” he said.

Asked whether the victims had begun returning,Shyam said: “A few of them are coming to have a look. However,many of them want more compensation.”

State Urban Development Minister Azam Khan,who was in town on Thursday,had told mediapersons that burning houses and property was a new and dangerous trend. “It was done in Kosi Kalan and now it has happened in Asthan. This is dangerous,” he had said.

Mohammad Akram Ansari,president of Momin Ansar Sabha,an organisation that takes up the cause of weavers’ community,said that the compensation given by the state government was too little. “The government has announced Rs 50,000,but it is too little for families whose belongings were either been burnt or looted.”

Asthan Muslims are mostly weavers,many of whom work on powerlooms in Bhiwandi,Maharashtra.