Fearing backlash, many flee Masuri

At the epicentre of the mob violence in Masuri, the fear is palpable. Dreading possible police reprisals and arrests, many of the residents, particularly those living around the police station, have fled the town to their relatives' places, while some have even moved into hotels.

An mob attack on the Masuri police station on Friday night claimed six lives and left several more injured. The list of injured includes a dozen police personnel, including a sub-inspector and a head constable, who are currently in a critical condition.

Since Friday night, riot vehicles, flag marches and combat boots have invaded Masuri's usual sleepy silence. At present, at least a 1,000 police personnel, mostly armed, have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Rashid Hussain, who lives a few hundred metres away from the Masuri police station, said two families he has known for decades have already left.

"The mob on Friday attacked the police station. This has never happened before in this area and we are all scared. My friends who live behind the police station fear they will be picked up. So they have left Masuri to go to stay with their relatives elsewhere," Hussain said.

Uttar Pradesh All India Milli Council President A M Gulzar Qasmi echoes Hussain's sentiments. "We have been visiting the affected areas in Masuri and everybody is scared of a police reprisal. They have all heard of what happens in the wake of such attacks and have decided to move out," Qasmi said.

He said a group of elders were trying to defuse the situation, but to little avail. "Masuri has never seen something like this before and nobody knows how to react," Qasmi said.

A group of maulanas from villages and towns around Masuri, have banded together to bring about a modicum of peace and comfort to the families of those who were killed in the violence.

... contd.

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