Under the leadership of Dausa MP Sachin Pilot, representatives of the Gurjjar community from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttaranchal came to Peelikheda on Tuesday and handed over cheques of Rs 3.75 lakh to the family members of the 24 Gurjjars who died during the agitation. Using the money raised by community members in other states, they also handed over Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 10,000 to those with less severe injuries.

“By providing financial help and specially coming down to hand it over, the Gurjjars of other states want to make it clear to those of Rajasthan that they are with them through thick and thin,” said Pilot.

Last week Pilot had toured 24 villages in five districts which were badly affected during the agitation and voiced his concern over the vindictive attitude of the police. “It is as if the police and the State Government are out to take revenge. It is shameful that in Rajasthan one gets death as punishment for blocking roads or finds his name in police records for crimes he never committed,” the Dausa MP said, claiming that several youths from his constituency had not returned home till date out of fear of being arrested.

“One cannot frame charges against 12-year-olds, nor should the police act with a bias against the community. Gurjjars in the state today are feeling just as unsafe as minorities after a communal violence. They are a terrified lot,” said Pilot, adding that he had demanded a CBI inquiry into the police firing at Peelikheda on May 29.

The residents of Peelikheda still seem to be in a state of shock. “It will be a week more before I will be able to go back to work. Being the only earning member of a family of seven, I want to start working as soon as possible and my family has already started feeling the pinch,” said Ramsingh, who was injured in the violence. For him, the reservation issue is best forgotten for now. “We will worry about that after three months. As of now I have to think about buying a meal for the children,” he said.

However, not all think so. Most community members are now looking forward to the national mahapanchayat at Pushkar on Sunday. Posters of the event were being distributed at Peelikheda and one was stuck to almost every vehicle that had carried the Gurjjars to the village on Tuesday.