The unrest among the residents of Batla House and adjoining areas following the encounter in September last year made the Delhi Police initiate several measures to restore the peoples confidence in the police. The latest was a play on communal harmony organised by the South East District Police at Ansari Auditorium in Jamia Millia Islamia on Thursday. Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya O Jamiya Nai,is based on how a Muslim family and an old Hindu woman in Lahore bury their differences during Partition and live together under trying circumstances of a divided society. Written by Hindi playwright Dr Asghar Wajahat,the play was staged by the Mitr Cultural Society. Talking to Newsline,DCP (South East) Ajay Choudhary said the play was chosen for its message of communal harmony and peace. In the wake of terrorist attacks in Mumbai and elsewhere,the play is relevant. Sometimes the police have to use literature to play the role of a unifier, he said. The play,organised in association with the Aligarh Muslim University Lawyers Association (AMULA),has been staged in other localities of the city. Talking about the significance of staging the play close to Batla House,Mohinuddin Siddique of AMULA said memories of the recent shootout have to be replaced by better sentiments. We are trying different ways to bury the memories, he said. The AMULA has been helping the Delhi Police to reach out to the residents of Jamia Nagar,Siddique said. On the occasion,the police also informed the audience about the initiatives taken by the police in the last one year,including interactive sessions with the residents of Batla House.
