This Article is From Oct 07, 2015

In a Corner of Uttar Pradesh, a Fortress Called Bisada

The entry of outsiders is stictly monitored in Dadri's Bisara village.

Bisara, Uttar Pradesh: Dadri's Bisada village has turned into a fortress, "lath bajao" (beat them up) being its prevailing chant.

Directed against the media, the chant comes from large groups of Rajput women, who have been standing at the village gates since last Monday, when a 52-year-old man was lynched following rumours that he stored and consumed beef.

As the news got wide coverage, nine young men from the village were arrested. Fearing arrest, most of the rest have gone into hiding. The villagers blame the media. "The media is making up news to spread communal disharmony," screamed one of the women.

The women, some with their faces covered, go around in groups of 50, challenging every stranger who walks its roads.  

Over the last few days, few journalists allowed to enter the village were searched and asked to leave their cellphones and recording equipment. Men were asked to take off their shirts so the locals could examine the buttons to check for hidden cameras. Media vans have had to stop 2 km away.  

On Monday, as reports came that a resident of the village had committed suicide, the media vans were kept further away -- at a distance of around 3 km.

The villagers have contended that the young man committed suicide because of harassment by the police. The police say it could be a natural death and they are waiting for the postmortem report.

There are 40-odd Muslim families in the village. One family's preparations for its daughter's wedding have been disrupted by the events since last week.

Asked if the wedding was still on, Mohammad Hakim said yes. The wedding, he said, would be held next week. "There is no trouble. This village is peaceful. Out Hindu brothers are extending all help," a relative added promptly.
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