This Article is From Nov 03, 2013

Black Diwali in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar

Malikpura village, Muzaffarnagar: As the country celebrates the festival of lights, in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, there is no cheer. Till last year, the Jat and the Muslim communities celebrated Diwali together, but after September's communal violence left close to 50 people dead, the fissures are deep and wounds still too fresh to heal.

For Mohit Kumar's family, there won't be any flowers, crackers or lights this Diwali. The family from Malikpura village in Muzaffarnagar will just hold a small ceremony for Lakshmi Puja.

Mohit's cousin Gaurav, was one of the two Jat youth who were killed in an altercation at the Muslim dominated village of Kawal in August. One Muslim boy was also killed in that incident.

But the Jats here feel they have been denied justice as only one out of the eight people accused of murdering the two Jat youth, Gaurav and Sachin, have been arrested so far. It was this impression of a government playing partisan politics and favouring the minority community, that triggered off one of the worst communal riots Uttar Pradesh has seen recently.

The Jats in this village say, they have still not been able to get over the incident that sparked communal riots in early September.

"We will only do puja. No lights either. The Gaurav and Sachin incident has affected us," said Mohit.

Not just Malikpura, it's going to be a subdued Diwali all over Muzaffarnagar this time. At Mohammadpur Raisingh village, eight Jat men were arrested for killing three Muslim youths from the neighbouring village of Hussainpur last Wednesday, re-igniting communal tension in the area.

A public meeting of khap leaders, held there on Friday, issued a diktat for black Diwali this year. Jat villagers from Malikpura, who have been living under the shadow of heavy security for almost two months now say it is unfortunate and disturbing that blood was spilt on the roads of Muzaffarnagar just ahead of Diwali. They reminisce, how even till last year, Muslim villagers from neighbouring Kawal village would join in the celebrations. Dhirendra Kumar, Sachin's uncle says, "Usually we would send over sweets, visit some of our relatives there. But this time, nothing. The usual hustle bustle surrounding Diwali is missing this year."

In fact, the marketplace in the village of Kawal, just three kilometres away, also used to be the closest place to buy crackers.

There would be at least 15 fire-cracker stalls during Diwali. 22-year-old Praveen Kumar, a tailor by profession, used to make some extra money selling crackers this time of the year. But his annual practice is in jeopardy now. "We would be selling crackers for three days ahead of Diwali", says Praveen. "I used to sell crackers worth Rs 15,000. But this time I did not buy any. It did not seem right," he adds.

A lot of those who make crackers in Muzaffarnagar are Muslims. Production has not stopped. But there are very few takers even at the markets which have put up stalls. For over a decade, Asim Javed has been selling crackers at Jansath market, six kilometres away from Malikpura. But only few customers have trickled in this time. Asim says, "We are selling 50 per cent less. There were few Muslims who sold crackers here. Now I am the only one here today. I did not want to stop my business. But the Kawal incident has had an impact. If items remain unsold, will keep them in stock for next year."

With or without the khap diktat, people here say Diwali celebrations would have been muted this year. But this Diwali what unites the authorities and people is their common prayer that peace returns to Muzaffarnagar once again.

"We have been praying for peace ever since our boys died. We will pray for it again on Sunday," said Dhirendra Pratap.
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