Memories are hard to erase.You can sense an uneasy calm,people still looking for answers.But yes,they kept every fear aside and celebrated their festival to please Allah to give them strength and power.
Batla House is located near Khalillullah Mosque (near Jamia Millia Islamia),was a peaceful place till six years ago like any other place in Delhi.The dominant community living here is of Muslims.A sudden encounter, shattered all its harmony.
Two-Three years back some Religious Book Stalls were thrown down by the police.The Police Stations in Jasola and Okhla Vihar were set on fire by the community.
This was just the beginning…..On 19th September 2008, at 10.45 a.m, in the month of Ramadan,on the 4th Floor(L-18)building in Main Batla House,a sudden firing ,hundreds in number, created panic among the people.Silence spread all over.Just voice of Police Personnel were reverberating.
According to the sources,out of five youngs guys(living in the same flat on 4th floor) were linked to Indian Mujahideen, two of them(Mohammad Sajid and Mohammad Atif) were killed,Saif was arrested,and rest ran away.The Encounter Specialist Mohan Chand Sharma sacrificed his life.
The whole episode happened in the month of Ramadan,just a few days before Eid-ul-Fitra.Mr. Badar Tasleem,an employee in Jamia’s Office,living next to L-18,narrated the whole incident.He said, “I heard the firing and it appeared that somebody fired the crackers.I came out and saw Police Officials entering the building with a huge force.
There was constant firing going on.” He also said, “Nobody from NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION has ever visited.It was Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association who appealed in the court.At present,a senior Advocate of the Supreme Court Mr.Prashant Bhushan, is handling the case.”
On the part of celebration,Mr.Tasleem replied, “Situation was much better than last year by Allah’s grace.Everybody kept their fear aside and read their Namaaz peacefully.”
Mashi Alam, an advocate and stay very close to L-18 questioned, “Why the Post-Mortem Report of Sajid ,Atif and Mohan Chand Sharma haven’t been given yet.?”On celebration of Eid, he said, “ Last year Batla House offered its Namaaz wearing black strips in their hands, as a sign of mourning. This year, people celebrated with full enthusiasm.But a feeling of curse was easily felt on their faces.They are still waiting for Justice.”
There were others who wanted peace to return. “The enquiry was superficial.I have deep anguish as I had associated my hopes with NHRC.Sincerity towards the case was much less.It even did not really tried to track down the two so called terrorist who ran away from backdoors.There was no transparency at all.We are looking for Justice” said Arham Hussain,a Jamia student(Social Work deptt).
Hasan Reza,also a student of Jamia, admits, “due to last year’s case shops are now closed by 11p.m,after which police starts its patrolling."
Afzal Ahmed,a property dealer in Batla House said, “there was no remedy left other than acceptance.We all felt helpless when NHRC gave clean-chit from its side.Now nobody has faith in it.Eid is a gift of Ramadan. We need to celebrate it.Life and Death are the two sides of the same coin.We should move ahead.”
Photo by Arham
Image 1- Main Gate of the L-18 building.
Image 2- Locals of Main Batla House wishing Eid Mubarak.
Memories are hard to erase.You can sense an uneasy calm,people still looking for answers.But yes,they kept every fear aside and celebrated their festival to please Allah to give them strength and power.
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