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'The policeman was openly helping the crowd'

Sheela Bhatt in Ahmedabad

"The police does not belong to the Hindus or Muslims, it belongs to the rich," complained Diyaben Bhil, a victim of the communal riots in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Diyaben and her neighbours had to take refuge in Kankaria Municipal School No 7-8 after a frenzied crowd attacked them.

Hansaben Velaj, 30, narrated her tryst with the communal frenzy on February 28, when a bandh was declared in Gujarat to protest against the attack on the Sabarmati Express.

"I work as a housemaid in rich people's colonies. We lived in Shah Alam toll naka for many decades and never experienced riots. Our colonies consist of Bhil (tribals) and Vaghris (dalits). On February 28, at around noon, acid bombs were thrown on our roofs. We were taken aback because they were thrown from the balcony of the Hilton Tower, an adjoining multi-storeyed building. Our own neighbours were attacking us. Little later they started throwing stones and after some 2-3 hours a crowd of more than 500 came and tried to gherao (surround) us. They had knives, swords... we just ran for our lives."

Seeta Ishwar, a mother of four said: "Our men called up police many times but no one came to help us."

"The policeman who was manning the point was openly helping the crowd," Jagdish Parmar, another victim, told rediff.com

"Our homes were burned down and everything was looted. We are scared to go back without police protection. We want compensation for our homes," Somabhai, yet another refugee in the makeshift relief camp, said.

The people of Kankaria provided the refugees with enough food, but they were not happy. Reason? Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi came, but they did not promise any aid, nor did they promise any security.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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