NEW DELHI: Three months after the incident of violence engulfed Jahangirpuri, life appeared to be back to normal as The New Indian visited the area on Thursday – The day when Delhi Police filed a 2063-page charge sheet.
The New Indian visited the same spot – Kushal Chowk – which witnessed stone pelting from members of both the communities during the Hanuman Jayanti procession on April 16. Delhi Police have arrested 37 people for the violence while eight are still absconding.
The scar of the violence, however, remained as residents still struggled to revive their businesses. There is an undercurrent of fear among the residents and shopkeepers: Fear of violence and bulldozer. Many have shut their shops and some residents have left the locality.
A bulldozer drive was conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to demolish illegal structures in the area, two days after the incident of violence. The Supreme Court, however, stayed the drive.
A shopkeeper Ganesh Kumar Gupta, whose juice shop was razed by the MCD bulldozer told The New Indian that customers from outside do not come now.
“Some shops have opened. But there is no business now. People do not come to buy things here as they are still in fear…Many have not opened their shop for the fear of bulldozers,” Gupta said.
“The most unfortunate part of that drive was that it was supposed to be conducted on the residence of the accused who were involved. But the bulldozer razed our houses,” added Gupta.
Akbar, who runs a snacks and cold drink shop at Kushal Chowk, said “Lot of things have changed. Business is not coming on track. There is no public here from outside. People fear coming to Jahangirpuri. There are two reasons for that: one is a riot and another is the bulldozer.”
A few steps away from Gupta, pan shop owner Raman Jha said, “It was the handiwork of outsiders who broke the peace of our locality. The anti-social elements are in both communities. We don’t hold any grudge with anyone,” Jha added.
Inamul, who lives in the same locality, said “Many have gone back to their native place due to the fear. You can see only some shops have opened.”
“Why would they open if there is no business?” wondered Inamul.
Delhi Police on Thursday filed a charge sheet in which it said Jahangirpuri violence was the continuation of the protest against CAA and NRC and the Delhi Riots. The charge sheet was filed by the Crime Branch in Rohini Court.