Jaisalmer: Followed by the killing of a Muslim folk singer in Rajasthan’s Dantal village, 20 Muslim families were allegedly threatened by upper caste Hindus to leave the village. Around 150 people, including women and children, are now starving as the district administration failed to provide them food for last two days.
These families are now living in temporary shelters in Jaisalmer provided by the administration.
A Muslim folk singer, Aamad Khan was allegedly killed by a Hindu priest and his brothers during Navratri function at the village temple. The priest, Ramesh Suthar, had alleged khan for poor singing, is now arrested on account of the charge, while his brothers are absconding, reports Hindustan Times.
Khan was killed on September 27 and his dead body was thrown outside his house. Rajputs of the village allegedly threatened his family of dire consequences, if they would report the incident to the police. Khan was then quietly buried by his family.
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On gaining encouragement by the relatives, Khan’s reported the incident and filed an FIR. The dead body of the 45-year-old singer was exhumed and sent for the autopsy by the police.
However, the Muslim families left the village on alleged threats from Rajputs and went on to take shelter at nearby Balad village.
Jaisalmer district collector (DC) KC Meena on Monday assured the families of help and put them up in a temporary shelter run by the municipal council for the homeless people. The DC also asked the civic body to arrange food for them.
While, Tareef Khan, one of the members said: “We are managing food for us through our local resources. The administration has made no arrangement, but we cannot take care of resources for long.”
Jaisalmer municipal council commissioner Jabar Singh said: “We gave them food on Monday but we cannot give them food every day due to lack of funds.”
The District Collector said that they are taking measures to ease the situation at Dantal village so that the families could return home.