The communal riots affected Muslim community has returned and started the process of rebuilding their lives. But many daily-wage Muslim workers said they might leave the village, alleging that the Jat majority was refusing to buy their goods or give them work.
“Most of us sell goods to get our livelihood. I sell clothes, while others sell food or fix pipelines. But since the violence, the Hindus in the village have shut their doors on us. We have earned no money since returning,” Shahid a resident said.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar visited Faridabad on Sunday, meeting top district officials. Sources said Khattar asked top officials to ensure peace in the village. The calm in Ballabhgarh’s Atali village seems to be smash at any moment.
So far, no arrest has been made, while a section of the Jat community has approached the district court and sought a stay on the construction of the mosque.
“We wanted the chief minister to come to Atali. Since he is not coming, the village’s Muslim elders will try to present our problems. But we don’t know if we will be allowed to,” Nizam Ali, a villager, said.
The violence was primarily directed at the homes of Muslims who lived near the mosque. The daily-wage labourers live in a small colony on the outskirts.
Many residents of the colony alleged there had been “meetings” near their homes, leading to further tension.
Many are leaving in fear, especially the daily-wage workers who fear another attack,” Mohammad Ehsan, a villager who works in Okhla, said.
Officials as well as the Jat community denied the allegations. “There have been no meetings and if people aren’t buying items from Muslims, it has nothing to do with their religion. We have no hatred for them,” Satish Chaudhury, a villager, said.