“The Muslim community was preparing for Eid celebrations. But suddenly a group entered our settlement, vandalized a few houses, set fires and also destroyed food grains,” recalled Sagira Difali, of Sarshwor-2. According to Difali, she was serving breakfast to her husband, who had just arrived after offering morning prayers at a mosque, when the unidentified group entered her house. [break]
“A huge group of baton-wielding people entered our settlement. They barged into our house and started throwing our belongings before setting into the house on fire. Our house was reduced to ashes within no time,” said Bhuti Khatun, another victim. “We have nothing left now,” she added.
Manejar Miya, another local, said he did not even want to even recall the incident. “I don´t want to remember the day. I am thankful that we were not killed,” said Miya. According to Miya, his family members were busy cooking delicacies for the festival on Friday morning when the group was setting his neighbor´s house on fire. He said he latched his doors and stayed inside the house till the situation turned normal.
Amin Miya, another local, said, “They set my house on fire but the police could not stop them. Anything could have happened had the police not taken us out of our house,” said Amin. Sabarun Khatun, another local, said the people in the settlement are still living in fear.
“We are still living in fear,” said Kaili Khatun, of ward no 7 of the VDC. According to Suti Khatun, people have started leaving the place due to fear of attack.
According to the police, a group of irate Hindus had entered the settlement following the incident in which three Muslim youths teased Hindu women from Dhanusha, who were heading for Shiva temple in Sarshwor-1, a few days ago.
The victims of the incident have said that the Muslim youths, who teased the Hindu women, should be punished. They have also demanded action against the vandals who destroyed their properties. The three youths who teased the Hindu women have been arrested.
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