Muslim Victims Say Tripura Government’s Compensation Package A Big Joke

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Masihuzzama Ansari

New Delhi–Staring at a bleak future, Amiruddin is at his wits end on how to restart the business again.

Amiruddin’s two shops were torched by Hindutva mobs during anti-Muslim riots in Tripura last month. He suffered a loss of Rs 17 lakh. Amiruddin has not received any compensation from the government so far.

Eight shops of Amir Hussain, Amiruddin, Nizamuddin, Sanofar, Yusuf Ali, Jamaluddin, Mohammad Ali, and Sultan Hussain were torched by the Hindutva mobs.

Most of the victims have got only a fraction of the losses they suffered during anti-Muslim riots.

Amir has got Rs 26,000, Nizamuddin recetived Rs 85,000, Sanohar Rs 90,000, Sanofar Rs 30,000, Yusuf Rs 36,000, Mohammad Ali Rs 20000 and Sultan Rs 30,000.

Everyone suffered a loss worth lakhs, but the government paid peanuts.

Sample this: Amir was dealing in electric goods and he suffered a loss of about Rs 12 lakhs. Amiruddin had a ration shop and he suffered a Rs 17 lakh loss. Nizamuddin had a cosmetic and mobile accessories shop. His loss is worth Rs 10 lakhs. Sanofar and Sanohar were dealing in clothes, shoes, and school bags. The two brothers suffered a Rs 15 lakh loss.

Similarly, Yusuf Ali had a ration shop and he suffered a loss of 15 lakh. Jamaluddin had a photocopy shop. He suffered Rs 7 lakh loss. Mohammad Ali had a shoe, clothes, and cosmetics shop. He incurred Rs 5 lakh loss. Sultan Hussain had a photocopy shop and he suffered Rs 3 lakh loss.

“The compensation we got is not even enough to clear the debris of the burnt shop,” said a shopkeeper.

According to the victims, all these shops were burnt in the presence of the police. When the victims appealed to the police to stop the rioters, they expressed inability and watched like fence-sitters.

On October 26, a Hindutva mob torched 8-9 Muslim shops at Panisagar Rowa market in Tripura. The attack was a continuation of week-long anti-Muslim violence in Tripura after which Section-144 was imposed.

These attacks were carried out by Hindutva organizations to avenge the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

In the week-long attacks, more than 12 mosques were targeted in different areas of Tripura.

Amir, Amiluddin, and Sanofer told India Tomorrow, “We saved the mosque but lost our shops. Police were present but the rioters continued their activities unabated.”

After a week of attacks on mosques in North Tripura, it became more violent in Panisagar Rowa on October 26 when activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, RSS, and BJP took out a rally. More than 8,000 people were part of the rally.

“Shops of Muslims were burnt by those who were part of RSS and VHP rally,” said ASI Udayaram of Rowa Panisagar police station.

Shop owners, whose business establishments were allegedly torched by the VHP activists, told India Tomorrow that the mob had come fully prepared to attack Jama Masjid in Rowa Panisagar.

“They had brought a can of petrol, JCB, and other material. Muslim shopkeepers left their shops and rushed towards the mosque. Everyone stood like a wall to protect the mosque. The rioters then changed their course and set eight shops on fire,” they said.

Amir, Amiluddin, and Sanofer, who lost their shop in the arson, told India Tomorrow, “We preferred to save the mosque. Mobsters then torched our shops. Police were present but they did not intervene.”

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