Month on, Bhopal's riot-hit Shia colony totters

BHOPAL: Exactly a month after sectarian violence tore through Aman Colony in Karond leaving 60 houses of minority Iranian Shias in flames, life is yet to return to normal.
When TOI visited the riot-scarred colony on Sunday, some residents had returned to their gutted homes and were rebuilding their lives from scratch after violence triggered a mass exodus.
Rows of charred houses and burnt articles strewn across lanes in the Shia colony stands witness to last month's murderous mob attack. The colony still resembles a ghost town with some voices breaking the eerie silence. At night, the colony is shrouded in darkness after power officials snapped lines immediately after the riot.
Residents said nobody came forward to help and they have not received compensation from the government. "There's also no water supply in area and we are dependent on water tankers," said a resident Akhtar Ali.
Police said tight vigil is maintained in the area to prevent flare-ups and a temporary police outpost has been set up where 30 cops are deployed round the clock.
Shahzadi, who returned to Aman Colony, said, "My home was burnt down. I have returned, but I don't even have utensils to cook food. Even clothes were charred. We are human beings and belong to this country. Why is nobody coming forward to help," she asked.
Another woman, Farida, said, "We met home minister, went to meet chief minister, submitted memorandums, but nothing has happened so far."
A young woman, Bano, asked why police were not cracking down on the accused, who went on rampage.
Abid Ali and Raju Irani, who are leading the campaign for justice for Aman Colony victims, said police are not arresting accused due to political pressure. "Civic elections are round the corner. Arresting the accused may hit vote-bank of political parties. Some families have returned to Aman Colony while others are still residing in Irani Dera at Bhopal railway station and Bhanpur," he said.
Police registered cases under sections of arson, robbery and rioting against 1,500 people, including few women in the case. Of them, not even 100 accused has been arrested so far.
Police said the force at Aman Colony at the time attack was led by city superintendent of police and sub-divisonal officer (police). They could not draw an effective strategy and it was too late by the time senior officials and district police rushed to the spot.
Officials admitted that violence was a result of intelligence failure both at headquarters and district police.
The only action so far, SHO of Nishtapura police station has been removed from active duty even though he was on leave when violence erupted.