Gujarat riots: Gulbarg Society survivors recall the massacre

By Rafat Nayeem Quadri for TwoCircles.net,

Ahmedabad: It was 28th February of 2010 when the family members, sympathizers, social workers, NGOs and media turned up to observe Barsi and Fateha for their dear ones who lost their lives brutally in the genocide of 2002 in Ahmedabad on the day of Gujarat Bandh in protest to Godhra train attack. Mourners from Gulbarg Society, Naroda Patiya, Ode gaam and other places were here.

Thousands of Muslims lost their lives, young girls and elderly women were raped in large numbers and severe damage to the property and assets of Muslims was done. It was largely named as a State sponsored systematic attack on Muslims in Gujarat which is unprecedented in the history of modern India.

Zakia Zakia Jafri replyign to the queries of electronic media with Teesta Setalvad and other witnesses of the case

Victims account of the fateful day:

Sarfarazbhai who lived nearby in Gandhi ki chawl had taken shelter at Gulbarg with the idea that since MP Jafri Sahab is there they will be protected. “I have sort of lost confidence from insaniyat and feel safe in Ahmedabad which is my birthplace to live in Muslim ghettos only now. Where do I go from here and why? He asks. Now, Sarfaraz and his family have shifted to Sarkhej area which is very safe. Says Noorjehan a social worker, “even I would chose any area like Sarkhej or Juhapura for Muslims to live in, since there is no welcome board sign from (VHP) Vishwa Hindu Parishad. This gives safety signals to us, so Muslims don’t mind spending huge amount to live there.”

Surayya Jafri a resident and witness of the Gulbarg massacre case while pointing at the rooms and burnt places of her brother-in-law Ehsaan Jafri’s house said “look, this used to be Bhaijaan’s books shelf, here all his trophies and certificates used to hang, here was his working table….” Narrating the fateful day’s developments Surayya who also took shelter at Jafri’s house with her family said “since morning there was tension in the air, people would keep pouring in at Bhaijan’s place and would say, sahib vo dukaan jaladi, sahib yahan tak aagaye, sahib police kyon nah aa rahi hai…he was busy calling frantically literally everyone from top to bottom of Congress, State leadership, Chief Minister, Police top guns to the control room, but no one helped us. In fact Mr. P C Pande was here but he vanished giving false promise and helpless look”.

Rupa Mody and other victims and members of the victim families

Young Hasan Syed who lost his young father eight years back is today a young man who is all set to leave for Canada for further studies could successfully save his mother and siblings. Today he says, “I knew my father was struggling not only for his life but for others at Jafri Sahab’s house, he was brutally killed by attackers but just next door I was also struggling on first floor saving my mom and siblings life. I connected wires to pass current in my grill so that no body could enter our house and it helped we were saved. Today, I don’t want to remember all those moments which bring so much despair and unhappiness. I look forward but I would not budge, with me, my old grandfather and mother as witnesses we will fight the case for justice till the end. I am sure my country’s Supreme Court will give us justice. I have no hopes both from SIT to be fair and from Gujarat courts. I still don’t trust Gujarat Police who turned into attackers and openly participated and supported the massacre and genocide in our areas on 28th February 2002.”

Hasan further remembers, “Our society which housed only few houses where Muslims from different castes lived happily and were progressing in life. Jafri Sahab was sort of mentor for all our elders. We had no weapons; our society was so clean that we had no stones or pebbles also in it. On that fateful day I myself threw some stones which we received after heavy stone pelting on us that day. Unka hi pathhar un par mara”.

Ehsaan Jafri's deserted house in Gulbarg Society

Eminent human rights activist Padma Shri Teesta Setalvad was also here with her colleagues from Mumbai and briefed the press. She expressed her anguish over the attitude of SIT (special investigation team) which she feels is more or less cross examining the victims, witnesses and members of the family of the victims. In fact it was appointed to listen to the pleas of the victims. Thanks to some members of the SIT, but, we have not lost hopes, adds Teesta when she says “we have very strong hope from our country’s apex law body the Supreme Court which would safeguard the interests of victims and would provide justice to them at the end. I am glad that from March our old cases are going to be reheard. We have even appealed for reconstitution of the SIT which is almost on its way.”

Unhappy with the Gujarat judges’ attitude, another victim and witness Sairabanu Sindhi who lost three members of her family and herself escaped narrowly from death said “the judge abuses and humiliates us during the hearing as if we are the culprits; this is nothing but demoralizing our spirit, but, we would not budge and fight till the end. She adds, “I firmly believe in Supreme Court and am also confident that there are officers, people in this state who will speak for truth if not today but tomorrow who will come forward and speak for us. There are many good people from Hindu community in this very state whom we fully trust and live with.”

Retired DGP Gujarat R B Sreekumar with Tanveer Jafri son of Ehsan Jafri on anniverary of gencodie at Gulbarg Society

Rupa Mody who lost her seven year old son Azhar in the attack was in tears and broke down before the media. She also described the attitude and behaviour of SIT members to be very unfair and biased as if they were there to punish us for being the victims and witnesses. But, she said all of us are confident on our Supreme Court and we will get justice from there”

The retired DGP (Director General of Police of Gujarat) Mr. R B Sreekumar (who showed courage to speak against the State before the court and filed affidavits) was also present at the Gulmarg Society yesterday where Barsi and Fateha programme was organized by victims’ families, even this year like last seven years. This year it was on a low scale since Holi celebrations were in the air.

Ehsaan Jafri's deserted house in Gulmarg Society

Mrs Zakia Jafri, son Tanveer Jafri and some relatives from Burhanpur were also present at the Gulbarg house where they briefed media and observed silence for their dearest head of the family who lost his life for others. Zakia Jafri in a reply to media persons stated that it was a free for all for the attackers who were very large in numbers and they were hardly a hundred or so, had no weapons, no idea as to what was happening, trusted police who in contrast became party and supported them rather than protecting us”. At one point of time when I wanted to release my Hindu maid I pleaded them folding my hands from first floor of my house they did take away her but attacked on me and my sister with sword and stones. Then they would go naked thus leaving us in utter shame so that we never tried to run away and hid ourselves there till the maut ka tamasha was over.”