Fire engulfs jhuggis of Rohingya refugees in Mewat and Jammu

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

Mewat: Five huts of Rohingya refugees caught fire in Nangali gaon, Nooh of Mewat in Haryana, leading to one person being severely burnt, besides loss of household materials.


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The fire also consumed portion of a makeshift mosque, a school and a madrasa.

“The fire occurred on Wednesday night after Maghrib prayers, when some people were cooking inside the madrasa. As the huts are made of bamboo and polythene, it quickly caught fire and within no time it engulfed five other huts,” said Mohammad Shafi, Chairman of Mewat Trust, which is helping the families in re construction of makeshift huts.

“We will start work on makeshift huts from tomorrow so that they don’t have to spend their days under open sun,” he added.

In another similar incident, fire engulfed more than 8 “jhuggis” of Rohingya refugees living in Bhagwati Nagar area of Jammu city.

According to one of the refugees, Younous Ahmed, the fire started at 3 am on the intervening night of April 13-14 and consumed more than 8 huts. Fortunately, there was no loss of lives.

Earlier this week, an attempt was made by some miscreants to set on fire to the scrap collected by Rohingya refugee at Bohri area on the outskirts of Jammu.

Last week, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) while issuing a warning to state and central government to expel the Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees living in the state had threatened to start their self-styled movement of killing the Muslim refugees, in a case of non-compliance by the government.

Later the president of the chamber, Rakesh Gupta had taken back his words and had termed the statement as one issued in a “state of frustration.”

(For those who want to help out the fire victims may call Mohammad Shafi, Chairman, Mewat Trust at +91 9999241786)

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