By IANS,
Mehsana (Gujarat) : Many survivors of the communal violence of 2002 complained they were denied even basic amenities in relief camps when a representative of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) met them during his Gujarat visit.
R.K. Bhargava, special rapporteur (Central Zone) of the NHRC, visited several localities in Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts during his five-day visit which began Sunday.
Over 100 people now staying in the Shalimar Mosque in Mehsana too narrated their woes to Bhargava Wednesday afternoon.
Bhargava in the first two days visited as many as 22 relief camps in Himmatnagar, Modasa, Vadali, Meghraj and Idar sub-districts of Sabarkantha district, said a state official who accompanied him.
Bhargava, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was taking stock of various relief camps where Muslims affected by the communal violence have been living since March 31, 2001. He will leave for New Delhi Friday after visiting nine more relief camps, including one at Kalol in Gandhinagar sub-dsitrct.
“Whatever help and facilities we get is thanks to the Islamic Relief Committee and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind,” JUH district president Daulat Khan S. Pathan said.
“The state government has neglected us and this is badly affecting our basic needs like electricity, roads, education and sanitation,” said Razak Kasambhai Sheikh of Shalimar Society in Mehsana.