By Israr Ahmad, Twocircles.net
Delhi: Mohammad Irfan, who came out of his house in Kartar Nagar of Usman Pur to get milk for his children, returned to his uncle’s house in Zafrabad three days later as a corpse. The police had clearly told the family that if Irfan’s body was taken to his house in Kartar Nagar, violence could erupt there. So on Saturday afternoon, Irfan was delivered to the nearby Welcome Church. Large crowds gathered for this as news spread in the local areas grief and and was visible on everyone’s faces.
When preparations were being made to take Irfan for the burial after wrapping a shroud, people finally got to to see his face. A woman standing near his funeral said, “Noor (Shining) is different on his face.” It is as if something is shining on the face. “See what they have done with it. It is attacked with a sword all over it. What wrong has he done?” Hearing this, many more people whispered, “He was killed very brutally. They were not human beings. They were devils.’’
Very painful Scene
Irfan’s body was kept in a small narrow room. It may may have been a store room and it has iron doors. A little while ago, Irfan’s mayyat (dead body) has been bathed. The fragrance of perfume is spread everywhere. There is a tube light in this room. There are weeping women. Some of the males are weeping. In the middle is the dead body of a young man with deep wounds on his head. Seeing this scene, tears are inevitable. People’s pain can be felt. It is very difficult to describe it in words.
Irfan’s wife is insensible, children are hopeless
Two other women enter the room along with a woman wearing a mask. One of them is faltering. She is Irfan’s wife Gulista. She is looking at her husband for the last time, who has now become a blood-stained corpse. Gulista has been crying inconsolably since the news of Irfan’s death. Every once in awhile she screams and loses completely her mind. Some women are always with her to handle her. The children of Irfan know that the father’s shadow has risen from their heads. There is silence and despair on their faces.
How Irfan died?
Surprisingly, Irfan was killed immediately after the visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the area. How did the rioters kill Irfan? Asked about this, a woman said, “On the evening of 26 February, he went to get milk for his children.” On the way, the rioters attacked and killed him with swords. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval came here shortly before this incident and said that there is no need to fear. It all happened after he left.” The woman further asks, “They were saying that the situation is under control.” If things were under control, how did this happen?”
Another woman said, “They came from outside and dragged Irfan away. They also killed many more people. You know we have never seen this kind of violence. We have been living here together for years. We also used to celebrate Diwali like Eid.” Another woman said, “I do not know who has seen us with their bad eyes. This has never happened here before. Now it seems as if the poison of hate has dissolved in the air. Hearts have cracked now.”
Nasir Azeem, who lives in the neighborhood, says, “On Wednesday evening, about 300 meters away from the house, we saw him in a very badly injured state.” His body was severely bruised and cut. His head was torn. “He said that Irfan was taken to the nearby Jag Pravesh Hospital. He was admitted to GTB Hospital after first aid there. He died there the same day.
Family got Dead body on Third Day
Irfan died on the evening of 26 February. His family got his dead body on the third day on 29 February. That too on the condition that he will not be taken to Kartar Nagar at his home. Irfan’s 37-year-old cousin Gulzar Ahmed says, “We were waiting for the dead body for three days.” After considerable argument with the police at 1 pm on Saturday afternoon, the body was found. We have come here to uncle’s house with him. Police said that the death of Irfan’s body in Kartar Nagar could provoke violence. How unfortunate that we could not even take our brother to his home for the last time.”
Who was Irfan?
Asked who Mohammed Irfan, killed in the violence was, a woman says, “He was just 27 years old. He used to work as a laborer. He used to cut clothes to make school bags. Six months ago, he took a lot of debt for his younger sister’s wedding. He lived with his wife, two children and an old parent. He lived in a room rented in Usman Pur area. Irfan was a sportsman in his family. After his painful death, his family now faces a crisis of livelihood.
Bad condition of mother, sister and children
Amidst all this, the emptiness is visible on the face of Irfan’s mother Quresha. Irfan’s mother is seated in a small hall surrounded by other women. Quresha has five sons and two daughters. Irfan’s sister Salma is constantly crying. Irfan’s wife Gulista sits next to him. She is lost somewhere. His eyes seem to have been stoned. Sitting very dumb. Both of Irfan’s children are standing near the door. The older child is playing something in mobile. The elder is five and the younger is three years old. He has no idea of death. He has absolutely no idea of such a death.
Irfan’s mother Quresha wants justice for his Son
“We don’t want a riot, we want justice,” says Quresha. She has lodged a complaint with the Usman Pur police station on Friday. But they have no hope from the police. “They crushed his head,” says Quresha. “What was his mistake? ”
Quresha repeatedly remembers that night’s dreadful scene. It was half past seven in the evening. Irfan went out to take milk. He did not return for a long time. Later they learned that the mob attacked him. The family heard the noise outside and Irfan was found lying face down on the road till he could not do anything. The crowd had fled from there. She repeats that evening’s sentence again and again. She says repeatedly to this reporter, “Write the truth. Write that one innocent was killed. Irfan’s father is a heart patient.”
Irfan was the only one in his family to earn a living. Quresh says, “What shall we do now.” How to live how Irfan’s wife will cut this mountain of life. How will her children grow up? When she asks this question crying, her screaming voice pierces like a sun. These questions are reverberating in air of surroundings.
Outside Irfan’s house stands a riot control vehicle. Policemen and paramilitary personnel in khaki uniforms are seen standing everywhere, armed with weapons used to stop the riot. The Delhi Police is now claiming the situation to be normal. But the way police and security forces are deployed, it seems that these situations are quite tense right now.
Irfan’s funeral started at 5 O’clock in the evening. Leaving the cries of the women of the house, the men took up the funeral. After a while, Irfan was buried in the Qabristan (graveyard) at Welcome. In a few minutes a new grave was ready. There is darkness outside. By the time we got out of the graveyard, the sun had set. Darkness was constantly getting darker. Walking out, an elderly man called out, “Come home soon.Things are not good. It is going to be night. Now here every night is the night of doom.” After every night there comes a morning. This night too. With this hope, we also left from there.