Ghost towns in the days after the pogroms

by Mariya Salim, Twocircles.net

Shiv Vihar, New Dehli: In the days just after the pogroms, the areas worst hit by pogroms, were like ghost towns. Our correspondent, Mariya Salim has been on the ground documenting the forced transformation of these neighbourhoods. In this series of photos, she shares what she has witnessed. In particular, her photographs tell the stories of the specific, targeted and planned destruction of mosques and Muslim-owned homes and business.

[caption id="attachment_435211" align="alignnone" width="696"] Madeena Masjid: What remains of Madeena Masjid in Shiv Vihar. The place has been burnt to ashes[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_435212" align="alignnone" width="696"] Auliya Masjid: Another mosque that was attacked in Shiv Vihar[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_435213" align="alignnone" width="696"] Auliya Masjid: The cylinders that were used to blow the place up can be seen along with burnt copies of the Quran[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_435214" align="alignnone" width="696"] Auliya Masjid: The heat generated during the blasts melted the fans[/caption]

Throughout the neighbourhood, Muslim-owned homes, shops, vehicles and properties in Shiv Vihar were specifically chosen for arson.

Nearby Gokulpuri tyre market was one of the worst hits by arson.