By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: “Don’t lose hope. You will get justice.” These words today may have brought some smile on the faces that had lost smiling since June 3 when they lost their dear ones in the brutal police firing. It was the first time a government officer had come to the village of Bhajanpur in Forbesganj to hear their story of sorrow.
L-R: Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan,Member, NCM,Syeda Bilgrami Imam, NCM chief Wajahat Habibullah and Araria MLA Zakir Hussain at Bhajanpur village in Forbesganj on 21st June 2011
Wajahat Habibullah, Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities (NCM), accompanied by Syeda Bilgrami Imam, Member, NCM, landed at Bagdogra this morning and proceeded towards the Araria district village in a cavalcade. The NCM team reached Bhajanpur at 2:30 pm. He spent more than 2 hours at the village.
Victims along with their families and co-villagers gathered at the ground of the local madrasa. Wajahat patiently listened to every victim and their family. He stopped if anyone other than victim or their family tried to explain. He wanted to hear victims in their own voice and he did.
“He gave full time to all victims. He heard them patiently. He did not allow anyone to interrupt,” said Omer Ali, a villager who was there through the proceeding, over phone to TCN. He assured the villagers of justice, Ali added.
Though he was accompanied by senior civil and police officers of the district, NCM chief had asked other cops to wait at the nearby NH itself. Even the SP was kept at some distance.