“The day I don’t go to work, my children go to bed hungry,” said Maniya Miyah.
Manik Miya, a daily wage driver, lived a peaceful life—working hard daily, earning bread for family, and spending time with them. But his life was punctuated by a violence that unfolded in Tripura’s Fatikroy.
On January 10, 2026, violence unfolded in Fatikroy, Tripura, where Muslim residents were allegedly targeted by a mob following an altercation over the collection of funds for a local pooja. Muslim shops and houses were targeted and burnt, their livelihoods were erased, and their lives were disrupted. The only mosque in the area—Jama Masjid—was set on fire. Along with this, the innocent residents were incarcerated, sending a wave of chills among the village.
While the mob was unfolding with gruesome acts, Manik Miya found himself stoic. No tears, no anguish, just a thought—”How would I feed my wife and my daughters now?”
“I have no money from the beginning, no savings, nothing. What will I do now?” he said while talking to Miles2Smile.
“They (Mob) didn’t ask me anything; they just burnt my truck.” he added.
While the violence occurred, Manik Miya’s pickup truck was spared, making him sleep peacefully. But soon when the darkness wrapped the area in the night; the mob burnt his truck.
“They didn’t burn it during the day; they burnt it during night, in the dark. I did not do anything,” he said.
Within the matter of hours, the hard-earned asset of Manik Miya was turned into debris. His life turned uncertain.
“What should I do now? I have no one,” he said.
Amidst all the questions, Miles2Smile was listening to him. The organisation decided to help Manik Miya by starting his source of income again by providing him with a pickup truck of his choice. This small gesture of ours answered all the questions Manik Miya had, helping him spend time with his family again.
“I thought I will never be able to work again, I will never be able to provide my family with a peaceful life but Miles2Smile, made it happen again. I am grateful to the organization for helping me,” said Manik Miya, on receiving help.
