“The police arrived and said, ‘Empty all your belongings, take your money and valuables, and come outside,'” claimed Islam Khan, an elderly survivor of Sendhwa violence 2022.
Standing in front of his demolished house, amidst the debris and rubble, Islam Khan revealed to Miles2Smile that his house was demolished without prior notice. “They (police) didn’t give me prior notice or anything; they just started breaking things,” Islam said.
Communal violence broke out in Sendhwa town of Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, on April 10, 2022, during a Ram Navami procession. Tensions escalated as the procession passed through Muslim-majority areas, reportedly playing provocative songs. Clashes erupted between the two communities near Hussaini Gate, leading to violence and unrest in the area.
Several vehicles were set on fire during the violence, resulting in significant losses for the Muslim community. Many families found themselves homeless during Ramadan, facing unexpected hardship. Some of those affected shared their experiences. The district administration demolished 12 Muslim homes, allegedly without due process, citing their involvement in the violence.
When the team of Miles2Smile entered the riot-ridden area, an unexpected reality hit us hard. Many people were left homeless. Scenes of flattened buildings and charred vehicles were all our eyes could see.
On moving further, we met the survivors of the violence; Islam Khan was one among them.
His house was demolished without giving a single reason. “They didn’t give me any reason for demolishing the house; they just tore it down,” Islam said.
Controlling his tears, Islam Khan asked us, Where will I go now? ” Where will I live?”
Seeing Islam Khan’s helplessness and devastated state, we organized a fundraiser for his house.
With the generous support of our donors, we were able to assist Islam Khan in reconstructing his house and his happiness. “I am not at peace; I do not know how to express my happiness,” Islam Khan said on receiving our assistance.
To more about our work during Sendhwa violence: https://stories.miles2smile.org/category/sendhwa-2022/
