A Bhagalpur riot victim still waiting for government aid

Nurpur (Bihar), June 18 : Mohammad Arif, who was hit by a stone during 1989 Bhagalpur riots in Bihar, lost his mental balance, is chained for the past eighteen years and is still awaiting relief from the government.

The Government sanctioned around Rs. 300 million for the Bhagalpur riot-victims on Thursday, in addition to the relief given by the State government

Hailing from the nearby Nurpur village, Arif was seven years old in 1989 when a stone hit him on his head, during the riots. He was normal for sometime after receiving treatment but after about a year he started losing his mental balance. Occasionally, he would turn violent which forced his family members to chain him.

"We were trying to escape stone pelting during the riots when he was hit by a stone. The wound got healed but after a year or so he started losing his mental balance and he has been the same ever since," said Mohammad Salim, Arif's father.

There is only one earning member in the family, which finds it difficult to make both ends meet.

"He is chained for long now. We have only one earning member. It is very difficult for us to make both ends meet. The government has done nothing for us. They come and see us but do nothing," said Julekha Begum, Arif's mother.

ANI