NGOs organise public hearing for riot victims

Speaking during the hearing, Vijay Parmar of Jan Vikas, an NGO, said "there has not been much change in the life of5,200 Muslim families who were displaced post the 2002 Godhrariots, since the last survey was conducted in 2005."

"Out of 83 relief colonies across nine districts of thestate, only 10 have got potable drinking water facility afterinstallation of hand pumps," Parmar claimed.

Ayub Khan Pathan, a resident of Ahmedabad, apprised thegathering that discrimination was being done by a localschool in granting admission to the children from Muslimfamilies.

Khan claimed that his two and half year old daughter wasdenied admission by a local school in Paldi locality, justbecause he was a muslim.

Halima, a victim of 2002 riot and a widower, allegedduring the hearing that her son was wrongly implicated by thepolice in a tiffin bomb case. She pleaded innocence before thejury and said "we are not terrorists."

Rashida, a social worker, stated that municipalauthorities had failed to provide potable drinking water inMuslim dominated localities like Behrampur and Bombay Hotelextension, despite the repeated appeals made to them.

"Even the newly elected councillor of the ward was notpaying heed to our request, because of which Muslim familieswere falling prey to dreaded diseases," she claimed.

Shaikh Abdul Rahim Ahmed, whose two grandchildrenIbzul Hanif Shaikh and Imrana Hanif Shaikh were allegedlymurdered post Godhra, is yet to get compensation in cash evenafter being issued Shree Nidhi Bonds for it.

Ahmed said "We have applied for bond liquidation totaluka panchayat Santrampur, but we are yet to get anyresponse." PTI VKB PD ABC