Fayiza CA
“It has been only one month since he got married. His wife refuse to accept the death of her beloved,” Hafza breaks down as she waits for the body of her niece Ashfaq in front of the GTB Hospital mortuary, New Delhi.
Ashfaq was killed in Mustafabad, after succumbing to a bullet injury during the anti-Muslim violence that erupted in North East Delhi on Monday.
Hafza told Maktoob that the postmortem of Ashfaq’s body is being purposefully delayed. She explained how the investigation officer refused to sign the report that facilitates the postmortem stating that Ashfaq is a “terrorist”.
Shareef Ahmmed, another survivor of Hindutva violence is also waiting for the body of his 20-year-old employee who was shot to death while returning from work.
“He was in a hurry to go home as his brother was going to Dubai on that day. He asked for money. I gave him that. About fifteen minutes after he had left, he called me and said people have surrounded him and are threatening him. I rushed to the spot only to find him lying down, bleeding. I brought him to the hospital. But he could not be treated. The next day, he died,” Shareef says.
A total of 39 people have died so far while more than 200 have been injured after anti-Muslim violence broke out in the northeast part of the National Capital on Monday.
But there are chances for the toll to increase. The locals report more deaths and severe casualties in other hospitals, though not confirmed.
The deaths have been mostly caused by bullet injuries and stab wounds, doctors say.
Dr. Haris, a Nephrologist in the GTB Hospital told Maktoob that the wounds appear to be made by professional or trained killers.
“Most of the stabs are on the chest, near to the heart or the abdomen. The wounds are deep. The bullet injuries are mostly on the head. This shows how trained the killers are,” he added.
The doctor also expressed concern about the limited number of physicians and thus the negligence in treatment.
The people here are trying to hold back tears and go numb as they struggle to find their loved ones amidst the unidentifiable corpses.
Many media houses keep saying things are at peace in the affected areas. But more people are being brought to GTB Hospital with severe injuries.
On Thursday, the locals reported two bullet injuries in the evening.
Curfew is imposed in the affected areas, but people say they feel trapped inside while there are chances for violence to take place.
Fayiza CA studies MA, Media Governance at Jamia Millia Islamia and a regular contributor of Maktoob
