May 14 will remain a ‘black day’ for at least three families of Arsh Mahal in Kishanbagh area. For, on this day they lost their breadwinners to police bullets.
The police opened fire to check a stone-pelting mob after a clash between two different communities on Wednesday. The result – three dead and four injured.
Shujauddin Khateeb alias Taufeeq (38), one of the victims, worked as an electrician and ventured out after hearing about the attack on houses of his community members. “He noticed a mob carrying swords and lathis and when he ventured out, he was hit by a bullet,” his friend Haji recalls.
Married about 15 years ago, Taufeeq is survived by four children including two daughters. “My father helped everyone in every possible way. But the police killed him,” cried his eldest son, Tajuddin, working as a salesman in a cloth store.
The tragedy of losing someone in violence is not new to the family. In 2003, when there was a clash his brother-in-law Mohd Afzal was stabbed to death.
The other victim, Mohd Fareed, (26), a school dropout, earned his livelihood by driving a taxi. “He was married just three months ago. But see what has happened. How will his wife live the rest of her life?” sobbed his father.
Fareed lived along with his father and elder brother Jahangir, who also drives taxi, in a rented house at Arsh Mahal colony. “He just went out of the house to check the commotion when he was hit by a bullet. There were no ambulances. The police also did not come to help us. We took all those who sustained bullet injuries in auto rickshaws to the hospital,” claims Jahangir.
Md. Wajid (20), who was also killed in the police firing worked as a mason and lived along with his mother. “We were looking for an alliance for him,” Fareeda, a relative of the victim said.
Family members demanded stringent action against police officials responsible for opening of fire. “Our houses and properties were attacked and set on fire. Yet the police fired on us. Is this justice?” lamented Shahnez, a local social worker.
