Arun Kashyap, a resident of Shiv Vihar, which was one of the focal points of last year’s riots in Delhi, was disconsolate sitting in an empty room. Goons had carried nearly everything away, stealing, looting, vandalising and filling up their pockets. The attackers also destroyed the furniture.
Arun was one among the many residents in these riot-hit areas of the capital who were not only attacked, but also had their homes and livelihoods destroyed, businesses ransacked. The nature of the attacks gives credence to the view that the rioters carefully identified the households to be targeted before carrying out their plans.
Arun had recently purchased a small flat in Shiv Vihar and shifted all his belongings there. His savings of a lifetime evaporated, as rioters went berserk and Arun could do nothing but watch helplessly.
Arun’s miseries were narrated to us by a local man named Vijay Kashyap, whom we had helped by reviving his shop and by standing strongly behind him when his sister was admitted to a hospital.
Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation soon sent its volunteers to meet Arun. Indeed, our volunteers reached out to many families residing in Shiv Vihar and rendered support. They shared their grief with other riot-hit families, and in this way, a human chain and a strong source of support was created. Arun was emotionally broken. We immediately arranged for some emergency funds.
We were not able to restore everything that Arun had lost, but we tried whatever we could to help Arun get back on his feet as quickly as possible.
Thankfully, Arun is doing much better now. It’s been a year since the violence, and our team often goes to the riot-hit spots to check on the victims.