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Empty roads, shut shops, tight security – how riot-hit Northeast Delhi celebrated Holi

On Holi, riot-affected areas of Northeast Delhi have a few things in common, less crowd, quiet streets and CRPF deployment.

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New Delhi: This time, Holi in riot-hit areas of Northeast Delhi is quite unlike the earlier years. It was a quiet affair, with residents still to come to grips over the loss of their loved ones. There was palpable fear and insecurity in the air after scores lost their lives, houses and livelihood to the spate of recent violence.

In pictures here are four different locations ThePrint visited to take stock of the situation.

Karawal Nagar

On the day of Holi, the roads were empty till early morning with only a few shops open to sell colours and holi merchandise. A resident of Karawal Nagar, who refused to be identified said, ” Ankit Sharma (IB officer who was killed in the violence) was our neighbour, how can we celebrate in this situation”. He added saying I have been staying here for nearly 35 years I have never seen such empty streets on Holi”.

A man covered in colours in Karawal Nagar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
A man covered in colours in Karawal Nagar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
A kid tests a water gun | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
A kid tests a water gun | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
CRPF officials in Karawal Nagar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
CRPF officials in Karawal Nagar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
19-year-old Shrawan Kumar fills a balloon with colour | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
19-year-old Shrawan Kumar fills a balloon with colour | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Gokulpuri

In Gokulpuri, children playing on the streets were enjoying the festival of colours, but they say it was not like the earlier years.

A kid throws colour | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
A kid throws colour | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Ram Kirti at her colour stall. She says, " Jawani se Budhapa" a gaya par ye toh bahut hi shaant hai | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Ram Kirti at her colour stall with granddaughters. She says, ” Jawani se Budhapa” a gaya par ye toh bahut hi shaant hai | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Children play holi | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Children play holi | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
CRPF stationed at Gokulpuri | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
CRPF personnel stationed at Gokulpuri | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Shiv Vihar

In Shiv Vihar, a once crowded intersection was now full of CRPF and police vehicles. Ganga Singh, resident of Shiv Vihar, said, ” Yahan pe toh mela lagta tha, raste pe nikalna mushkil ho jata tha. Dukane jo jal gayi hai woh toh khulti thi, bahut bheed rehti thi” (earlier we used to have a fair here, it was difficult to walk on the crowded streets. The shops that were burned, used to open up, there used to be a big crowd here).

Police vehicles parked at the Shiv Vihar intersection | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Police vehicles parked at the Shiv Vihar intersection | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Ganga Singh standing at the empty Shiv Vihar street | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Ganga Singh standing at the empty Shiv Vihar street | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Bhola Prasad, guard at the SBI ATM says that this is the first three years that I have been stationed here, the T point is so empty | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Bhola Prasad, guard at the SBI ATM says that this is the first three years that he has been stationed here, the T point is so empty | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
A CRPF officer stands outside a burnt shop in Shiv Vihar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
A CRPF officer stands guard outside a burnt shop in Shiv Vihar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Two men looking at the burnt shops in Shiv Vihar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Two men drive pass burnt shops in Shiv Vihar | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Mustafabad

In Mustafabad’s Bhagirathi Vihar, Phase 2, the road leading to the eidgah-turned-relief-camp has some Hindu residents. These families celebrated Holi amid the simmering insecurities.

Women in Mustafabad area come out of their homes with colours in hand | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
Women in Mustafabad area come out of their homes with colours in hand | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
People in Mustafabad celebrate Holi | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint
People in Mustafabad celebrate Holi | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

 

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