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