NHRC SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR TOURS GUJARAT RELIEF CAMPS

Many survivors of the communal violence of 2002 complained they were denied even basic amenities in relief camps when a representative of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) met them during his Gujarat visit. R K Bhargava, special rapporteur (Central Zone) of the NHRC, visited several localities in Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts during his five-day visit. Over 100 people now staying in the Shalimar Mosque in Mehsana too narrated their woes to Bhargava on Wednesday. Bhargava in the first two days visited as many as 22 relief camps in Himmatnagar, Modasa, Vadali, Meghraj and Idar sub-districts of Sabarkantha district, said a state official who accompanied him. Bhargava, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was taking stock of various relief camps where Muslims affected by the communal violence have been living since March 31, 2001. "Whatever help and facilities we get is thanks to the Islamic Relief Committee (of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind) and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind," JUH district president Daulat Khan S Pathan said.