How a Hindu Widow Saved 10 Muslims in Bihar Riots

[IndoCarib]

Azizpur, Bihar: As her village seethed with communal tension, Shail Devi, a frail widow in her early 50s, helped saved the lives of 10 Muslims.

On Sunday, a mob of more than 5,000 people from a neighbouring village attacked Shail Devi's village of Azizpur, where Muslims are in the majority. The violence was triggered because a young Hindu man had been abducted and killed. Four people were killed in the riots and about 25 houses set on fire.

"I provided shelter to my Muslim neighbours to save their lives because the mob could have killed them," Shail Devi said to news agency IANS. She said that along with her two daughters, she stood guard outside her house.

"I lied to rioters that I had not given shelter to Muslims in my house. Though some people tried to enter my house, I stopped them and they returned," she said.

Ash Mohammad, a man in his 60s, was one of the Muslims she hid in her home. "Shail was like a God-sent angel to us," he said.

Later, her neighbours warned that she could be punished by the rioters.

"I was so frightened that I along with my two daughters and a son took shelter in Mohammad's house. But, after the district administration persuaded me, I returned to my home," she said.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, met Shail Dev this morning and offered her praise and a cash reward of Rs. 51,000.

The police has registered a case against 5,000 unidentified people and arrested 14 people for the communal violence
How a Hindu Widow Saved 10 Muslims in Bihar Riots

 

[pak-marine]

Sounds like pre partition story ... 60 years on not much has changed

 

[syedali73]

Azizpur, Bihar: As her village seethed with communal tension, Shail Devi, a frail widow in her early 50s, helped saved the lives of 10 Muslims.

On Sunday, a mob of more than 5,000 people from a neighbouring village attacked Shail Devi's village of Azizpur, where Muslims are in the majority. The violence was triggered because a young Hindu man had been abducted and killed. Four people were killed in the riots and about 25 houses set on fire.

"I provided shelter to my Muslim neighbours to save their lives because the mob could have killed them," Shail Devi said to news agency IANS. She said that along with her two daughters, she stood guard outside her house.

"I lied to rioters that I had not given shelter to Muslims in my house. Though some people tried to enter my house, I stopped them and they returned," she said.

Ash Mohammad, a man in his 60s, was one of the Muslims she hid in her home. "Shail was like a God-sent angel to us," he said.

How a Hindu Widow Saved 10 Muslims in Bihar Riots


Later, her neighbours warned that she could be punished by the rioters.

"I was so frightened that I along with my two daughters and a son took shelter in Mohammad's house. But, after the district administration persuaded me, I returned to my home," she said.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, met Shail Dev this morning and offered her praise and a cash reward of Rs. 51,000.

The police has registered a case against 5,000 unidentified people and arrested 14 people for the communal violence

Highly commendable.

 

[IndoCarib]

Sounds like pre partition story ... 60 years on not much has changed

on both sides. yes

 

[Donatello]

Communal riots in India?

 

[pak-marine]

on both sides. yes

indeed correct ..

 

[Paksanity]

I admire her. She had humanity when some others did not.

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

Good the local Govt has recognized her noble act.

 

[I.R.A]

Hats off to her.

 

[notsuperstitious]

Sounds like pre partition story ... 60 years on not much has changed

Actually things have indeed changed. You don't think things will change overnight in a billion plus poor country with a history baggage do you?

Hundreds of people have been convicted by courts and are in jail for Gujrat and Orissa violence that took place after 2000. As a result the old beliefs that riot perps don't get punished has changed too.

One myth however seems to remain in pakistani psyche. That hindus riot and muslims don't. Truth is many if not most riots are instigated by muslims because some mulla instigates them. You certainly know how these mullas can be. As a result many riots take place after Friday afternoons. To that extent things have actually gotten worse with the wahabbisation of mullahs.

Take this for example.

Lord Mahavira Idol Defaced by Muslims in Lucknow

 

[Basel]

Sounds like pre partition story ... 60 years on not much has changed

That is why Pakistan was necessary then and now, a strong Pakistan is good for Indian muslims too.

 

[PlanetWarrior]

That is why Pakistan was necessary then and now, a strong Pakistan is good for Indian muslims too.

There are quite a few Indian Muslims I know personally who are desperately trying go get into Pakistan. Private message me if you know any of the authorities who can assist them please.

PS. Just ignore those R&AW badges those poor Indian Muslims may have when you let them in

 

[pak-marine]

Actually things have indeed changed. You don't think things will change overnight in a billion plus poor country with a history baggage do you?

Hundreds of people have been convicted by courts and are in jail for Gujrat and Orissa violence that took place after 2000. As a result the old beliefs that riot perps don't get punished has changed too.

One myth however seems to remain in pakistani psyche. That hindus riot and muslims don't. Truth is many if not most riots are instigated by muslims because some mulla instigates them. You certainly know how these mullas can be. As a result many riots take place after Friday afternoons. To that extent things have actually gotten worse with the wahabbisation of mullahs.

not 5 or 50 there were 5000 thousand people who attacked a village and over night bhai sahab Utho its almost 60 + years now .. wondering what kind of change is that ? lastly and most importantly i understand it takes two to tango blaming a community wont resolve a thing !

 

[karakoram]

Azizpur, Bihar: As her village seethed with communal tension, Shail Devi, a frail widow in her early 50s, helped saved the lives of 10 Muslims.

On Sunday, a mob of more than 5,000 people from a neighbouring village attacked Shail Devi's village of Azizpur, where Muslims are in the majority. The violence was triggered because a young Hindu man had been abducted and killed. Four people were killed in the riots and about 25 houses set on fire.

"I provided shelter to my Muslim neighbours to save their lives because the mob could have killed them," Shail Devi said to news agency IANS. She said that along with her two daughters, she stood guard outside her house.

"I lied to rioters that I had not given shelter to Muslims in my house. Though some people tried to enter my house, I stopped them and they returned," she said.

Ash Mohammad, a man in his 60s, was one of the Muslims she hid in her home. "Shail was like a God-sent angel to us," he said.

Later, her neighbours warned that she could be punished by the rioters.

"I was so frightened that I along with my two daughters and a son took shelter in Mohammad's house. But, after the district administration persuaded me, I returned to my home," she said.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, met Shail Dev this morning and offered her praise and a cash reward of Rs. 51,000.

The police has registered a case against 5,000 unidentified people and arrested 14 people for the communal violence
How a Hindu Widow Saved 10 Muslims in Bihar Riots

Good humans are very rare in this cruel world. Thumbs up to lady

 

[Judge]

Sounds like pre partition story ... 60 years on not much has changed

on both sides. yes

Incorrect.

Each decade, the State's ability to enforce its writ has increased. The ability of the State to enforce its writ/law today is exponentially more compared to just two decades ago.
Consequently today, there are far fewer riots than there used to be.

For example -
2010-2020 period will have fewer riots than 2000-2010 period.
2010-2000 had fewer riots than 1990-2000 period and so on.

What you see today is that because of extreme proliferation of media and media autonomy, every riot gets reported whereas in the old days, maybe one in hundred ever got reported and/or recorded by the police. And no one ever got punished.

Today, the rioters know that they will get caught and prosecuted by the Courts though it will take long. This happened for the first time in India's history in 2000's when rioters were actually convicted.

Making a judgement call that nothing has changed because of rioting is wrong because both of you are ignoring the intensity and frequency of rioting which used to occur earlier. There has been a very substantial decline.

And as the State grows further richer and invests in its apparatus, this ability to enforce Law will further increase. We have come a long way in Governance in just 2 decades, though there remains very long way to go still. There are incremental changes happening each year in India in both the Justice system and the Police system. To recognize it you have to take decadal statistics.