Rohingya settlement gutted in Mewat, inhabitants allege conspiracy

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, May 27

A major fire broke out in a Rohingya refugee camp in Nuh's Chandeni area late on Sunday evening. 

Though no casualties have been reported so far, residential shacks of more than 50 families were reduced to cinders within an hour. 

Sources claim that the fire started by short circuit in one of the huts and despite best efforts of firemen the settlement was destroyed. Officials, however, did not confirm short circuit as the reason.

The locals alleged mischief behind the incident. "We have been facing hatred for quite some time. We are on road with our woman and children and local administration or government has not even cared to arrange for water," said Manzek, a representative of refugees.

More than 150 people living in the settlement have been rendered homeless. 

Some social workers who had long been working for refugees' welfare too have pulled themselves back, apparently fearing the wrath of right wing outfits. 

"We have been accused of resorting to anti-national activities. This is not the first time that a fire has broken out here. Nearly a year back the settlement was wiped out by a fire and I built a few makeshift homes, but had to face a difficult time for helping the refugees," said a local social worker, Madhi Khaleed, who runs a school for refugee children.

Alleging conspiracy, Ali Zuhar, a local Rohingya leader, claimed that, "Every single person was called to Nuh for fingerprint registration and retina scan. When we came back we found the entire settlement in flames and they told us short circuit was the reason. Our camp was intentionally set on fire."