How the Bijnor killings unfolded

Friday morning started like any other for Sadikan and her family. The elders of the household were having breakfast while the younger ones were playing in the small compound of their home after finishing their meal. The household is home to families of six brothers, named Anees-ud-din, Zulfikar Ahmed, Raes, Ehsan, Irfan and Furkan, who have been living in Peda Peda village of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh for decades. While Zulfikar had passed away two years ago, Anees, his younger brother Ehsan and Zulfikar's son were among those who died here on Friday in a communal clash. 

The family's one-story house was an integral part of the village and quite a popular one too, owing to the number of residents living there. Out of more than 30 people in the family, 18 are children. The family had unanimously decided to send two of their girls for education as it wouldn't have been possible for everyone to study. Little did they know that on that fateful Friday, everything would change for the family. 

Between 7 and 7.30 am, the 16-year old girl left home accompanied by her cousin brother Talib, only to be stopped by some youth midway. The youth allegedly harassed the girl by passing lewd comments, prompting her cousin to protest. The matter was briefly resolved by village elders, but as news spread, the father and uncle of the girl took the protest to one Sansaar Singh and the village head named Dilwar Singh who swiftly abused them. A heated argument ensued between the two groups, but what came after the argument has sent shivers down the spines of people who live in the area. 

Accessing police documents and on the basis of eye witness accounts, dna has learnt that as soon as the second round of arguments ensued, the group of youth who had allegedly harassed the minor girl, started mobilising people from their village as well as a neighbouring one. "A mob of more than 50 people gathered, some of whom were armed with revolvers," said Aslam, the uncle who had intervened on behalf of his harassed niece. 

According to family members, the mob first entered their house and started beating anyone they found, including women and children. With most of the men having breakfast on the balcony of the house, everyone in the ground floor rushed upstairs for help. 

"Everyone converged towards the balcony and that's when they started firing. The shooters had already positioned themselves in neighbouring houses and were waiting for us to come to the balcony so they could have a better view of us while they shoot," said Khushnama, a family member. Imrana, mother of the harassed girl said, "It was a bloodbath. They did not spare our one-year-old Hinsa, neither did they have mercy on Ehsan Bhai who is handicapped." Ehsan's son-in-law Rizwan was also shot at and is said to be in a serious condition. A total of 20 people were injured in the gun fire, out of whom three succumbed to their injuries. 

The assault however did not end with the firing. The balcony was covered with broken bricks which the family claimed were thrown by the attackers who were not armed. "They rained some bricks before going on a shooting spree. When they ran out of bullets, they threw more bricks, even as our dead family members were lying in a pool of blood," said Aslam. 

The attack finally concluded with the mob burning down a motorcycle and a small shop owned by the family. "The abuses, the yelling and laughing and the gun fire, these are things that will haunt me forever, along with the lifeless bodies of our family members," Khushnama said.