Residents of Marad decide to leave homes

Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 4, 2003
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=45383483

Terrified members of a particular community in Marad Beach of Kozhikode have decided to leave their homes and move to safer destinations after recent violence in the fishermen- dominated area which claimed nine lives.
 
"How do you expect us to live here now? What happened to the assurances made last time?," Shoba, a relative of one of the deceased and who witnessed communal clashes in January 2002, said while bursting into tears.
 
Sasi, who was fast asleep in a nearby house and escaped the attack, said "we don't believe in peace anymore. Neither do we wish to retaliate nor do we have confidence in the security provided. We would now like to protect ourselves".
 
"All those with whom I was talking an hour before the incident were either dead or left bleeding when I woke up," Sasi said in a state of shock.
 
Meanwhile, deployment of a heavy police force in the area failed to convince people fearing recurrence of such attacks from leaving their homes.
 

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