More families return to Marad

The Marad beach region in Kozhikode where nine people were killed in communal violence, was witness to scenes of brotherhood and joy yesterday, as more Muslim families which fled the area five months ago returned to their homes.

The rehabilitation process began by noon yesterday, with more families coming by buses arranged by the district authorities. With the arrivals, the number of families that have been rehabilitated has gone up to more than 100.

Public Administration Secretary K.K. Vijayakumar who is supervising the rehabilitation operation made an assessment of the overall situation yesterday, and several 'Gandhians' are camping in the area. What would surely encourage the people in the state are the scenes of love and brotherhood witnessed in Marad between the Hindu and Muslim families yesterday.

Some Hindu families welcomed their Muslim brethren by offering lemon juice while others helped the returnees with water and essential items when they got back to their homes after spending five months in the refugee camps.

Authorities said the Rs20 million set apart for the rehabilitation efforts by the state government had reached the district authorities and that disbursement of compensation to the victims' families and affected people would commence later yesterday.

The successful culmination of the rehabilitation of Marad refugees, expected to be completed in the next two days, will be a huge relief for the state government. The Marad incident had caused friction between the Indian Union Muslim League and Chief Minister A.K. Antony, and even had a strong impact in the Ernakulam by-election in which the Congress candidate was defeated.