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Nithari remembers its kids

Photo: PTI

In memoriam: Family members of victims of Nithari killings performing a ’havan’ in Noida on Saturday.

Noida: One year after the Nithari killings came to light, the infamous D-5 bungalow is a desolate place, much in contrast to the large crowd that had gathered here, drawn by news of the shocking uncovering of the sexual abuse and murder of children.

While no one was allowed anywhere near the bungalow, that was barricaded and guarded by policemen, the families of the victims performed a ‘havan’ in the memory of the children near the infamous address.

Police had made elaborate arrangements, including posting a riot vehicle, and only the families of the victims were allowed to participate in the ‘havan’.

Exactly a year ago, skulls and other bones were recovered from behind the bungalow that later came to be known as the ‘House of Horrors’. The bones were those of children from Nithari village who had gone missing.

The owner of the bungalow, businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, and his servant Surinder Koli, were arrested for the killings. The matter is being investigated by the CBI.

The families have, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the probe, charging the investigating agency with being soft on Pandher. “The CBI is giving a clean chit to Pandher when he has initially confessed of having raped and murdered children,” said Ram Kishan, a resident of Nithari, whose child was among the victims.

The inhabitants of Nithari village, who eke out a living by doing odd jobs like selling scrap, rickshaw pulling, selling grocery and as labourers, say that it is now their way of life to be questioned by journalists, NGO volunteers and people from various social organisations. “There is nothing that we have to say now. We just have to live with what has happened,” said Gujari, a resident. PTI

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