DHAKA: India prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited Muzaffarnagar this morning, where nearly 50 people were killed in communal riots so severe that the army was called in for the first time in over a decade to restore law and order in Uttar Pradesh.

Villagers handed over letters to the leaders. One, a man, told them, ‘When VIPs visit, they arrive surrounded by security. Why didn’t the police arrive to help us when we needed it?’

Another villager, Jameel, broke down as he spoke to the PM about his wife and child, who were killed in front of him, reports NDTV.

Nearly 40,000 people are now living in makeshift refugee camps, with Hindus and Muslims evacuating villages where they are in the minority.

Many who interacted with the politicians Monday asked for help with rehabilitation.

The PM said the Congress leaders wanted to share the sorrow and pain of the area and vowed ‘the toughest punishment’ for those responsible.

The Congress’s top leaders were in this part of western Uttar Pradesh a day after chief minister Akhilesh Yadav toured the area and confronted black flags, protests and anger over his government’s failure to stop the riots earlier this month.

Till recently, the area had been declared off-limits for politicians; delegates from the BJP, Congress and other parties who tried to visit Muzaffarnagar were turned away.

BDST: 1634 HRS, SEPT 16, 2013
RoR/RK