JAISALMER: Around 40 days ago, 25 Manganiyar families had fled from Dantal village in Jaisalmer after a fellow Manganiyar musician, Ahmad Khan, was killed by a local 'bhopa' (priest) over a dispute over rendering a song at the local temple.
Some 107 members of these 25 families, who fled to Jaisalmer, have not returned to their village fearing persecution.
While some families are residing with their relatives, others are wandering around in the city. Dantal sarpanch had offered to rehabilitate them, 2km away from the village. But since the area is in the path of a river, the Manganiyars have refused the offer.
At present, these families want to stay in Jaisalmer, although district collector K C Meena and others had made efforts to persuade them to return to their village.
They are staying in the Gafoor Bhatta Kachi Basti area in Jaisalmer. Few of them have sent their wives and children to parental homes, while the men are staying behind looking for work.
The deceased Manganiyar Ahmad khan's brother Bariyam Khan said that they do not want to go back to their village as they feel threatened by influential villagers, including the sarpanch, who behaved rudely with them.
He said that one of his brother's murderers and the main culprit was still absconding. Till now, only two have been caught.
Some 107 members of these 25 families, who fled to Jaisalmer, have not returned to their village fearing persecution.
While some families are residing with their relatives, others are wandering around in the city. Dantal sarpanch had offered to rehabilitate them, 2km away from the village. But since the area is in the path of a river, the Manganiyars have refused the offer.
At present, these families want to stay in Jaisalmer, although district collector K C Meena and others had made efforts to persuade them to return to their village.
They are staying in the Gafoor Bhatta Kachi Basti area in Jaisalmer. Few of them have sent their wives and children to parental homes, while the men are staying behind looking for work.
The deceased Manganiyar Ahmad khan's brother Bariyam Khan said that they do not want to go back to their village as they feel threatened by influential villagers, including the sarpanch, who behaved rudely with them.
He said that one of his brother's murderers and the main culprit was still absconding. Till now, only two have been caught.
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