For septuagenarians Islam and Fatima, who never thought they’d have to flee, everything has changed forever

On Tuesday, 71-year-old Mohammad Islam was woken up at 5am by his landlord who had come to warn him that he wasn’t safe and had to leave immediately.

Like Islam, several other Muslim families, had fled the same morning or the day earlier as a result of attacks on the community spurred by inflammatory speeches by BJP leader Kapil Mishra at Maujpur Chowk.

Local residents of Chaman Park estimated that over 1,500 people had to be rescued from Shiv Vihar and nearby areas.

By Monday afternoon violence had spread to several parts of Mustafabad and neighbouring Shiv Vihar in north-east Delhi where homes of Muslim families were specifically targeted.

As on Friday, 42 people have lost their lives and over 200 have been injured in violence across north-east Delhi.

Until Tuesday, when they fled their home, thanks to their Hindu landord, Islam and his wife, Madina Fatima, had been living in Shiv Vihar for 15 years.

The old couple has now taken refuge in a Muslim majority area of neighbouring Chaman Park across a drain that divides it from Hindu majority Shiv Vihar.

'Pandrah saal hum rahe, kabhi kisi se lade nahi. Bas pyar mohabbat me unhone bola ki chale jao (We lived there for 15 years, never fought with anyone. It was for his love and affection that he told us to leave),' said Islam.

Islam and his wife pack pollution masks and take up other odd jobs to earn a living. They moved to Shiv Vihar in 2003 after selling their home in Kabir Nagar, which has also not been spared of violence this time.

'Himmat nahi hai wapas jaane ka (We don't have the courage to go back),' admitted Islam.

“Ab nahi rehna hai wahan (We don't want live there anymore). We will sell this house (too) and go somewhere else. We might go where my son lives. ' Fatima added.