Ghaziabad: For the second consecutive day, the grief of Khoda colony was overshadowed by a show of force. A family's plea for justice for a murdered boy escalated into a charged mobilisation as groups of outsiders, claiming to be members of right-wing organisations, poured into the densely populated colony off NH-9. They shouted communal slogans, marched to the victim's house, kept markets shut, and kept residents on edge.
Influx of Outsiders
In waves, groups arrived from Noida, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Meerut, and other nearby districts. Residents reported that fresh batches arrived almost every 10 minutes, gathered near NH-9, and then walked roughly 300 metres to the boy's house. Along the way, many raised inflammatory slogans, including 'goli maro' chants targeting a specific community. More than five times, protesters spilled onto the highway, briefly blocking traffic before police used mild force to push them back.
Demands and Claims
The crowd, which included women, demanded that the remaining accused in the murder case be killed in a police encounter. This came hours after 19-year-old Asad, the prime accused, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police. Some protesters also made communally loaded claims about the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Ashutosh Singh, who came from Meerut, said he was there to support the family and seek justice. Referring to the boy's mother, he noted that she had lost her husband a few years ago and had now lost her younger son as well. Another protester, Anshul Kumar from Hapur, described the killing as an 'eye-opener' and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused.
Residents' Unease
Inside Khoda, many residents watched in silence and with unease. One of the largest colonies in the region, Khoda is home to a vast population of labourers, migrants, and gig workers who commute daily to Noida, Ghaziabad, and Delhi. For many, the colony's everyday struggles revolve around work, rent, and civic neglect, not communal confrontation.
The shutdown has hit hard. With tension persisting and outsiders continuing to pour in, shops and markets remained largely closed for a second day. Sanjay Gupta (65), a neighbour of the victim, said the family deserved justice but added that in over two decades in the area, he had never seen a murder turned into such a communal issue.
Economic Impact
For daily-wage workers, the disruption carried an immediate cost. Sunil Sharma, a resident, explained that missing work meant losing that day's income and, with it, money for food and his children's school fees.
Mohammad Aslam, who runs a grocery store, said he had kept it shut for three days out of fear for his family's safety. 'People are coming here with so much hate. They are raising slogans that can foment tension,' he said, adding that his family had been unable to sleep properly at night.
Police Response
Dhawal Jaiswal, DCP (trans-Hindon and City), said more than 300 police personnel and two PAC battalions had been deployed in Khoda to maintain law and order. He said officers had managed the situation on the ground and repeatedly calmed protesters through intervention and talks.
