In Khoda, Nobody Knows Why Surya and Asad Fought. That Hasn't Stopped a Communal Narrative From Taking Hold |
New Delhi: The lanes in Khoda, Ghaziabad, are so narrow that everybody is in everybody else’s life. Wires hang low overhead. Houses stand wall-to-wall. People spill out into the street because there is nowhere else to go. You would be hard-pressed to see this area as part of the National Capital Territory, even if it is minutes away from upmarket Mayur Vihar neighbourhoods.
In the first lane of this locality in Ghaziabad, a mourning gathering virtually fills the lane. Outside, on the main road, police personnel and media workers choke an already congested market street.
This is the scene outside the lane in Khoda Colony where lives the family of Surya Chauhan, a 16-year-old who died from stab wounds allegedly inflicted by 19-year-old Asad, from the same locality, five days earlier. On May 28, the day of Eid, Surya was stabbed after meeting Asad and a group of other youths. He died in hospital the following day. About 24 hours later, Asad was killed in a police encounter.
Between the killing and the encounter, however, another battle had begun in Khoda – over how the incident should be understood.
Life in Khoda, where the working classes must endure sub-standard services, and poor quality of life, is now a hub of communal speeches, June 1, 2026.
Hindutva outfits arrive
Numerous Hindu organisations and ‘VIPs’ have parked themselves at Surya’s doorstep since the stabbing, where they hold ‘meetings’ all day, explaining Surya’s killing as an attack ‘on the Hindu community’ – ignoring the voices that say they were friends who fell into a dispute. The street had broken into at least five large gatherings of Hindutva activists making speeches about Hinduism under threat from Muslims, surrounded by mediapersons and locals.
Those who have been here include BJP leader from Meerut Sangeet Som, who gave a statement calling Muslims who attacked Surya ‘jihadi’, Reena Bhati, another BJP leader, arrives almost daily at Surya’s home, including one visit with supporters (The Wire recorded this interaction) who asked the administration to evict “Mulla/outsiders/tenants” from the lane where Surya lived, or else the local women would do so.
“This was a fight over religion,” said Madhav Bajrangi, a local office-bearer of the Rashtriya Hanuman Dal, who said he wanted Khoda renamed after Surya and called on Hindus from across the country to visit the locality “all year, every day”. Madhav was present outside Surya’s mother’s house on both June 1 and 2, making tall claims on both days, as well as linking his presence with “national service”.
Harinder Singh, BJP Pradesh Karyakarini Mantri (Member, State Executive Committee, Uttar Pradesh) and head of the Maharaja Suraj Mal Samaj Utthan Sansthan, says, “We trust that the government will do what has been done to Asad to the other accused as well. Their houses should also be demolished.” He goes on: “People say those who study in madrasa become jihadi.”
Former Khoda councillor Reena Bhati (in greyish-blue shalwar-kameez with white abstract patterns), a well-known BJP leader in the area, arrives with supporters who want ‘Muslim tenants’ evicted, June 2, 2026.
There is no evidence or claim linking Asad to any madarsa. The May 28 attack has been officially recorded as just that – an attack by Asad on Surya – in the police FIR filed by Surya’s brother, Yash. The Wire has a copy of the FIR, which attributes no reason or motive, except that it was an attempt by Asad to take Surya’s life, who was in hospital, battling for his life at the time.
The complaint filed by Surya’s family to police, as recorded in the FIR on May 28, 2026.
“All six homes should be bulldozed,” said Saroj, Surya’s grieving mother, sitting next to Singh on a mattress laid out in front of a small pedestal on which are Surya’s garlanded photo and a tiny suggestion – or cry – for help – a QR code for anyone willing to assist the family. Surya’s family lives in a rented flat in Gali Number 1, and Saroj earns 6-8,000 a month, working in a private sector job in Greater Noida. Her older son, said to keep poor health, does odd jobs, as did Surya.
“One of the killers has been killed in an encounter. Six more are left,” says she. Like many in the locality, she cites the number of attackers from what they hear or on the basis of a CCTV recording, allegedly of the stabbing incident, which has unofficially been circulating, in which a group of 7 is seen grappling on a street – not on the basis of actual knowledge of what transpired between the boys on the Eid afternoon. The numbers people cite, therefore, vary from 4 to 6 to 7 in some cases.
Saroj rejects the suggestion of a preexisting dispute between the two boys, Surya and Asad. “There was no old matter,” she said. “They were not friends.” Her grief,........