Mohammad Ali said, ‘After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, riots broke out in Mumbai. Moosa Patel was returning from Gujarat. On 6 January, riots suddenly broke out. Dongri, Pydhonie, Nagpada, Tardeo, Mahim, Dharavi, Nirmal Nagar, Chembur, and Khetwadi witnessed skirmishes. His car was between Bandra and Mahim at around 9 p.m., where a few rioters were attacking the men before the police.’ Asrar was looking at Mohammad Ali in shock. The latter took a deep breath and continued, ‘Moosa Bhai had said that in front of him rioters pulled out five–six people out of their vehicles, removed their clothes and cut them into pieces with swords. A constable was also part of this mob. Moosa Bhai was blank. He closed his eyes and prayed to Haji Ali. Right then a media van came from nowhere from which a few media people got off and started clicking photos of the victims who were covered in blood. Among the journalists was Waghmare, who used to visit Moosa’s shop quite often. Both knew each other well. Moosa Bhai got off his car and started walking towards the crime scene when Waghmare shouted, “Ramesh, what are you doing here?” Moosa Bhai understood the code and replied, “I had come here for some work. Want to go home now.”

‘He made Moosa Bhai sit in the car and said that the riots had spread to the entire city and going towards the main city would be very dangerous. Moosa Bhai told him that a friend named Yaqoob lived near the dargah in Mahim and the media van could drop him there. Waghmare agreed. He also offered to take Moosa’s car to his house from where he could collect it later or else the rioters would burn it down. Moosa Bhai gave the keys to him, and he was dropped off at Mahim, where his people lived. The roads were silent, and some shops were on fire. Moosa immediately entered his friend’s building. Waghmare kept standing till Moosa reached the top and waved at him from the window. Yaqoob was also there at the window. Moosa Bhai stayed at his friend’s house the next day as well. The riots had worsened and spread to Kurla, Deonar, and Vakola till Jogeshwari. It was rumoured that Anuradha Bai chawl was burnt down and six people, including a handicapped girl, were burnt alive. The rumour carried with it flames. There was bloodshed in Pydhonie, Dongri, Jogeshwari, DN Nagar, VP Road, Nagpada, Byculla, Kala Chowki, Worli, Dadar, Dharavi, and Kurla–Ghatkopar. A dargah in Pydhonie, a graveyard in Jogeshwari, and temples in Byculla and Mahim were reduced to rubble. The police commissioner was attacked by a crude bomb, but he was safe. Moosa Bhai had to stay at his friend’s house even when his friend’s office was burnt down. Yaqoob kept on repeating, “I will fuck those who burnt down my shop!” For two weeks there was rioting, looting, burning and bloodshed.’