Hindu lives are again under threat in West Bengal as police and administration failed to deter a communal clash this weekend when Muslims came in mobs of hundreds to attack Hindu homes and business establishments in Hooghly’s Telinipara area. The Muslim holy month of Ramzan, during which the faithful observe a sunrise to sunset fast, is currently going on.
As per reports, sporadic clashes broke out when residents from the densely-populated Wardibazar area tried to enter the Telinipara area on Sunday night flouting the nationwide lockdown. Wardibazar is a Covid-19 sensitive area; hence, locals of Telinipara resisted their entry.
However, horrific visuals that soon surfaced on social media hinted that the situation was graver than what was being reported. It was apparent the Hindus who lived in the Muslim-dominated area were charged at by massive mobs of armed rioters who had stormed into the streets with crude bombs and swords, defying the lockdown norms. Several unarmed Hindus were injured and many Hindu houses were set ablaze too.
Social activist Prasun Maitra shared a video on Twitter, in which a young Hindu girl gave an account of the attack on her family. She narrates the riot-like situation brought about by a mob of 300-400 people on the roads, who she claims were Muslims from the adjoining neighborhood. First, they pelted bricks on her door, almost breaking it down. The mob hurled vile abuses at the family. Her father sent her and her mother away, but was himself caught by the mob. Someone attacked him with a sharp weapon, the mark of which can still be seen on their door, but he somehow managed to escape.
https://twitter.com/prasunmaitra/status/1260107824429846528
Another woman showed how the rioters stormed into her house and destroyed belongings like TV etc.
This is how houses belong to Hindus were attacked by jihadists at Telanipara, Hooghly. Many became injured as @WBPolice of Chandannagar Police Commissionerate, led by Humayun Kabir, remained indifferent to provide safety to Hindus. Should Hindus in WB still trust @MamataOfficial? pic.twitter.com/ISjO04Eo05
— Prasun Maitra(প্রসূন মৈত্র) (@prasunmaitra) May 12, 2020
An elderly man narrated how a mob started chanting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ after ending their Roza (fast) and started hurling stones & bricks on Hindu houses..
An eyewitness describes how hundreds of jihadists pounced on them shouting “Allah hu Akbar” after their roza at Telanipara, Hooghly. @MamataOfficial has totally failed to control the jihadi elements in the state and that’s why @WBPolice appears helpless before them. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/UXRZvjvlaH
— Prasun Maitra(প্রসূন মৈত্র) (@prasunmaitra) May 12, 2020
Kolkata Police that has failed to curb such periodic anti-Hindu violence, first conveyed that the situation was ‘under control’. However, after visuals of the rioting went viral on social media, they warned people of strict action for circulating ‘misinformation’. But activist Prasun Maitra asked why Chandannagar Police Commissionarate, led by IPS Humayun Kabir, failed to safeguard Hindus from the Islamist mobs.
Similar allegations were brought against the top cop by senior BJP Leader, Locket Chatterjee, who was neither allowed to meet the victim families nor given an appointment to see Humayun Kabir himself. She accused Kolkata Police of harassing innocent Hindus and apprehending BJP workers instead of picking up the rioters. In a series of posts she questioned, “For how long will the innocents of Bengal have to suffer these unilateral attacks?”
BJP National Secretary, Tripura, Sunil Deodhar also shared horrific videos of smoke-filled skies of the riot area, questioning the administration’s silence.
Horrific visuals !
Houses of Hindus are being burnt in Telinipara, Hooghly, #WestBengal.
Administration is silent.
Where is law & order? pic.twitter.com/qI6lHBhYB3
— Sunil Deodhar (@Sunil_Deodhar) May 12, 2020
BJP’s leadership squarely accused the Mamata Banerjee government of playing appeasement politics as the nation combats the deadly pandemic. Dilip Ghosh minced no words asserting that Muslims vent their rage at Hindus when authorities try to take them to quarantine centers. The vote bank patronized by the TMC administration is accustomed to flouting lockdown restrictions with impunity, and has wreaked havoc in the state, claimed BJP through its official handle.
Horrific visuals from Telinipara in Hooghly where people from a "certain" community turned violent last night. In WB, under Mamata Banerjee, ‘vote bank’ patronised by TMC has held the state to ransom, flouted Covid guidelines at will without any fear of law! #KothayAcheMamata pic.twitter.com/LC63vJqCXn
— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) May 11, 2020
After facing criticism for their inaction on various social media platforms, as per latest reports the administration has arrested 17 people and imposed Section 144 in the area.
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[…] May, when houses and business establishments of Hindus were attacked in Hooghly’s Telinipara area by Islamists, Humayun Kabir, is the senior-most officer in that area, was accused by local Hindus […]