Muharrum violence ripped through Kaligram air during Durga Puja

Date: 25th, October, 2015 

Place: Kaligram, Malda, West Bengal 

Muharram Flag

Yet again, communal violence has tarnished the Hindu Puja celebrations in Kaligram, a prosperous village of Chanchal Sub-division of Malda District. Year after year, what people of Kaligram have been witnessing in the name of Muharrum celebration is nothing but traumatizing agony of Hindu voice suppression both by majority uneducated Muslims and by the administration. Till 23 rd October, 2015 Hindu Durga Puja celebration was in in full swing in an around Kaligram like any other part of Bengal. Though communal tension was prevalent in peoples mind in the area, people came out in large number to celebrate. Each year during Muharrum various kinds terrifying incidents are perpetrated by the Muslims to terrorize Hindus in the area. Moreover, the local administration and their political masters become enablers for the mischievous activities. Most importantly the local I.C, Chanchal, Tulsidas Bhattacharaya, (Mob:- 9734355393) in not only patronizing Muslim violence in the name of celebration but also is believed to be co-conspirator in this whole matter.

Shop Vandalized

On 24th afternoon, as usual around five thousand armed Muslims men and goons primarily uneducated gathered from outside areas, started the procession of Muharrum brandishing swords, lathis and many sharp local arms. The procession, as it was passing through the village, the mob kept no stones unturned to terrorize minority Hindu population. The mob was teasing Hindu women, misbehaving with them and terrorizing the whole Hindu

Shop Vandalised

diaspora. Anti-India slogans i.e. ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, ‘Hindu Ko Mar Dal’ were chanted in a horrific manner in the presence of Civil & Police Administration. These slogans rendered the Kaligram air like never before. In the preparatory meeting, convened before the Puja & Muharrum celebration, an agreement was reached that Hindu property and idols will be fully barricaded during Muharrum procession. In the same meeting representatives of Civil & Police administration, Hindus & Muslims communities were present. It was also agreed that Proper police force will be present during the Muharrum procession, but

Shop Vandalised

didn’t happen in reality. Unfortunately barricade was not sufficiently done and the Hindus lives were vulnerable. The mob went on vandalizing Hindu shops and stones were pelted at the Durga Idol in number of places. A drinking water Tap was uprooted as it was used by Hindus to induce the fear. Around eight Hindu men were badly injured due to the stones pelted during the procession. Many Hindu women took shelter in Kaligram High school to save their modesty. Administration did nothing to either stop the mob or to protect Hindu women. When lathis and stones were pelted at Durga idol of very traditional ‘Kaligram Bazar Sarbojanin Durgotsav’ then Hindu youth were forced to respond with stones. Finally administration was compelled to call R.A.F. around 12 rounds of bullets were fired and finally, police did ‘lathi-charge’ to disperse the Muslim mob. Jayanta Ghosal (S.D.O, Chanchal) & Rana Mukherjee (S.D.P.O, Chanchal) did a commendable job thereafter to manage the situation. Finally, in the evening, a reconciliation meeting was convened by the administration, SP, SDO, BDO were also present. A resolution was taken that while returning with the Muharrum procession no

Masjid Bricks used for pelting

arms will be allowed and the total of number people would not be more than hundred. In the contrary, around 11 p.m. when Muslims return through the village they came with huge mob of around fifteen hundred people and similar kind of afternoon atmosphere were tried to be re-induced. Though this time no unfortunate incident happened, but if it was initiated by the mob there wouldn’t have been much protection from the administration. In this whole incident I.C, Chanchal, Tulsidas Bhattacharaya not only swayed away from his responsibility of protecting people but also turned blind eye by doing nothing to control the Muslim fanatic mob. Minority Hindu population is nothing but sitting duck here in Kaligram. State administration and local TMC, Congress, CPM leaders are behaving like a conspirator in this whole very unfortunate situation. Yet again people of Kaligram see Pakistan flag being unfurled in broad day light in the name of Muhurram celebration in the Bengal, all intellectuals, main stream media have no time to debate and discuss this kind of horrific incidents that has been happening in the name of Muslim celebration. So, let’s take a pause and think which State, are we living and aspiring to be peaceful and be happy??

Think and Act before it’s too late.