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By Sandhya Jain (Niti Central)
Amidst a near-complete media blackout and distressing silence from statutory bodies like the National Human Rights Commission, a serious communal flare up has taken place in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, with more than 200 Hindu homes torched and looted in four villages — Naliakhali, Herobhanga, Gopalpur and Goladogra, in the Canning police station area, from the wee hours of February 19. Almost two dozen Hindu shops were fully damaged and looted in Joynagar police station area; many shopkeepers have fled and members of the besieged community have begun to send their womenfolk away.
Although triggered by a purely local incident, the looming Panchayat elections in the State seem to have given vested interests an opportunity for a show of strength. Competitive communalism is in the air, with the two major political formations fighting to capture the huge Muslim vote in the State.
By all accounts, the trouble began late in the night of February 18-19 when Maulvi Rohul Kuddus (resident of Ghutiyari Shariff, South 24 Parganas) and Abdul Wahab (resident of village Moujpur, Joynagar) were returning from Jaamtala Haat in Kultali after attending a religious congregation. Maulvi Kuddus was driving a motorcycle when the duo was attacked by unidentified culprits on the Naliakhali main road. Maulvi Rohul Kuddus was shot dead and his aide Abdul Wahab, injured.
The motive for the murder is unclear. Reports in a prominent newspaper however, claim that the Maulvi was carrying Rs 11.5 lakhs, which was taken away by the assailants. Other sources say that huge unaccounted funds are circulating in the region and are being used to buy unlicensed firearms and ammunition, under the patronage of political parties.
As rumours spread, large numbers of Muslims began to descend upon the area in trucks. The headmaster of a local school reportedly incited the mob, and soon Hindu homes began to be attacked from the early hours of February 19. The violence quickly escalated with the police and administration initially at a loss. According to local reports, police officers Anup Samaddar and Anup Ghoash of the Canning police station were seriously injured and two police vehicles torched in the turmoil. The unrest has spread to Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas.
Hindu Samhati leader Tapan Ghosh, who is monitoring the situation with volunteers, told a local television channel that after the Maulvi’s body was found, Naliakhali village, which was closest to the site of the crime, was attacked and looted, the village temple damaged, and five women molested. As the police party was initially outnumbered, the mob torched homes with impunity, pouring petrol and setting them ablaze in a three hour rampage. Naliakhali villagers claimed they had no knowledge about the murder and the reasons for the attack on them until the police arrived.
Neighbouring villages were also attacked, Hindus beaten and their shops destroyed. The mob set up roadblocks at several places such as Natunhat, Priyor More (Joynagar ps), Bhangankhali, Hospital More (Basanti ps).
View full picture gallery here.
Hundreds of Hindu families rendered homeless in area of South 24 Pgs district. Hindus have taken shelter at the Baikunthpur primary school under police protection. Date – 19 Feb. 2013
Hundreds of Hindu families rendered homeless in area of South 24 Pgs district. Hindus have taken shelter at the Baikunthpur primary school under police protection. Date – 19 Feb. 2013
According to the Census 2001, the district-wise population of Muslims in West Bengal is Murshidabad (63.67 per cent); Malda(49.72 per cent); North Dinajpur (47.36 per cent); Birbhum (35.08 per cent); South 24 Parganas (33.34 per cent); Nadia (25.41 per cent); Howrah(24.44 per cent); Cooch Behar (24.24 per cent); North 24 Parganas(24.22 per cent); South Dinajpur (24.01 per cent); Kolkata (20.27 per cent);Bardhaman (19.78 per cent); Hooghly (15.14 per cent); Midnapore(11.32 per cent); Jalpaiguri (10.78 per cent); Bankura (7.51 per cent); Purulia(7.12 per cent) and Darjeeling (5.31 per cent).
Muslims Torch and Loot 200 Hindu Homes in West Bengal (Images) | The Chakra News
http://www.niticentral.com/2013/02/21/riots-erupt-in-bengal-48746.html
West Bengal: 200 homes torched, shops ransacked in riots
Kolkata, Feb 21: Hundreds of homes were set ablaze and scores of shops ransacked in the riots that rocked the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal over the past three days.
Reports say the murder of a religious leader sparked violent clashes in the Canning sub divsion of the district. Maulvi Rohul Kuddus of Ghutiyari Shariff was returning from Jaamtala Haat on the night of Feb 18 when an unidentified gang fired at him. One of his aides Abdul Wahab who was riding pillion on the motorcycle escaped with minor injuries but Maulvi Kuddus died on the spot.
In the wee hours of Feb 19, a bus driver Samir Sen saw the body lying on the Naliakhali main road and alerted the Canning police. By the time cops arrived at the scene, Abdul Wahab had informed some people about the incident.
Soon after this, shops in Gopalpur, Naliakhali, Goladogra and Herobhanga were ransackedby a mob. Hindus living in the area were attacked and their homes burnt down. The cops tried to restore calm but the arsonists did not spare even police vehicles. Two senior police officers were injured.
West Bengal: 200 homes torched, shops ransacked in riots - Oneindia News
एक धार्मिक नेता की हत्या के बाद भड़के दंगों में प*श्चिम बंगाल की राजधानी कोलकाता से महज 30 किमी दूर 200 घरों को जला दिया गया और समुदाय विशेष की दर्जनों दुकानों में लूटपाट की गई। मामले में कार्रवाई न होने के कारण पुलिस पर भी लापरवाही बरतने के आरोप लग रहे हैं।
http://www.amarujala.com/news/samac...-and-shops-ransacked-in-riots-in-west-bengal/
200 houses burnt in Bengal village by mob protesting cleric's death:NDTV
Canning: At least 200 houses were burnt in West Bengal's Naliakhali village by a mob protesting a religious leader's death. 52 people have been arrested in connection with the arson, police sources said.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/2...llage-by-mob-protesting-cleric-s-death-334298
Amidst a near-complete media blackout and distressing silence from statutory bodies like the National Human Rights Commission, a serious communal flare up has taken place in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, with more than 200 Hindu homes torched and looted in four villages — Naliakhali, Herobhanga, Gopalpur and Goladogra, in the Canning police station area, from the wee hours of February 19. Almost two dozen Hindu shops were fully damaged and looted in Joynagar police station area; many shopkeepers have fled and members of the besieged community have begun to send their womenfolk away.
Although triggered by a purely local incident, the looming Panchayat elections in the State seem to have given vested interests an opportunity for a show of strength. Competitive communalism is in the air, with the two major political formations fighting to capture the huge Muslim vote in the State.
By all accounts, the trouble began late in the night of February 18-19 when Maulvi Rohul Kuddus (resident of Ghutiyari Shariff, South 24 Parganas) and Abdul Wahab (resident of village Moujpur, Joynagar) were returning from Jaamtala Haat in Kultali after attending a religious congregation. Maulvi Kuddus was driving a motorcycle when the duo was attacked by unidentified culprits on the Naliakhali main road. Maulvi Rohul Kuddus was shot dead and his aide Abdul Wahab, injured.
The motive for the murder is unclear. Reports in a prominent newspaper however, claim that the Maulvi was carrying Rs 11.5 lakhs, which was taken away by the assailants. Other sources say that huge unaccounted funds are circulating in the region and are being used to buy unlicensed firearms and ammunition, under the patronage of political parties.
As rumours spread, large numbers of Muslims began to descend upon the area in trucks. The headmaster of a local school reportedly incited the mob, and soon Hindu homes began to be attacked from the early hours of February 19. The violence quickly escalated with the police and administration initially at a loss. According to local reports, police officers Anup Samaddar and Anup Ghoash of the Canning police station were seriously injured and two police vehicles torched in the turmoil. The unrest has spread to Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas.
Hindu Samhati leader Tapan Ghosh, who is monitoring the situation with volunteers, told a local television channel that after the Maulvi’s body was found, Naliakhali village, which was closest to the site of the crime, was attacked and looted, the village temple damaged, and five women molested. As the police party was initially outnumbered, the mob torched homes with impunity, pouring petrol and setting them ablaze in a three hour rampage. Naliakhali villagers claimed they had no knowledge about the murder and the reasons for the attack on them until the police arrived.
Neighbouring villages were also attacked, Hindus beaten and their shops destroyed. The mob set up roadblocks at several places such as Natunhat, Priyor More (Joynagar ps), Bhangankhali, Hospital More (Basanti ps).
View full picture gallery here.
Hundreds of Hindu families rendered homeless in area of South 24 Pgs district. Hindus have taken shelter at the Baikunthpur primary school under police protection. Date – 19 Feb. 2013
Hundreds of Hindu families rendered homeless in area of South 24 Pgs district. Hindus have taken shelter at the Baikunthpur primary school under police protection. Date – 19 Feb. 2013
According to the Census 2001, the district-wise population of Muslims in West Bengal is Murshidabad (63.67 per cent); Malda(49.72 per cent); North Dinajpur (47.36 per cent); Birbhum (35.08 per cent); South 24 Parganas (33.34 per cent); Nadia (25.41 per cent); Howrah(24.44 per cent); Cooch Behar (24.24 per cent); North 24 Parganas(24.22 per cent); South Dinajpur (24.01 per cent); Kolkata (20.27 per cent);Bardhaman (19.78 per cent); Hooghly (15.14 per cent); Midnapore(11.32 per cent); Jalpaiguri (10.78 per cent); Bankura (7.51 per cent); Purulia(7.12 per cent) and Darjeeling (5.31 per cent).
Muslims Torch and Loot 200 Hindu Homes in West Bengal (Images) | The Chakra News
http://www.niticentral.com/2013/02/21/riots-erupt-in-bengal-48746.html
West Bengal: 200 homes torched, shops ransacked in riots
Kolkata, Feb 21: Hundreds of homes were set ablaze and scores of shops ransacked in the riots that rocked the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal over the past three days.
Reports say the murder of a religious leader sparked violent clashes in the Canning sub divsion of the district. Maulvi Rohul Kuddus of Ghutiyari Shariff was returning from Jaamtala Haat on the night of Feb 18 when an unidentified gang fired at him. One of his aides Abdul Wahab who was riding pillion on the motorcycle escaped with minor injuries but Maulvi Kuddus died on the spot.
In the wee hours of Feb 19, a bus driver Samir Sen saw the body lying on the Naliakhali main road and alerted the Canning police. By the time cops arrived at the scene, Abdul Wahab had informed some people about the incident.
Soon after this, shops in Gopalpur, Naliakhali, Goladogra and Herobhanga were ransackedby a mob. Hindus living in the area were attacked and their homes burnt down. The cops tried to restore calm but the arsonists did not spare even police vehicles. Two senior police officers were injured.
West Bengal: 200 homes torched, shops ransacked in riots - Oneindia News
एक धार्मिक नेता की हत्या के बाद भड़के दंगों में प*श्चिम बंगाल की राजधानी कोलकाता से महज 30 किमी दूर 200 घरों को जला दिया गया और समुदाय विशेष की दर्जनों दुकानों में लूटपाट की गई। मामले में कार्रवाई न होने के कारण पुलिस पर भी लापरवाही बरतने के आरोप लग रहे हैं।
http://www.amarujala.com/news/samac...-and-shops-ransacked-in-riots-in-west-bengal/
200 houses burnt in Bengal village by mob protesting cleric's death:NDTV
Canning: At least 200 houses were burnt in West Bengal's Naliakhali village by a mob protesting a religious leader's death. 52 people have been arrested in connection with the arson, police sources said.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/2...llage-by-mob-protesting-cleric-s-death-334298
,I have provided additional sources of oneindian,amarujala and secoolar NDTV in OP.
, Govt. needs to take preventive steps.
