The Hindu community in the Mominpore locality of Kolkata in West Bengal was attacked by Fanatics on Sunday (October 9), coinciding with the Eid-Milad-Un-Nabi celebrations.
Opindia has now learnt that the Hindus were targeted by Fanatics for refusing to dismantle the Durga Puja pandals, ahead of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad.
A Kolkata-based journalist, who is privy to the incident, informed, “Mominpore is a Muslim-dominated area. There are small pockets where Hindus live.” He stated that a Durga Puja pandal, located close to the Jnan Chandra Ghosh Polytechnic college, was the primary target of the Fanatics.
According to the journalist, who chose to stay anonymous to avoid backlash from the Mamata Banerjee government, the Durga Puja conducted by the Harijan Durgosave Committee (comprising of Hindu Dalits) were intimidated by the local Muslims.
“Fanatics in the area have been pressuring them to remove the pandal and stop the conduct of Lakshmi Puja,” he informed. “In West Bengal, wherever Durga Puja is celebrated, it is mandatory to worship Goddess Lakshmi at the same site,” the journalist added.
While the Hindus were being coerced into submission since the time of Durga Puja, they refused to relent. In their defence, the Harijan Durgosave Committee informed that the Durga pandal could only be removed after the conduct of Lakshmi Puja.
This however did not sit well with the Fanatics, who came in droves to vandalise the pandal, pelt stones and damage vehicles on Sunday (October 9).
“They coerced the Ekbalpur police station to register a case against Hindus, who are associated with the Puja committee. They also carried out targeted attacks on Hindu homes and looted shops belonging to the Hindu community,” the Kolkata-based journalist added.
BJP leader Pritam Sur, also shared scary visuals where miscreants were seen unleashing mayhem on the streets. He tweeted, “Bombs and bricks are being hurled at us. Even the police is forced to flee. The situation is so grim that the face of democracy is blackened on the occasion of Lakshmi Puja.”
বোমা ইট মারা হচ্ছে তাই জন্য পুলিশকেও পালাতে হচ্ছে পরিস্থিতি এতটাই খারাপ যে গণতন্ত্রের মুখে কালি মাখিয়ে দিয়েছে লক্ষ্মী পূজার দিন। pic.twitter.com/M7Xnu14pak
— PRITAM SUR (@pritamsur1) October 9, 2022
Mominpore anti-Hindu riots
On Sunday (October 9), the Hindu community in the Mominpore locality of Kolkata in West Bengal came under attack as they geared up to celebrate the annual Lakshmi Puja.
Sukanta Majumdar, BJP Chief of West Bengal, informed that bikes and shops belonging to Hindus were vandalised by Fanatics at Maila Depot in Mominpore. In a video shared by him, bikes and nearby shops could be spotted in a damaged condition.
Bikes and shops of Hindus vandalised by peaceful community today as they celebrate their festival at Maila Depot, Mominpore. As usual, CM isn’t talking any action against them and giving them free hand. pic.twitter.com/GJ7N2EHhpl
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) October 9, 2022
Sukanta Majumdar further added that the Hindu community has been forced to flee after their houses came under attack in Mayurbhanj in Kolkata airport. “Police is silently watching. There is no law and order. The situation is serious but CM Mamata Banerjee is watching Hindus suffer,” he emphasised.
In Mayurbhanj, Kolkata Port, Hindus are fleeing, their houses are being attacked. Police is silently watching. There is no law and order. The situation is serious but CM @MamataOfficial is watching Hindus suffer. pic.twitter.com/Inz3SAz6OD
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) October 9, 2022
BJP (Nandigram) MLA Suvendu Adhikari shared a disturbing video from Ekbalpur police station where goons had laid siege, forcing the cops to flee. The mob was seen waving Islamic flags.
Ekbalpur Police Station seems to be captured by hooligans.
Mamata Police have abandoned the Station for the time being, out of fear. @chief_west if @CPKolkata is not up to the task, please seek CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) deployment.@HMOIndia kindly intervene 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3RbaCVDoLz— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) October 9, 2022
Suvendu Adhikari seeks deployment of Central Forces
To protect the Hindu community, which has been attacked by Fanatics, Suvendu Adhikari has written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and sought urgent deployment of central forces.
“I am compelled to write this letter to you at this hour because the gravity of the situation has prompted this urgency. The Hindu community has come under attack in the Khidirpore Mominpur area of Kolkata on the eve of Lakshmi Puja,” the BJP leader informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
He emphasised,”Hooligans and anti-socials have vandalised many shops and bikes belonging to Hindus.” Suvendu Adhikari pointed out that the current state of violence against Hindus in Mominpore was reminiscent of past attacks in Howrah, Nadia and Murshidabad districts.
I have written to Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji & Hon’ble Governor Shri La Ganesan Ji requesting them to urgently deploy Central Forces in the wake of Mominpur violence & ransacking of Ekbalpur Police Station before the Law & Order situation of WB gets out of hand pic.twitter.com/yr3lB1MaJB
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) October 9, 2022
Union Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar seeks stringent measures for the safety and security of West Bengal
Wrote to Hon’ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji on the recent communal violence in West Bengal.
Requesting him to take stringent measures for the safety and security of West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/LNGbVocETT
— Dr. Subhas Sarkar (@Drsubhassarkar) October 10, 2022