With internet shut down and prohibited orders issued in Murshidabad and Jangipur police districts following clashes between two communities over the weekend, the Bharatiya Janata Party kept up the pressure on the Mamata Banerjee Government for the violence.
Tensions began in the late hours of November 16 following reports of an allegedly objectionable message written on a neon signboard at a Kartik Puja pandal in Beldanga, about 200 km from Kolkata. There was stone pelting, and shops and vehicles were attacked. Some people sustained injuries in the vandalism and arson.
Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya posted on X: “Beldanga in West Bengal’s Murshidabad continues to simmer as Muslim rioters hold the town to ransom. Last evening, the rampaging mobs targeted Hindu deities, pelted stones on Kartik Puja pandals and brutalised West Bengal police. All because Mamata Banerjee won’t stop appeasing Muslims for votes. She is a disgrace as Chief Minister.”
While the West Bengal Police tried to play down the violence saying 17 people were arrested for the violence. West Bengal Police in a statement said: “President and secretary of the committee where this incident took place have been arrested and taken in police custody. Prompt action has been taken by the police against vandalism and violence by arresting 17 persons. No casualty, repeat no casualty, has been reported anywhere in the district. Six persons were injured and are under proper treatment. Condition of all injured is stable. Situation is under control. Sharp police vigil continues.”
The police statement said: “Malicious efforts are being made from certain quarters to spread misinformation and rumours about the incident at Beldanga where clashes took place between two groups over some condemnable mischief. Please do not heed unverified facts and figures being circulated on social media to disrupt peace. Sternest possible legal action will be taken against law-breakers as also the rumourmongers.”
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari too slammed the Mamata Banerjee Government and posted: “Do you have the guts to reveal the identity of the ‘two groups’ who clashed over ‘some condemnable mischief’? Also, clash means a violent confrontation between two parties, but what happened in Beldanga is at the best can be described as a concerted attack by one party on the other. That one violent group/party ran riot, attacked, vandalised and set on fire; homes and properties of Hindus. @WBPolice & @SPMurshidabad, so you are claiming efficiency citing that ‘no casualty has been reported’, what about the loot & arson, and destruction of property which you failed to protect?
It seems that you are more concerned about rumour-mongers, but are going easy on the arsonists, rioters and law breakers.
“Coming back to the ‘some condemnable mischief’ part. Nobody wants to defend them if they have committed it, and they deserve appropriate punishment as per the law, not as per the whims and fancies of the rioters,” he added.
“Don’t preach about the ‘some condemnable mischief’ part before proper investigation. We had witnessed last year what happened in Bangladesh, when hundreds of Durga Puja Pandals were vandalised, after such ‘mischief’ was reported, but ultimately when the truth came out eventually, it was revealed that it was a planted ‘mischief’ to defame the Sanatani Community. So here also such template could have been followed. One can’t be sure.
He also posted a clip of a person mouthing inflammatory statements, and commented: “Have you arrested this ‘gentleman’ who is openly inciting violence against Hindus? He is even asking to kill people. If you have arrested him, then confirm it by reverting to this X Post of mine.”
On Saturday evening, a video of a message on a neon sign used to decorate a Kartik Puja pandal was spread on social media. The message was derogatory to a religious community. Groups of people started gathering near Ganeshtala and vandalised the gate where the message was displayed and nearby lighting. This sparked retaliation from another group, and a bikers’ gang carrying sticks and weapons vandalised another area nearby. These videos, too, were shared, following which larger groups tried to block Beldanga rail gate and the National Highway.
Leaders from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), also raised the issue and blamed the Trinamool Congress Government for the flare-up. “Shocking news from Beldanga, Murshidabad. Planned provocative display of abuse and disrespect to incite religious hatred with great impunity is exposing worthlessness if not complicity. @MamataOfficial and @WBPolice,” the CPI(M) leader said.
Earlier this month, a Division Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya of the Calcutta High Court, while seeking a report from the West Bengal Government over allegations of vandalism during immersions, also raised questions on why such incidents were not reported in the media. The petitioner’s counsel replied by pointing out that at least two journalists reported on the communal clashes, but were later arrested by the State police.
