Bagnan Howrah flares up; Muslims desperate to stop coming Janmasthami there

Bagnan, notable census town in Howrah district in the Indian state of Bengal, has been gripped by tensions and Hindu apprehensions of attacks by Muslims following a violent attempt by an Islamic mob on August 18, 2011 to stamp Hindu moral fiber down. The ominous event started in Khadinan, Bagnan, Howrah, at 4.30 pm, following a verbal confrontation between Hindu Sahmati members, engaged in collecting funds to celebrate upcoming Janmasthami (birthday of Lord Krishna) Puja in local Saraswati Ashram, and a Muslim lorry driver who refused to contribute it in any way.

The verbal confrontation ended soon after and Hindu youths left the place. But it was not any end for the Muslim driver. Just after a few minutes he along with a group of Muslim youths having long bamboo sticks, small swords, hockey sticks were found to enter the Ashram premises and started to thrash anybody they could find before them.

Some Hindu boys, at that time, were working out in the Ashram’s gymnasium and once they put up strong resistance, the thugs were trounced and they had to retreat. But this was also not the end.

A strong contingent of Muslims from neighboring villages, containing at least 300, brandishing country made weapons, came to the Ashram around 6 pm to destroy every Hindu presence there and thus avenge the earlier defeat. Well, Hindus apprehended such an approach beforehand and hence, almost 120 Hindu youths along with local Hindu people were on guard. Hindus turned out to be enough to defeat Islamic cronies once more.

Two successive defeats became unbearable for Muslims to withstand and as a result, they blocked off National Highway No. 6 in the evening. To ward off any untoward development, a large battalion of RAF was deployed and at 9 pm, following administrative intervention, the blockade was withdrawn.

But the situation changed completely from today (August 19, 2011)’s morning. Muslims of the adjoining villages, offered their namaz at 12.30 pm blocking the same NH-6 yet again and the blockade disrupted normal life in the environs.

Nevertheless, stringent steps adopted by the police and administration yet again including light lathi-charge called the protest a halt and agitating Muslims, fuming in anger, returned empty handed. Tension prevails in the area still and to dispose of any more unlawful activities sec. 144 has been declared.

Hindus are considering that this is an Islamic ploy to bring Janmasthami Puja, mainstay of Hindu confidence in the locality, to a standstill and also apprehending more similar attacks in near future.