Shanties, governmental properties smashed to "avenge" tragic death

The tragic and accidental death of a Muslim woman quickly turned into a communally charged confrontation in Tikiapara, Howrah. The woman attempted to cross the railway tracks with her child when she was overrun by the Sheorafuli (down) commuter train around 7 pm on (May 27, 2013). The woman apparently survived the initial tragedy, even though her child survived. According to eye witnesses, the woman may have survived if prompt medical relief was provided to her by the Railway Protection Force or RPF who could have taken the victim to a nearby hospital. However, this did not happen and the victim succumbed to her injuries.

What followed next was nothing but a mindless attack on the railway property, including adjacent shanties inhabited by Hindus. The communal overtone was obvious from the choice of their target. The angry mob went berserk, destroying four commuter trains of the South-Eastern railway route as well as a number of long distance, express trains. The furious mob, consisting mostly of members of the Muslim community, carried on with the mayhem, leaving the passengers terror stricken while the RPF watched helplessly for a large part of the ensuing destruction. At the time of reporting, the police appeared to have calmed the rioters that managed to ravage significant amount of public property and left the area simmering with communal animosity after the days events.