Can Gopal Das’ tears be wiped out ever?

Incidents of mounting atrocities or religious persecutions on Hindus in the Indian state of West Bengal have been astounding people but it’s also true that only a few studies have taken place to depict the reasons behind these. Well, one study has justly comprehended that reluctance or inactivity of the administration plays a major role in this context. Many may consider the theory as deceptive but the experience of Sri Gopal Das, a common drummer in Bengal, denotes the authenticity of this notion.

Gopal Das (age 45 years), son of Bharat Rui Das (died 12 years ago), is an inhabitant of Pifa Gram Daspara in Basirhat sub-division, P.S. Basirhat, Dist. 24 Paraganas (North) and to be precise, 12-14 Hindu households live in the village. Gopal Das, at the same time, happens to be an owner of 6 cottah (10 shatak) of land and all these incensed Latif Mollah (neighbor of Gopal Das) a lot.

You may be amazed but it’s true that Latif Mollah, at the moment, is controlling 5 shatak of the aforesaid land and illegal construction of his habitat has already been done there. All these happened during the last Durga Puja even if the fracas between the two initiated some months ago to it.

Didn’t Gopal Das try to have the administration’s help? Definitely! He did the same but the administration’s reluctance to register his complaint yielded no result. Latif Mollah was successful to have the help of Ruhul Amin, influential leader of Congress and also his nephew, along with of Afdar, leader of TMC (Trinamool Congress) and also close to Haji Nurul Islam, TMC MP from Basirhat.

Local leaders arranged a meeting to call the illegitimate construction a halt but Gopal’s absence during Durga Puja (owing to his professional compulsions) made Muslims in the village triumphant. There has been another development as well. Muslims claimed that another 1 shatak land belonged to a Muslim cemetery or boneyard and are enjoying it currently. Gopal Das, at this moment, is having 4 shatak lands and is crying in despair.

Hindu Samhati’s endeavor makes Pagal Thakur fair grand success

The name of village Paglatala, positioned in Mollabelia Gram Panchayat, Dist. Nadia and P.S. Haringhata, is worth mentioning. Reason? Not the fair of Pagal Thakur (going on for centuries) is celebrated here every year only, creating enthusiasm in the vicinity majorly, but it was persecuted by Islamic zealots last year also. On 13 th Chaitra, each year, tens of thousands of Hindu women amass here to worship Lord Shiva.

This year too equal number of women assembled here, if not more. Hindu Samhati played a major role through initiating a Jalasatra (place for charitable distribution of drinking water to public) to the travelers. Thanks to all these, major developments have also been witnessed in the neighborhood. All these prove Hindus are resolute to draw together at Paglatala to make fair of Pagal Thakur a success.

What did stimulate Muslim felons last year to assault Hindus? In accordance with people, their first and foremost concern was to crash moral fiber of Hindus. Nevertheless, they failed in all measures and this year’s celebration depicts the same.

Nazrul Islam, key planner of last year’s assaults, tried to organize another fair, distinctively for Muslims, in this year. Due to unavailability of any such permission from the local administration, he got audacious even to threaten it. Because of all these developments, local administration adopted stringent measures and assigned large contingent of police and paramilitary forces in the fair. Surely administration can’t also forget the virulent protests of Hindus against last year’s attacks under the aegis of Hindu Samhati.

Last of all, Hindu Samhati cadres also played a major role in managing the fair and helping it to get successful.

Hindus in Usthi challenge Islamic evils

A simple pretext is what the Islamic fanatics need to assault Hindus and what happened at Sardarpara in Yarpur, P.S. Usthi, District: 24 Paraganas (South) in the Indian state of West Bengal recently denotes the same. On March 12, 2011, around 2.30 pm Madhai Sardar was going across Sardarpara with his nephew and a cycle. At the same instant a Muslim individual driving a cycle was coming from the opposite direction and the bicycle run into Madhai’s vehicle. This led to a brawl between the two. While Madhai rebuked him strongly, the Muslim person threatened to shoot him. Had the conflict ended here, it would have been best. Madhai, surely, also thought the same. Nevertheless, what happened on the day after was just the reverse.

On March 13, 2011, 5-6 Muslims went to Madhai’s residence around 11.30 am and asked him for an apology. Madhai was not ready to bow down before them and finding no other option, Muslim zealots started hurling abuses on the lone Hindu warrior. But Madhai Sardar was bold enough to withstand all these. Now, as a last way to stamp out this valiant Hindu, almost 500 Muslims (with premeditated intention) brandishing lethal weapons entered Madhai’s residence.

The entire family was ransacked, women were molested and Madhai himself also suffered extreme injuries. But not a single Hindu in the vicinity dared to protest against these notorious strategies (let alone getting proactive). To call all these a halt, Officer-in-Charge of local police station deputed police along with RAF (Rapid Action Force).

Hindus lodged a written complaint (no.65/11) against the riotous Muslims. These included Montu Khan (s/o Safi Khan), Bapi Khan (s/o Nuro Khan), Akhtar Khan (s/o Nasho Khan), Imam Khan (s/o Amirul Khan), Iqbal Khan (brother of Imam Khan and also the son of Amirul Khan).

Muslims also filed a complaint (no. 66/11) against Hindus like Madhai Sardar (age-32 yrs.), Moga Sardar (age-32 yrs.), Buno Sardar (age-35yrs.), Samar Sardar (age-37 yrs.) and Chite Sardar (age-30 yrs.). Well, Hindus have got bail already and Muslims, as per latest information, are still to be bailed out.

Tension prevails in the neighborhood still but without a shred of doubt, legal measures adopted by Hindus fast have stunned Muslims.

Police atrocities mar Holi festivity in Uluberia

When on earth the State gets conflicting to any particular community, two options do remain with the vulnerable populace. It’s either to yield to the oppressors or wage a relentless struggle against atrocities. Which would be most effective for Hindus inhabiting the Indian state of West Bengal is not known yet. But changing times prove they have to pick out the most feasible one soon. Authentic portrayal of the recent incident in Uluberia, District: Howrah happening on March 19, 2011, day of Holi, would make the scenario easier.

On the day of Holi the whole of India was rejoicing and Uluberia was no different. But the situation in and around Jora Kamarshal More, significant location in Uluberia, changed for the worse all of a sudden. Following the burning of a Muslim youth’s auto rickshaw, police and RAF (Rapid Action Force) were deputed in the spot without fail and by the time youth of adjoining Bazaarpara rushed to have firsthand information, panic had already set in.

Well, the burning was also not devoid of any reason. Suman Pal, young man of 27 years and riding a cycle, clashed with the auto rickshaw and got injured severely. People got enraged and burnt down the vehicle as a result. Abdul Rezzaq, Officer-in-Charge of P.S. Uluberia and also known for communal inclinations in the vicinity, assigned stringent administrative measures. But the harsh measures refused to die so soon and the neighboring Doluipara, populated by downtrodden and low-caste Hindus, became its worst victim. Not only police along with RAF personnel persecuted Hindus there but ravaged each and every household also.

At the same time, lots of Hindus were having Bhog-Prasad in the temple of Goddess Kali, positioned at Nakubabur Shamsan in Doluipara. Police atrocities destroyed the entire event and again, 6 Hindus were beaten up and taken forcibly to the police van. These included Rudra, Babun, Asim Dolui and Srikant. Villagers got furious, gheraoed the police station for hours and RAF was used again to rein in the situation.

The arrested Hindu youths were released on the following day. But people are considering the entire development as the first warning from a communally motivated police officer and more are still to come.

Nagar Sankirtan 2011 surpasses coveted success

Whatever may be the reality, truth must be accepted always and it is a fact that a good section of Hindus is yet to be acquainted to the notion of Nagar Sankirtan. The concept that gained prominence during the lifetime of Sri Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has gone through several ups and downs but the effort of Hindu Samhati to restore its glory has been stupendous. Nagar Sankirtan, under the aegis of HS, had its commencement in 2009 to celebrate Dol Purnima and with the passing of each year its fame and significance is increasing by leaps and bounds.

What has taken place in Nagar Sankirtan 2011 is nothing else other than a chronicle of its rising fame. The procession that had a modest beginning in the early morning of March 19 turned into a huge gathering, enough to draw in more people and change itself into a larger one, within a short span of time. Each alley the procession passed, each individual it came upon all became its ardent admirer, virile in every aspect and spellbound with the chanting of “Hare Krishna” mantra.

The participants included the young and old, plebeians and patricians and all that were witnessing Nagar Sankirtan for the first time. How can the mounting enthusiasm be defined then? On the word of Sri Tapan Ghosh, founder and president of Hindu Samhati, “Amongst the escalating consumerist culture, such processions play major role in helping an individual to trace his own root. More and more people ought to come forward to strengthen the cause.”

Surely, you are also thinking in the same manner.

Hindus in Mathurapur thrashed brutally

Without a shred of doubt days are changing in the Indian state of West Bengal but Hindus here have not able to ascertain yet whether it is for better or for worse. There is only one reason behind all these; religious persecutions on Hindus are rising by leaps and bounds. And the situation has aggravated owing to the systematic and inhuman reluctance of the local administration to Hindus. Surely you would not seek any other instance if the recent happening at Ghoradal Bazar in Laxminarayanpur Anchal, P.S. Mathurapur, Dist: 24 Paraganas (South), is heeded ever.

The incident took place on March 14, 2011 at 3:45 pm when in the aforementioned fateful area a cycle van carrying Hindu passengers (a family on the whole) was moving on. A few Muslim youths wanted to be passengers forcefully even if the van was fully reserved. The van driver rejected the proposal straight away and this denial, outrageous to Muslims, led to a scuffle. To call all these a halt Hindu youths of the adjoining ‘Netaji Sangha’, a popular club, came forward and tried to pacify the furious Muslim youths. This had hardly any effect.

Muslims, joined by lots of co-religionists already, got enraged and started plundering led by Kaushar Mollah, Nasir Mollah, Lokman Haldar (each representing different political party). A good number of Hindu-owned shops including Sri Guru Tailors of Tuka Rani Haldar, tea shop of Parikshit Sardar along with several others were completely smashed up. But the worst victim was the club. Not only its entire structure was damaged but other belongings of the club including asbestos, almirah (cupboard), carom board, television set, gate were also wrecked.

Strikingly, even if the police station is positioned at a distance of 20 minutes only, the contingent appeared after 2 hours. Some of the injured Hindus were Billomangal Mukherjee, Mrinal Mukherjee, Raju Mistry, Chura Bansi Gain, Biswanath Sardar, Bansi Gain, Aurobindo Sardar. All were admitted to the nearby Mathurapur Hospital.

The police assured that strong action would be taken against the assailants and asked Hindus to file a complaint. On account of the pledge, Hindus did the same but neither the case has been registered nor has any complaint number been provided yet. There are other games as well. Raisuddin Mollah, leader of CPIM and also an influential person in the vicinity, has been found to shelter the assailants and make all efforts to downplay the episode.

Hindus have learnt only on March 16 that Muslims have also lodged a case in the police station terming them as attackers. However, the names of Hindus implicated are yet to be known.

Minor Hindu girl persecuted by Muslim thugs

Hundreds of reports have already been written to depict the perilous situation Hindus are going through at the moment in the Indian state of West Bengal. Nevertheless, in spite of all these, there has hardly been any positive approach of the administration yet and Hindus’ reliance on the legal system, on account of all these, is on the wane. Whatever it is newer incidents of assaults are coming to the fore without break and as true observers of social changes, we are leaving no stone unturned to divulge those. What did happen on 6 March 2011 is not any exception but a part of the chronicle of devastations of Hindus getting strong more and more.

On 6 March 2011, in Soakhali village of Atharbanki zone, P:S: Jibantala, Dist: South 24 Paraganas, a Hindu lady was brutally tortured even if the basic reason of the episode was minimal – theft of tomato. The name of the girl is Jyotsna Karmakar d/o Sri Tapan Karmakar, an old inhabitant of the village.

Jyotsna by nature remains restless all the time and for all these, a local Muslim named Ibrahim Gain alias Haji suspected her of stealing a few tomatoes. He, along with few other Muslims, chased her and fearing assailants she ran into her own residence, entirely vacant at that time. Making use of the situation, Ayep Ali, son of Haji, entered the house forcefully and dragged Jyotsna outside brutally. He was helped by Yunus and Rabiul, other two sons of Haji, in this context. This was certainly not the end; Jyotsna was tied down and brought to the courtyard of Haji later. To enjoy this better a lot of Muslims had assembled there already and soon a ring of fire was lit up around the 13 year old girl. The situation became unbearable for Jyotsna Karmakar.

The news of all these reached to the family members of Jyotsna and even if her aunty begged for mercy, she got a kick on her back in return. Within the next 30 minutes father and uncles of Jyotsna reached the spot and this led to a fracas between them and Haji’s family. Around this time Hindu Samhati cadres, belonging to adjoining CharaVidya, were informed and they reached the site without delay. It is to be noted Haji has 3 wives, 25 children and all of them are known for anti-Hindu activities in the vicinity.

Hindu Samhati workers raised a strong protest and getting afraid, Haji along with his sons took shelter in own house. On the next day, March 7, 2011 youths of Hindu Samhati met Sri Tapan Karmakar and it was comprehended that he had notified local Panchayat of the entire happening already. He met the local leadership of Hindu Samhati as well soon after.