Secular Media’s Selective Amnesia as thousands of Muslims attack Hindu Villagers in 24 Parganas in Bengal

There have been large scale violent attacks by the Muslims on Hindus of that area.  People have been killed, houses burnt, businesses looted and temples desecrated.  Administration had given a free reign to the fanatics until it was too late.  The question is why is there only few mentions of this carnage in the National News – that too in remote columns?

Bias: Secular and Communal

Given how the newsreports go, had the Hindus attacked the Muslims, the news would have very clearly and unambiguously stated that “Communal” or “Saffron” (take your pick) Hindus attack Muslim Villagers (euphemism for innocent).  But as soon as the roles reverse, the National Press becomes oh-so-Secular!

There is an issue of prejudice in the country and this selective Secular bias will only make matters worse.  You cannot just suppress the news and distort it because of your false copywriting anymore!!

Here is what happened in South 24 Parganas:

Times of India reports says this about how the carnage started: The murder of an elderly villager by a gang of suspected robbers sparked large-scale violence in Canning subdivision on Tuesday morning. Fuelled by wild rumours and anger against police for allegedly taking the case lightly, a mob of thousands plundered four villages and burnt down more than 200 houses.

Such was the planning by the local Muslim leaders that people were ferried from Kolkatta in trucks, as reported by TOI.

The pretext for the attacks has been the murder of a local Maulvi – Ruhul Quddus.  The facts per news reports suggest that it were some goons who attacked the Maulvi for no known reason.

Samir Sen, a bus driver, was the first to see the body around 4.25am on Tuesday. “Mine was the first bus to Canning from Golabari terminal around 3.50am. At Naliakhali, I found a man lying on the road and decided to check on him with conductor Biswanath Singh. We saw that he was dead. His clothes were soaked in blood and a motorcycle lay by the side of the road. Finding nobody else around, we left and reported the matter to the police in Canning. By then, some other bus drivers had also called police but the cops made no effort to arrive,” Sen said.

Police – a silent spectator as Muslims go on a Carnage

Police being a silent spectator as Muslims run riot in Hindu areas is a familiar sight now.  It has happened in Deganga a year and a half back.  And now here as well.

“Police stood by and watched as thousands of men stormed our village around 10am,” said Biswajit Sardar, whose two-storied building was torched in the violence. Others alleged that most of the attackers were outsiders, who hurled bombs at houses, poured petrol and set them ablaze. “Whoever dared to protest was beaten up,” said villager Sanatan Adhikari. The rampage continued for three hours.

Villagers in Naliakhali say they had no clue about the murder. “It was only at dawn, when police arrived, that we came to know of the killing,” said Shaktipada Adhikari, an elderly villager whose house near the crime scene was reduced to ashes.

Here is the update from the local groups on the ground trying to bring relief to the affected people.

Information from Local Relief Groups

A 5 year old Hindu child was burnt alive at Naliakhali under Canning PS today while 200 other Hindu houses were burnt down by muslim mobs shouting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ and numbering in the tens of thousands of attackers who came in about 250 trucks. Atleast 750-800 Hindu families are rendered homeless in this area of South 24 Pgs district. Some 1800 Hindus have taken shelter at the Baikunthpur primary school under police protection.

Date – 19 Feb. 2013.
Area of disturbance – Village – Herobhanga, P.S. – Canning. Dist. South 24 Parganas.

Tens of thousands of Muslims from outside gathered there. Large scale looting / arson of Hindu houses of Naliakhali village took place. Police is there. Police officer Anup Samaddar of Canning PS is seriously injured and admitted to hospital. 2 police vehicles burnt.

Disturbances spreading to other PS areas like Basanti, Joynagar, Kultali. Also to Sandeshkhali PS area of North 24 Parganas dist.

Train stopped on Sealdah – Canning line.

Media has blacked out this news completely.

All these happened in reaction of murder of one Maulavi Ruhul Quddus last night. Nobody knows who is this Maulavi, why he is murdered, who murdered him. Another Maulavi named Abdul Wahab has been injured in the attack by unidentified miscreants.

In the area of Herobhanga, as far as I know, there is no existence of any Hindu organisations.

After the dead body of the Maulavi found in morning, from all nearby mosques, Muslims were called to gather to take revenge. Then a very big crowd of Muslims gathered and attacked the nearest village ‘Naliakhali’. It has been fully burnt down and looted – total about 200 houses. All articles including money, ornament, rice, paddy, cycle, motor bike, utensils have looted and taken away by motor van. Village temple has been damaged. Women are molested.

After arson and looting of Naliakhali village, the huge mob proceeded to other villages. In Gopalpur village, 3o Hindu houses have been looted and burnt. Here only in Prasanta Adhikari’s house everything looted, his 4 stock of rice and 1 Bolero car have been burnt down. In this village, there are 4 Muslim houses. Those are remained untouched by the rampaging mob.

In Herobhanga village, 40 Hindu houses and in Goladaora village 40 Hindu houses have been burnt. All these happened in presence of Police. It is reported that at the time of looting and arson of Prasanta Adhikari’s house, Canning SDPO was present there and saw everything silently as if he is in full support of it.

The total loss/damage of the property of these 4 villages will be in crores of rupees.

Severe molestation of 5 Hindu women including Lakshmi Naskar (38 year ) by Muslims took place at Kholakhali (under Joynagar PS, but bordering Kultali PS). At the same place, medicine shop of Sachin Sardar, saloon of Bimal Pramanik and grocery shop of Gopal Sardar have been attacked and damaged. There at 5 pm, Gautam Mandal was injured by hurling of bombs. He has been treated at Jamtala hospital.

Road blockade at many places like Natunhat, Priyor More (Joynagar PS), Bhangankhali, Hospital More (Basanti PS). Vehicles have been damaged in many places.

Hindus have been beaten up at Natunhat (Joynagar PS).

In the village Kaorapara near Ghutiyari Shariff (Canning PS), Scheduled Caste Hindus have been attacked and beaten up. Unconfirmed report of killing of one Hindu came to our office.
Police and administration are trying their best to control the situation.

Dozens and dozens of truckloads of Muslims from various areas of Kolkata and Mallickpur headed towards Canning all the day.

After large scale damage and humiliations of the Hindus, ultimately administration took some stern steps to contain violence of the Muslims.