In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that Muslim extremists in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal marked Hindu homes with black ink prior to launching a violent wave of bombings and arson attacks. This premeditated act was uncovered in an exclusive ground report published on Thursday, 17th April, by The Midtown Post. According to the report, the markings were strategically placed to ensure that rioters could target specific houses belonging to Hindus while sparing others, turning the once peaceful district into a war zone of violence and destruction.
The Marking of Hindu Homes: A Sinister Strategy
A journalist from The Midtown Post interviewed local residents and gathered first-hand accounts of the horrors that transpired. The journalist explained, “The extremists marked Hindu homes with black ink, ensuring that the rioters knew exactly which houses to target for bombing and setting on fire. This tactic was used to single out Hindu families for selective attacks.” The report suggests that only those houses which were marked with black ink were destroyed, confirming a targeted approach to the violence.
Locals reported that the markings were done before the outbreak of the riots, which allowed the rioters to execute their attacks with disturbing precision. While bombs were hurled and houses set on fire, it became clear that the violence was not a random outburst but a calculated attempt to terrorize a specific community—Hindus.
The Rise of Violence in Murshidabad: A Background to the Attacks
Murshidabad, a district in West Bengal with a significant Muslim population, saw unprecedented violence on Friday, 11th April. The attacks began following the conclusion of Jumma Namaz, the traditional Friday prayers, as part of protests against the newly enacted Waqf Amendment Act. The protests, however, quickly morphed into an eruption of violence, with extremist mobs targeting Hindu businesses, homes, and places of worship.
Reports confirmed that the violence was premeditated, with Muslim mobs unleashing vandalism, looting, arson, and targeted attacks on Hindus. The violence escalated in areas like Suti and Samserganj, where Hindu homes and shops were set on fire, and businesses were looted, leaving a trail of destruction.
Destruction of Hindu Businesses: Looting and Arson
One of the most heartbreaking accounts comes from a Hindu couple who owned a sweet shop in the area. Their business, Subha Smriti Hotel, was looted and destroyed in the attack. The shop owner, in a tearful interview, shared his distress: “They took everything from our shop, including the cash we had saved for months. Now, we have nothing left. How will we survive?” His wife echoed his sentiments, stating, “Everything is gone. We have no way of earning anymore.”
Similarly, another business, Sri Hari Hindu Hotel & Lodge, was also subjected to vandalism and destruction. News agency ANI shared footage of the devastation, highlighting the extensive damage inflicted upon Hindu establishments. These attacks were not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern of systematic targeting of Hindu businesses in the district.
Attacks on Hindu Temples and Religious Symbols
The violence didn’t spare places of worship either. Several Hindu temples in Murshidabad were targeted, with reports of idol desecration and vandalism emerging from multiple sources. Trinamool Congress MP Khalilur Rahaman admitted that a temple was vandalized in Jangipur, a testimony to the scale of the destruction. Idol desecration is seen as a deliberate effort to incite further tensions between communities, undermining the cultural and religious heritage of Hindus in the region.
The attack on Hindu temples was not just an act of violence; it was a calculated effort to target the community’s identity and heritage. The destruction of religious sites is a powerful weapon of social unrest and only deepens the divide between communities, as evidenced in Murshidabad.
The Extent of Violence: Attack on an Ambulance and Local Civilians
In an utterly inhumane act, the extremist mobs even attacked an ambulance that got caught in the violence. The driver of the ambulance was beaten brutally before the vehicle was set on fire. Eyewitnesses confirmed the shocking incident, with one individual recalling how the ambulance driver was assaulted while trying to escape the mob. “We were all locked inside our homes in fear. We could hear the violence unfolding outside, but there was nothing we could do. When they set the ambulance on fire, it felt like the whole town was on fire,” said one witness.
These attacks were not limited to property damage or violence against businesses; civilians were caught in the crossfire, with many Hindus suffering from physical assault, loss of property, and psychological trauma. A victim recalled, “They destroyed our bikes, looted our belongings, and set our shops on fire. We couldn’t even sleep at night, fearing that they would come back for us.”
Accounts of Fear and Survival: Hindus Flee the Region
The violence was so intense that thousands of Hindus were forced to flee their homes. Many sought refuge in the nearby Malda district, using boats to escape the turmoil. The situation had become so perilous that families had no choice but to abandon their homes in search of safety. Some locals spoke about how they risked their lives, hiding on rooftops and praying for their survival.
One woman, Manju Bhagat, whose husband owns a local business, recounted the terrifying experience: “The mobs tried to break into our home. They attacked from the front gate first, then attempted to enter from the back. They broke our bike, looted everything—furniture, mattresses, TVs, and even expensive household items.” She went on to describe how the family huddled together on the terrace, praying for their safety while hearing the mob approaching their home.
Lack of Police Presence and Government Response
One of the most disturbing aspects of the violence was the absence of law enforcement. Reports from local residents confirmed that police forces were overwhelmed and, in some cases, had to retreat in the face of the advancing mobs. A local Hindu resident narrated his experience: “We saw the police run for their lives while the violence was taking place. They couldn’t do anything to stop the attacks.” The lack of security and government intervention left the residents of Murshidabad vulnerable to the relentless violence.
With no police presence, many residents were left to fend for themselves. The fears of these families have yet to subside, with many wondering if they will ever receive the promised compensation or justice for their suffering.
Conclusion: A Crisis that Demands Attention
The situation in Murshidabad serves as a stark reminder of how easily communal tensions can escalate into violence and how vulnerable certain communities can be when the state apparatus fails to act. The Hindu community in Murshidabad has faced untold hardships, from bombings and arson attacks to physical assault and the destruction of their homes and businesses. The targeted nature of the violence raises serious questions about the role of extremist groups in inciting hatred and violence within communities.
The state and national governments must act swiftly to ensure the safety of all citizens, regardless of their religious background. Additionally, it is crucial for authorities to investigate the premeditated nature of these attacks and hold the responsible individuals and groups accountable. The residents of Murshidabad have been traumatized, and their right to live in peace and security must be restored without delay.
In the end, the violence in Murshidabad underscores a need for greater inter-community dialogue, religious tolerance, and the strengthening of law enforcement to prevent such atrocities in the future.
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