Hindus in Kaliachak, Malda deflect bids to stop Surya Puja
On January 19,
2014, Nayagram Field within the jurisdiction of the police station of Kaliachak
in the district of Malda, remained witness to an untoward development as Surya
Puja (worship of Sun God) and the fair, organized by Hindus in the neighborhood
as part of the veneration, there were dismantled by a large group of rowdy
Muslim youths. The Puja as well as the fair has been going on for 40 years at a
stretch. The problem started at 4 pm when the said pack of roughnecks living in
Khottapara in nearby Baishnabnagar interrupted and harassed Hindu girls sleazily.
It has also been learnt, at 4pm, while food-offering to the Holy Deity was being
distributed among Hindu devotees, pebbles were hurled by the gang led by Rahul
Sheikh, Sentarul Sheikh, Zakir Sheikh and Pintu Sheikh. Their sole intention
was to stop the Puja, fair and also infuse fright among Hindus so that they
would not dare to persist the Hindu ritual any longer.
Local Hindu youths with members of the fair’s organizing committee organized
a stiff resistance to the vandalism resulting in a wild confrontation between
the two groups. Four youths including Jayanta Rabidas, Toton Ghosh, Biplab Mandal
and Chandan Ghosh suffered heavy injuries.
Hindu Samhati regularly
monitors and reports violations against Hindus in West Bengal. We also work
with both governmental and NGO agencies for proper education on protection and
ensure remedies to the Hindu populace as per prevailing law of the land.
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