Vigilant police stops sound boxes on Saraswati Puja in Medinipur

Why does it fail to save Hindus then?

Is professional expertise of police in the district of Medinipur on the rise? The question is not tenuous as it has come to knowledge, local police adopted firm measures on February 5 or the day of Devi Saraswati Puja and as a part of it, sound boxes emanating high pitch sounds in the realm of Medinipur College Square were stopped. According to sources, a large number of complaints propelled police to act fast and as a result, various Puja committees around Medinipur College Square were raided to take stock of the situation. Police, to maintain law and order, impounded a large number of sound boxes with microphones.  However, as a mark of protest, Puja committees put off their programs and also lighting to embellish Puja pandals.

Speaking on this, Bharati Ghosh, Superintendent of Police in the district of West Medinipur, corroborated police’s approach and termed the entire activity as legal and the main intention behind it was to retain harmony and also law and order in the environs. Puja committees, when contacted, expressed their despair and also stated confidently that such incidents are common on every year and hence, none in the locality complained of it. Who did then? Was it a game to earn confidence of some people to have electoral gains? This question is rising up and if analyzed, this is not unfounded at all.

Medinipur, both west and east, have perceived several incidents of Hindu persecution of late and in all these cases, professional expertise of police turned out to be the greatest casualty. On May 12, 2013, a communal disorder took place in West Medinipur when Hindu and Muslim youths belonging to Goalpara and Diwan Sporting Club clashed. The problem started when at 9 pm (on that night) a container truck hit a few motorcycles of local youths beside the Keranitala road in Goalpara. When youths caught the driver red-handed and demanded an apology, he refused. Once irate youths broke head light of the vehicle, members of Diwan Sporting Club stepped in and without checking the reality, they, led by Sheikh Laltu and Sheikh Tulu, began to thrash the Hindu youths that led to a commotion.  Both groups pelted each other with brickbats and when one such missile struck a local mazar, Musim youths retaliated it by desecrating and destructing the Holy Deity of Kali alongside the main road. It became intolerable for Hindus to undergo any such insult; soon more Hindu youths from Goalpara joined them and what happened next was a bloody feud.

Police, as usual, arrived late and shortly, RAF from Salua went and imposed Section 144 in the area. Even if Nazim Ahmed, erstwhile commissioner, and Mrigen Maity, MLA of Medinipur constituency within the district of West Medinipur, appealed for calmness, Hindus were blamed squarely for the entire development. No member of Diwan Sporting Club was taken into custody and administration used each method to exempt Sheikh Laltu and Sheikh Tulu from any liability. This is not any isolated incident and such communal disorders in West Medinipur are getting common more and more. But police fails to abide by professional ethics in these cases and Hindus, despite being wretched victims, are reprimanded and also warned. The hypocrisy of police and administration is exposed to all.

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.