Will doctor’s murder initiate anew spate of Hindu persecution in Kultali?

Law and order is not on the verge of falling down in Bengal; it is on the wane already and while the saga of violence and communal clashes soar, police and administration prefer to witness from a distance. And if the victim turns out to be a Hindu anyway, derision instead of justice remains his only destiny.

All these are being said, now, by people inhabiting the areas within the jurisdiction of Kultali police station in the district of South 24 Paraganas on the unprecedented murder of Mrityunjay Purakait (age 46). He was a doctor by profession, living in the village of Manikapir within the same police station’s jurisdiction, and was murdered on April 27 in the morning.  The doctor was murdered by Karim Dhali, inhabitant of the village of Deulbari Devipur village panchayat within the jurisdiction of Kultali police station.  He is in the police custody at the moment.

What led to the ghastly crime? According to villagers, Karim Dhali’s two month-old son was suffering from pneumonia for the last few weeks and he was taken to Mrityunjay Purakait, reputed quack doctor in the neighborhood, for treatment. Villagers assert even if Dr. Purakait asked Karim Dhali to admit the baby to hospital, he was reluctant that led to the child’s death. But Karim held Dr. Purakait as responsible and even threatened to murder him also. The news spread throughout the locality but no Muslim individual, even patients of the doctor, was found to protest. On April 27, 2014, Karim Dhali killed him and fled. When the quack doctor was taken to Jamtala hospital in Kultali, he was declared dead.

Is this the sole reason behind murder? However, many do smell a rat. As per them, Karim is not an insane who can be enraged so easily through his child’s death. They also say that Dr. Purakait was known to support Hindutva politics and also for owning a large tract of land. All these factors have propelled Karim and his accomplices to murder the doctor, in accordance with villagers.   

Filth of local administration comes forth, as a result. None has the fear, let alone reverence, of police and its rising ineptitude thanks to political interference round the clock has made the entire force a laughing stock to all. The rot is not within the boundaries of Kultali police station but has corrupted the remaining part of Bengal too by leaps and bounds. There are enough reasons to apprehend violent communal skirmishes now as Kultali is infamous for burgeoning clashes between Hindus and Muslims. Communal skirmishes have become common and particularly, Hindus are yet to forget the lesson of January 1, 2014. 

The day witnessed the greatest attack on Hindus within Kultakli in recent times. Radical Muslims in large numbers attacked Hindu shops at Dhaki Bazar premeditatedly between 9 am and 1 pm to oust Hindu traders permanently. The campaign was led by Suja, alleged to be a trusted acquaintance of Selim or the dreaded criminal from Mograhat. A contingent of local police station under the supervision of a police officer named Imarul Haque was also there but they remained silent even if forceful eviction of traders including Panchu Gharami, Kinkar Mandal, Kashinath Paik and Sanat Mandal went on. The onslaught ended hours later and Hindus were warned of dire consequences soon.

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.