West Bengal: Fear lingers in Maheshtala amid return to fragile normalcy after violence
Kolkata: Fear still looms large among the residents of Maheshtala even as normalcy slowly returns to violence affected areas amid huge deployment of police and RAF, following the communal violence on Wednesday. The incident started over a "Tulsi Manch" and then several hundred people assembled, turning into a communal violence, with stone pelting, loot, arson and vandalism, including setting ablaze several police vehicles, motorbikes and autos and injury of several police personnel and senior officers. Meanwhile, three days after communal violence broke out in Maheshtala, the West Bengal Police Saturday, transferred the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) and IC of Rabindranagar Police Station in the area.
People in the area, said on Sunday that the locals are still under the grip of fear, though some shops have started opening in the Akra Fatak market. However, the crowd in the market place is missing.
"The shops in the Akra Fatak market are opening but very few in numbers. Hindi Sarvodaya Vidyalaya though opened on Friday, but the parents did not send their children. Mid-day meal of 150students got wasted. There are five schools in the locality but parents are fearing to send their children after the violence," a local Birendra told ET.
Birendra said there is a sense of fear despite the presence of police. People have never witnessed such violence earlier, he pointed out.
"The day incident happened, I went to my elder sister's house. Today, I have returned to Maheshtala. There is police picket everywhere in the area. Still the, there is a fear among the people. We have never seen such a riot since 1994," Amitabha Dasgupta, said.
"People are worried what will happen and if fresh violence erupts after June 16. The BNS 163, which was imposed on the day of violence, is imposed till June 16," Dasgupta added.
On Saturday, Maheshtala SDPO Kamrujjaman Molla has been transferred as assistant commandant of the State Armed Police (SAP) 3rd Battalion. Molla has been replaced by Syed Rezual Kabir, who was the inspector-in-charge of Rajarhat police station in the North 24 Parganas. Mukul Mia, Inspector-in-Charge, Rabindranagar police station, Diamond Harbour Police District, has been transferred to Darjeeling.
Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP calls for Hindu unity over Maheshtala incident. BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar said, "After Malda and Murshidabad incidents, Hindus are deliberately targeted in South 24 Parganas district also. A Tulsi tree and temple was vandalized...Hindu asmita (sentiments) has been hurt in Maheshtala. Does Hindus don't have any sentiments?"
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