Muslim mob sets upon Hindus at Ganga Sagar

Muslim mob sets upon Hindus at Ganga Sagar

Pioneer News Service | Kolkata, June 14, 1008

In what is being viewed as a CPI(M) ploy to shift focus from burning issues and gain back confidence of minorities, who had shifted their loyalties during panchayat election, the police on Friday arrested 15 Hindu pilgrims to Ganga Sagar but let go a Muslim mob, mostly CPI(M) supporters, who on Thursday night attacked and burnt down an inn at Ganga Sagar Islands before assaulting local police men.

The crowd armed with sharp-edged weapons attacked the inn — near Kapil Muni temple — and beat up pilgrims at around 7 pm, said police sources. A few policemen deployed were also manhandled when they tried to intervene. Tapan Ghosh and Sunder Das, both workers of Hindu Sanghati, were also beaten up. The four-hour ordeal continued till a larger contingent of police force headed by the Kakdwip BDO and SDPO arrived.

The mob was led by Sheikh Ismail, a CPI(M) member and chairman of the local panchayat, police sources conceded but refused to arrest the culprits. “Such was the condition that the pilgrims were trembling and even the BDO was injured,” said a source and added finally RAF had to be called in. “The police refused to lodge FIRs against the attackers who burnt down three rooms rented by the RSS for pilgrims,” said sources.

“What was more agonising was instead of booking the offenders the police arrested the victims. At least 15 of them were arrested and booked under non-bailable sections, BJP State secretary Rahul Sinha said. Meanwhile, thousands of BJP workers led by Sinha on Friday staged a blockade at Esplanade in Kolkata. Later, 526 of them were arrested and released later. “The Left Front Government has become weak,” Sinha said, adding that the CPI(M) is trying to appease the minority community by playing a “partisan game.”