“The Narrative of Bangladeshi Attackers Is a Smokescreen to Shield Local Muslims,” Say Survivors
Kolkata, April 18 (H.S.):
The wounds of violence still bleed in Murshidabad’s Bedbona and Ghoshpada villages. On Friday, April 11, just after the Friday prayers, thousands of people from the Muslim community came out on the streets of Shamsherganj in protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. What followed wasn’t a protest, but a well-coordinated communal onslaught.
Streets burned. Police vehicles were set ablaze. Stones rained across neighbourhoods. Amidst this orchestrated chaos, Hindu homes were looted, set on fire, and a father-son duo was brutally murdered. What the rest of the country saw as a law protest was, on the ground, an act of targeted violence.
In the affected areas, Hindus make up barely 20-30% of the population. The attacks have instilled deep fear in the community, but have also united them like never before.
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“This is our birthplace, but we’re afraid to live here now”
When the Hindusthan Samachar team entered Ghoshpada, local youth on motorbikes guided them through charred lanes to where 130 homes had been reduced to ashes.
Tapan (name changed), 86, said in a trembling voice, “This is our birthplace. Our parents are buried here, and so shall we be. But we never imagined we’d be scared to live on our own land. It feels like being a Hindu is a crime. That day, the mob came to erase our entire existence.”
Tapan, once known for his friendly ties with Muslim neighbours, now recalls with horror, “Those attacking us were not outsiders. They were our own neighbours. But they came armed, looted our homes, vandalised them, and set them ablaze.”
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“Their faces were covered, but we still recognised them”
Nearby, 70-year-old Mamuni (name changed) joined in, sobbing uncontrollably. “They came from nearby villages. Their faces were covered, but we knew who they were. They broke locks, smashed trunks, looted gold, cash, and valuables. They held us at knifepoint and snatched jewellery from our ears, noses, and wrists. Then, they set fire to our home. We only survived by hiding and fleeing.”
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“There were thousands of them, and no one came to help”
Swapan (36) still shivers at the memory. “Right after Friday prayers, the mobs started gathering. We kept calling the police, but no one came. They shouted slogans and threatened to wipe out Hindus from Murshidabad. We tried to resist, but when the police didn’t come, we ran for our lives.”
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“A Father and Son Were Chiselled to Death”
In neighbouring Bedbona village, Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das were dragged out of their home and hacked to death with chisels on a concrete road. The mob shouted Islamist slogans as they carried out the lynching. Chandan’s 13-year-old son hid in a nearby village, unaware that both his father and grandfather had been murdered.
Hargobind’s grieving sister said, “Being Hindu in Murshidabad is a crime. We begged the police for help, but they did nothing. After killing my father and brother, they burnt down our house.”
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“The Media Twisted Our Pain Into Lies”
The mourning in Ghoshpada hasn’t ended. People flinch at every unfamiliar face. The doors of burnt homes stand ajar, windows shattered, household items charred. Residents have fled, leaving behind only animals wandering among the ruins.
A 62-year-old man shared, “A journalist from a national channel came, clicked photos, heard our stories—and then ran a piece saying we burnt our own houses for compensation. They even claimed the murder of Hargobind and Chandan was due to personal enmity. After seeing such lies, we’ve lost all faith in the media.”
Hargobind’s daughter added through tears, “Those journalists from Kolkata heard everything—our pain, our loss—but still ran shameful stories. We feel betrayed.”
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“No One Came from Bangladesh — Our Neighbours Attacked Us”
A 75-year-old survivor dismissed the “Bangladeshi attacker” narrative. “This is a complete lie. The attackers were our neighbours, boys from nearby villages. They raised Islamic slogans and openly declared that Hindus must be eliminated. The police left us to die. The media, instead of standing with us, created a false story to shield the local attackers.”
“They’re doing this because Muslims are the majority here, and we’re the minority. That’s the only reason. If the government made a law, protest the law—but what did we do wrong other than being Hindus?”
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“BSF Came as Angels”
Despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blaming BSF and the central government for the unrest, the victims hold the security forces in divine regard.
After the Calcutta High Court ordered deployment of central forces, BSF and CRPF personnel arrived in violence-hit zones. Locals welcomed them as saviours.
“If not for these jawans, we wouldn’t be alive today,” said an elderly man.
“They are like gods to us,” added a woman, holding her child close.
The villagers are now demanding a permanent BSF camp in their area. “We’ll give our land to the central government,” they say, “but we won’t abandon our homes again.”
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
