Hindus Attacked By Muslim Mobs In Kolkata On Lakshmi Puja Eve

In a grim throwback to the Noakhali Hindu genocide of 1946, Hindu houses, shops and Durga Puja pandals were reportedly attacked by Muslim mobs on the eve of Lakshmi Puja in Kolkata Sunday (October 9) evening.

According to reports, some Muslims spread the rumour that flags put up on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi (the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad) were removed by Hindus in the Muslim-majority Mominpur area on Saturday night.

That triggered protests and widespread attacks on Hindus (watch video) in Mominpur and surrounding areas.

A huge mob of Muslims surrounded the Ekbalpore Police Station (watch video). The police simply abandoned their posts and fled.

The attacks on Hindus in various parts of Ekbalpore, Mominpur and Khidderpore reportedly continued throughout Saturday night and Sunday (watch video).

The police, alleged Hindus who faced attacks from frenzied Muslim mobs, remained silent spectators and refused to intervene. 

Hindus also alleged that Muslims tried to molest Hindu women and girls and drag some of them away.

A large number of Hindus have reportedly fled their homes and taken refuge with friends and relatives in other parts of the city.

While the mainstream media blacked out news of the attacks on Hindus since Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, accounts of the horrific attacks started coming out on social media only on Monday morning.

Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah (watch video) asking for deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to protect Hindus.

A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders led by state party president Dr Sukanta Majumdar, who were on their way to Mominpur to meet the victims of the attacks by Muslims, were arrested (watch video). The BJP has condemned the arrests. 

According to the latest reports, an uneasy calm now prevails in the Muslim-dominated areas in southwest Kolkata where Hindus came under attack. It is not known if any of the attackers have been arrested.

Using false rumours to attack Hindus is a very common ploy of Islamists.

Last year, Durga Puja pandals and Hindu houses and business establishments in many parts of Bangladesh were attacked by Muslim mobs. That time, Muslim miscreants had planted copies of the Quran in some puja pandals and spread the rumour that Hindus had desecrated the Quran.

The genocide of Hindus in Noakhali in 1946 started with false rumours that tens of thousands of Muslims were killed in Kolkata during the 'Calcutta Killings' in August 1946.

The reality was that Muslim mobs started attacking Hindus of Calcutta after incendiary speeches by Muslim League leaders to mark 'Direct Action Day' called by Jinnah.

Tellingly, that genocide in Noakhali started on the eve of Lakshmi Puja as well.

Most attacks on Hindus in Muslim majority Bangladesh have taken place after rumours of 'insult to Islam', 'desecration of Quran' and other such bogeys.

This pattern has been witnessed in other parts of the world as well. 

Also Read: Why It's Crucial For All Hindus To Remember And Draw Lessons From The Noakhali Genocide Of 1946