Communal tensions escalated in Kolkata’s Mominpur as clashes erupted between two communities, resulting in the vandalization of numerous houses and the destruction of cars on the night of October 9 in the Mayurbhanj area.
The conflict reportedly originated on the night of October 8 over Milad-un-Nabi flags, leading to a subsequent attack on homes along Mayurbhanj and Bhukailash roads on the following night. Incensed by this violence, protestors gathered around the Ekbalpur police station, causing further damage, as reported by local residents.
Sukanta Majumder, the West Bengal BJP president, faced police obstruction on his way to the affected area on Monday morning. Following his detention, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to conceal the Mominpur violence and criticized the arrest as an attempt to suppress the BJP.
Kolkata police detained 10 individuals for questioning, and a significant police presence was deployed in the Mayurbhanj area. BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, called for the intervention of the central government, with Adhikari tweeting his appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor La Ganesan to deploy central forces urgently, citing the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal.
Swapan Dasgupta, a BJP leader and writer, expressed concern over the alarming mob violence targeting businesses and properties of the Hindu minority in the Kidderpore-Ekbalpur region. He highlighted the perceived distortion of empowerment, with one community allegedly considering itself above the law and civic responsibility. Dasgupta wrote to the Prime Minister, drawing attention to the plight of vulnerable Hindu communities in West Bengal, attributing the unrest to Mamata Banerjee’s government’s vote bank calculations.
