34 Incidents of Violence, Mosque Attacks, and Demolitions in West Bengal Post-BJP Win: APCR Report
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has published a report detailing violence and intimidation in West Bengal after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the state assembly elections. The incidents occurred between May 4 and May 7 across multiple districts. The report documented 34 cases of violence in at least eight districts, with Cooch Behar and North 24 Parganas each reporting seven incidents, followed by South 24 Parganas and Kolkata Metro with five each, Howrah with four, and Murshidabad with three.
According to the report, at least two people died during the violence, including a Muslim man killed while allegedly protecting a mosque in Gosanimari. The report stated that Muslims, Muslim-owned properties, mosques, cattle markets, meat shops, and Trinamool Congress offices and residences were targeted. At least 54 properties were attacked or damaged, and at least 50 Muslims were affected physically or otherwise.
The violence included attacks on mosques in Cooch Behar, demolition of Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat, vandalism of Muslim houses in Nandina and Abutra villages, attacks on hawkers and shopkeepers in Kolkata, and bulldozer processions allegedly targeting Muslim-owned establishments. The report categorized the incidents into multiple forms, including murder, assault, intimidation, property attacks, demolition, and bulldozer violence. It documented 19 property attacks, 14 intimidation cases, four demolitions, and three instances of bulldozer violence.
The report also alleged that several incidents specifically targeted the sale and transport of non-vegetarian food. Cattle markets were forcibly closed in Howrah, Kolkata Metro, and South 24 Parganas, while meat shops and Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat were attacked. Among the listed incidents were attacks on three mosques in Cooch Behar, a mosque attack during a "Jai Shri Ram" procession in Gosanimari, vandalism of 15 Muslim residences in Nandina and Abutra villages, and assaults on an imam in Birsibpur in Howrah district.
The report further alleged that Muslim women were prevented from wearing hijab at Azad Hind College in Domjur, Howrah. In North 24 Parganas, the report documented mosque attacks and demolition of two Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat, along with alleged attempts to rename local landmarks. APCR said the incidents were compiled from local sources due to restrictions in mainstream reporting and reflected a wider climate of hostility rather than isolated clashes.