Hindus Flee Murshidabad Amid Targeted Muslim Mob Attacks, Echoes of Post-Poll Exodus of 80,000 in West Bengal

The town of Dhuliyan, located in the Samserganj block of the Jangipur subdivision in Murshidabad, became the site of chaos on April 11th and 12th, when Muslim mobs wreaked havoc. As a result, the Hindu community is now fleeing the area.

Hindus flee Murshidabad for Malda | OpIndia

BJP leader Arjun Singh shared visuals on X, showing hundreds of Hindus leaving Dhuliyan by boat, crossing the Ganga River to reach Par Lalpur in the Kaliachak III subdivision of Malda district.

“Our Hindu brothers and sisters are coming here to save their lives,” The man recording the video could be heard saying.

A different man in the background appeared to be comforting the Hindu victims. “Do not take tension. We have made arrangements for your shelter and food. Please go in this direction. There are people to help you out.”

The man recording the video stated that 40 to 50 boats have already transported thousands of Hindus from Dhuliyan to Par Lalpur. An elderly woman, visibly emotional, was seen weeping as she recounted how she had to flee her hometown to save her life.

“They (Muslim mobs) have burnt down everything”, another woman expressed her sorrow, and both Hindu men and women were seen weeping uncontrollably.

“Nothing happened to Muslim homes…Only Hindu houses were selectively set ablaze,” one woman informed. The locals of Par Lalpur assured all the Hindu victims of their safety and security.

BJP leader Arjun Singh shared in a tweet, “The state administration under the rule of Mamata Banerjee has failed miserably to protect the life and property of the Hindus there.”

“In Bangladesh, the Hindus were attacked decades back and recently again, now the Jehadis have become active in our West Bengal and targeting the Hindus for fulfilling their agenda of ‘Greater Bangladesh’ but the Sanatanis of West Bengal will defeat them. The strength lies in the unity of Sanatanis,” he further emphasised.

A Hindu woman reported that bombs were being thrown in Murshidabad, which led her to flee her home. Another woman said, “They told us that Modi passed the Bill (Waqf Amendment), and so we will not allow any Hindus to live here.”

“They (Muslims) are talking about raping mothers of Hindus, vandalising and looting our houses. They have taken away our gold ornaments and other valuable and set our houses on fire,” she pointed out.

Targeted Assault on Hindus in Murshidabad

The Muslim-majority Murshidabad district saw widespread violence, vandalism, arson, and targeted assaults on the Hindu community on Friday, April 11th. These incidents occurred under the guise of protests against the newly passed Waqf Amendment Act.

After the Jumma Namaz, Muslim mobs unleashed chaos in the Suti and Samserganj areas of Murshidabad.

Under the pretense of peaceful protests, the extremists destroyed the sweet shop owned by a Hindu couple and looted all their belongings.

With tears streaming down his face, the shop owner said, “I had a sweet shop here.”  He then gestured toward the ruins of what was once the 'Subha Smriti Hotel.'

“They took away all our belongings. including cash kept inside the shop…There is nothing left. How will we eat now?” the owner’s wife was heard saying.

Muslims also damaged another establishment called 'Sri Hari Hindu Hotel & Lodge.' News agency ANI shared visuals of the destruction.

Local reports have also surfaced regarding attacks on Hindu temples and instances of idol desecration in Murshidabad. In a video shared by Republic Bangla, Trinamool Congress MP Khalilur Rahaman confirmed that a temple in Jangipur was vandalized.

An India Today report further indicates that extremists targeted homes belonging to Hindu families as well.

“Several houses of Hindu families in the minority-dominated district were targeted and shops were attacked,” it stated.

“The protesters didn’t even spare an ambulance that got caught in the violence and set it ablaze. The driver of the ambulance was brutally thrashed before the vehicle was set on fire,” the report further pointed out.

According to an eyewitness account reported by India Today, individuals identified as Muslims allegedly set an ambulance on fire and attacked its driver. “We were scared and sitting inside our homes. I had kept my parents, wife and children at home,” he narrated.

The Hindu man highlighted that the assailants were local Muslims, not outsiders. Recently surfaced CCTV footage shows one of the attackers vandalizing a Hindu family's vehicle in Murshidabad.

“They have destroyed and torched bikes, looted our belongings and set shops on fire,” recounted another Hindu victim of the Murshidabad violence to ANI.

I couldn’t sleep at night. We were awake and in fear. There was no police force when violence was being carried out here. The cops were running for their lives…Let us see if the government gives us compensation,” he added.

Manju Bhagat, wife of Hindu trader Amar Bhagat, shared with Aaj Tak, “They (Muslim mobs) tried to enter through the front gate. When they failed, they attempted to enter through the back gate.”

“They broke the bike, vandalised our home, and looted everything from chairs, mattresses, TV to expensive household items,” she added.

“Our whole family was praying to God. We were risking our lives and hiding on the terrace. We were chanting the name of God and praying that the mob leave the house. What would I have done if something happened to my daughter at that time” she recounted her experience.

Exodus of Hindus from West Bengal Amidst Post-Poll Violence

West Bengal experienced a massive exodus of Hindus following the violent turmoil instigated by the ruling Trinamool Congress government after the 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections and the 2023 Panchayat elections.

BJP leader JP Nadda highlighted that approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Hindus were forced to flee their homes due to the post-poll violence in 2021. Many sought refuge in Assam’s Dhubri district.

OpIndia extensively covered the flight of Hindus from the Coochbehar district in West Bengal to Dhubri in July 2023, after widespread violence erupted during the Panchayat elections.

It is important to note that under the leadership of the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal’s law and order situation has significantly worsened. Mamata Banerjee’s administration has struggled to control the increasing violence.

(This Article was originally published by OpIndia)