- विज्ञापन -
Kolkata: Tensions remained high in Maheshtala, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, as police continued their crackdown on protesters on Thursday. So far, 18 individuals have been detained. These arrests resulted from a joint operation by the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, which began late Wednesday night and extended into Thursday morning, relating to the clashes that erupted during Wednesday afternoon.
Of those detained, 14 were arrested on Wednesday night, while four others were taken into custody early Thursday morning, according to a senior police official. Despite the arrests, the overall atmosphere in Maheshtala stayed tense, with most shops remaining shut on Thursday morning and fewer people on the roads than usual. A hefty police presence, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), was maintained in the area to help restore calm and confidence among residents.
Prohibitory orders restricting the assembly of groups in the locality have been imposed to prevent further disturbances.
Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader in the West Bengal Assembly, announced that he approached the District Police Chief (DGP) and the police superintendent of Diamond Harbour Police District—under which Maheshtala falls—for permission to visit the area along with another BJP legislator. He expressed his intention to meet and show solidarity with the victims from Hindu families and shopkeepers affected by Wednesday’s violence. Adhikari emphasized that his visit aimed to understand their grievances and ensure their voices are heard, hoping that the authorities would not block his attempt.
On Wednesday night, Amit Malviya, BJP’s Information Technology Cell Chief and a central observer for West Bengal, issued a statement claiming that women in Maheshtala were forced to stay overnight for their safety. Malviya compared the situation to historical episodes like the Noakhali riots in Bangladesh and events in Pakistan, alleging that similar violence was occurring on Kolkata’s outskirts under Mamata Banerjee’s administration. He accused the police of losing faith among the people, with women forced to defend themselves amid what he described as a jihadi rampage.
The clashes in Maheshtala involved vandalism and arson targeting vehicles, houses, and police personnel. Some police officers were injured while attempting to control the situation. There are conflicting accounts of what triggered the violence. Police claim it resulted from a dispute over setting up a shop, but Adhikari argued the violence was communal in nature, citing an incident at Shiva Temple in Ward No. 7, where alleged encroachers attacked the temple land, shops, and homes nearby. He criticized that even though the incident occurred close to Rabindra Nagar Police Station, the police only blocked the vandals without intervening effectively.
Adhikari further claimed that attacks on Hindus, Hindu religious sites, and establishments have become frequent across West Bengal, including areas from Mothabari to Murshidabad to Maheshtala. Residents also suggested that the violence could have been contained sooner if additional police forces had been deployed early on, preventing the situation from escalating.
