A clash broke out between two groups in South 24 Parganas in West Bengal over setting up of shops on encroached land. The clash turned violent with miscreants engaging in stone and bricks pelting. A bike was also set on fire. The incident took place outside Rabindranagar Police Station. One police personnel sustained injury in stone pelting targeting the cops.
Leader of Opposition in the state Suvendu Adhikari took to X to condemn the incident, and criticised the police for not being able to block the vandals despite the incident happening near the police station, " under the watch of IC Mukul Mia and SDPO Kamrujjaman Molla."
He claimed that the miscreants had illegally encroached upon Temple Committee land in Ward No. 7, Maheshtala, under Metiabruz Assembly constituency, and had set up shops. "They violently attacked the sacred Tulsi Manch, nearby Hindu shops, homes, and the Temple itself, when confronted," he said in a post on X, sharing visuals from the clash.
"This blatant assault by the hundred of Jehadis on our religious places cannot be tolerated.
What's astonishing is that the incident happened at a stone's throw distance from the Rabindra Nagar Police Station, under the watch of IC Mukul Mia and SDPO Kamrujjaman Molla. The Police simply couldn't block the vandals and the entire episode happened in the presence of Police," he added.
The BJP leader further urged the DGP Rajeev Kumar to take strict action against those involved in the clashes, and also the police personnel who "failed to do their duty, ensure the restoration of the Temple premises, and provide security to the affected residents."
"The people of West Bengal, especially the Sanatani Community demand justice and the protection of our places of worship," Adhikari said.
'Has Mamata Surrendered To Radical Mobs?'
BJP leader Priyangu Pandey hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the incident. In a post on X, he wrote: "A violent jihadi mob attacked a Shiva temple, Tulsi Manch, Hindu shops & homes in Ward 7, Maheshtala right next to Rabindra Nagar Police Station. And @WBPolice watched silently."
"Is @MamataOfficial running Bengal or surrendering it to radical mobs? We won't stay silent!" he added.
Agnimitra Paul Slams Targeted Violence
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul also took to X to condemn the violent incident in Maheshtala, slamming the state government for remaining silent while the "Hindu community endure such repeated humiliation, targeted violence, and systemic neglect".
Likening the clash site to a battefield, she claimed that the mobs vandalised the Hindu households despite the presence of police. "The Tulsi altar was desecrated and brutally demolished, and innocent devotees were assaulted and left grievously injured, bloodied by the barbarity of the attack."
She further demanded "immediate and decisive" action from the administration over with the violent clashes. "The situation must be stabilized without delay, and all perpetrators involved in this heinous and premeditated assault must be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," she said.