APCR report shows 34 incidents of violence, mosque attacks in Bengal after BJP win
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The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has released a report detailing incidents of violence and intimidation in West Bengal following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the state Assembly elections.
The report documented incidents that took place between May 4 and May 7 across multiple districts in the state.
According to APCR, 34 incidents of violence were recorded across at least eight districts. Cooch Behar and North 24 Parganas reportedly accounted for seven incidents each, while South 24 Parganas and Kolkata recorded five incidents each, Maktoob Media reported.
Murshidabad reportedly saw three incidents, while Howrah recorded four.
The organisation claimed that at least two people lost their lives during the violence, including a Muslim man who was allegedly killed while attempting to protect a mosque in Gosanimari.
The report alleged that Muslims, Muslim-owned properties, mosques, cattle markets, meat shops, and offices and residences linked to the All India Trinamool Congress were among those targeted. APCR claimed that at least 54 properties were attacked or damaged, while more than 50 Muslims were affected either physically or in other ways.
According to the findings cited in the report, incidents included attacks on mosques in Cooch Behar, demolition of Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat, vandalism of Muslim homes in Nandina and Abutra villages, assaults on hawkers and shopkeepers in Kolkata, and bulldozer rallies allegedly directed at Muslim-owned establishments.
APCR categorised the incidents into several forms of violence, including murder, assault, intimidation, property attacks, demolition, bulldozer violence and what it termed “economic delimitation.” The report documented 19 incidents involving attacks on property, 14 cases of intimidation, four demolitions and three incidents described as bulldozer violence.
The report further alleged that the sale and transport of non-vegetarian food items were specifically targeted in several incidents. APCR claimed that cattle markets in Howrah, Kolkata and South 24 Parganas were forcibly shut down, while meat shops and Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat also came under attack.
Among the incidents highlighted were alleged attacks on three mosques in Cooch Behar, a mosque attack during a “Jai Shri Ram” procession in Gosanimari, vandalism targeting 15 Muslim homes in Nandina and Abutra villages, and assaults on an imam in Birsibpur.
The report also alleged that Muslim women at Azad Hind College were prevented from wearing hijab.
In North 24 Parganas, APCR claimed there were attacks on mosques and the demolition of two Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat. The report also alleged attempts to rename “N Para Masjid Bari Road” as “Netaji Palli Road” and “Sirajuddaula Udyan” as “Shivaji Udyan.”
According to the report, BJP processions in parts of South 24 Parganas allegedly included threats and abusive slogans, while demonstrations were also organised against Jamaat-e-Islami over claims that the group had encouraged people to vote against the BJP.
APCR stated that the incidents were compiled using local sources because of what it described as gaps and restrictions in mainstream media coverage. The organisation further claimed that the incidents pointed to a broader atmosphere of hostility rather than isolated episodes of violence.