‘Jai Shri Ram’, lotus found scrawled on mosque in West Bengal

Howrah/West Bengal: Tension gripped Dhulasimla village in West Bengal after saffron-coloured religious slogans and symbols associated with Hindutva politics were allegedly found drawn outside a mosque in what local residents viewed as a deliberate act of provocation targeting the Muslim community, according to a Siasat report.

The incident came to light on the morning of May 17, when worshippers arrived at the Madhya para mosque in Uluberia town of Howrah to offer namaz and discovered “Jai Shri Ram” and a lotus symbol painted near the mosque gate. The slogans and imagery, widely associated with Hindu nationalist mobilisation and the Bharatiya Janata Party, triggered anger and anxiety among local Muslims, who viewed the act as part of a growing pattern of intimidation directed at religious spaces.

A video recorded at the spot showed residents expressing concern over repeated incidents in which mosques and Muslim localities allegedly become targets of communal provocation. The vandalism quickly spread across social media, intensifying concerns over communal harmony in the area.

Police officials said the act was carried out during the previous night. Jadhav Shubham Pandurang, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Uluberia, stated that authorities suspect some intoxicated miscreants may have been involved. He said the situation was brought under control peacefully and that members of the Muslim community had not formally lodged a complaint.

Police have begun examining CCTV footage from the locality to identify those responsible for the vandalism. However, the incident has once again drawn attention to increasing complaints from Muslim communities regarding attacks, desecration attempts and politically charged symbolism being directed at mosques and other Islamic spaces in the state following the victory of the BJP in the state in the recent assembly elections.

An investigation report by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights has found that at least 34 incidents of violence and intimidation targeting Muslims were recorded between May 4 and May 7 alone across multiple districts, including attacks on mosques, destruction of shops, demolitions and threats.