Hindus in Kaliachak, Malda deflect bids to stop Surya Puja

On January 19, 2014, Nayagram Field within the jurisdiction of the police station of Kaliachak in the district of Malda, remained witness to an untoward development as Surya Puja (worship of Sun God) and the fair, organized by Hindus in the neighborhood as part of the veneration, there were dismantled by a large group of rowdy Muslim youths. The Puja as well as the fair has been going on for 40 years at a stretch. The problem started at 4 pm when the said pack of roughnecks living in Khottapara in nearby Baishnabnagar interrupted and harassed Hindu girls sleazily. It has also been learnt, at 4pm, while food-offering to the Holy Deity was being distributed among Hindu devotees, pebbles were hurled by the gang led by Rahul Sheikh, Sentarul Sheikh, Zakir Sheikh and Pintu Sheikh. Their sole intention was to stop the Puja, fair and also infuse fright among Hindus so that they would not dare to persist the Hindu ritual any longer. 

Local Hindu youths with members of the fair’s organizing committee organized a stiff resistance to the vandalism resulting in a wild confrontation between the two groups. Four youths including Jayanta Rabidas, Toton Ghosh, Biplab Mandal and Chandan Ghosh suffered heavy injuries. 

Will police in Malda wake up and stop Love Jihad now?

On January 7, 2014, at 10 am, Ripa Mandal (age 17 years) was abducted by Sakim Shiekh (age 22 years) while she was going to her school. Ripa happens to be the student of Class IX at Mahammadia High Madrasa Bahadurpur and is the daughter of Atul Chandra Mandal living in Sundartala, within the jurisdiction of Post Office: Dulugram and Police Station: Kaliachak in the district of Malda. Sakim, on the other hand, is the son of Khurshed Sheikh inhabiting the village of Salehpur Dariapur within the same police station’s authority.  Even if the police appeared reluctant to deal with the case, a missing diary was filed on January 8. Once the disinclination of police was spotted, Atul started to find her daughter out all-alone and within the next few hours culpability of Sakim Sheikh came forth.   

After lots of endeavors, Ripa was found from the residence of Sakim on January 11. Atul Chandra Mandal went to Sakim’s residence alone but Ripa was not given to him. Instead, she was transferred to Nabiul Sheikh, an infamous criminal in the locality, and he brought Ripa to her residence. It has been learnt, Sakim married Ripa meanwhile and now Sakim’s family is asking Atul Mandal to recognize the marriage. The cudgel of responsibility to have Atul’s consent is on Nabiul Sheikh and he has been warning local Hindus with dire consequences if they dare to stir up public opinion. Tension prevails the area while local police remains apathetic to the reality.  Locals murmur that this Love Jihad has become a bane to teenage girls.