KOLKATA: The aftermath of the recent election results has dramatically altered life in minority neighborhoods throughout Kolkata. Reports indicate that bike-riding assailants have begun to traverse Muslim areas while chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ instilling fear and discomfort among local residents.
In the Tangra area, tensions escalated on Tuesday night when a group, also chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ launched an attack on a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) office, targeting the motorcycles and homes of members of the minority community. The situation intensified as TMC supporters gathered in large numbers, prompting concerns about further violence. Fortunately, MLA Javed Khan intervened just in time to deescalate the situation.
A local dhaba owner, who typically welcomes late-night customers, reached out to his Muslim clientele urging them to refrain from visiting temporarily due to the prevailing unrest. Furthermore, an advisory circulated within local WhatsApp groups warned individuals to avoid confrontations and steer clear of crowded areas.
Shafkat Alam, director of an NGO in the Topsia-Tiljala region, noted a concerning shift in local dynamics, reporting that two Muslim individuals who previously aligned with the TMC switched their allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shortly after the election results. This change coincided with the emergence of bike gangs in minority-dominated localities shouting slogans.
In north Kolkata’s Belgachhia, incidents of violence have led Muslim youths, including delivery personnel, to refrain from entering the Paikpara area after dark. This cautionary measure follows reports of an individual being assaulted the day the results were announced.
