Deganga Riots : A Slap on democracy and government

The 2010 Deganga riots began on 6th September when an Islamist mob resorted to arson and violence on the Hindu localities of Deganga, Kartikpur and Beliaghata under the Deganga police station area. The violence began late in the evening and continued throughout the night into the next morning. The district police, Rapid Action Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force all failed to stop the mob violence, army was finally deployed. The army staged a flag march on the Taki Road, while Islamist violence continued unabated in the interior villages off the Taki Road, till Wednesday in spite of army presence and promulgation of prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC. The violence finally calmed down on 9th September after hundreds of Hindu business establishments and residences were looted, destroyed and burnt, dozens of Hindus were severely injured and several Hindu temples desecrated and vandalized by the Islamist mobs led by Trinamul Congress MP Haji Nurul Islam.
On the morning of 6th September, some local Muslims of Chattalpalli began to dig the passage leading to the Durga pandal, claiming the spot to belong to the graveyard that lay behind the Durga mandap. The ownership of the graveyard itself is disputed and it can be traced back to Rani Rashmoni. The annual Durga Puja celebrations were being held there for the last 40 years, and nobody had objected to it before. When the Hindus objected to the digging they were attacked. When the police were informed, they tried to stop the miscreants, but were outnumbered and beaten up. Officer-in-Charge Arup Ghosh suffered head injuries and fracture in the arm. The miscreants threatened to teach the Hindus a lesson after the evening iftar.
In the evening at around 8-30PM, a 2,000 strong Islamist mob descended upon the market areas of Deganga, Kartikpur and Beliaghata and resorted to large scale arson and violence. Hindu shops were systematically looted, burnt and destroyed. Nearby Hindu residences were set ablaze.
On Tuesday morning, violence began to escalate after a group of Muslims led by Haji Nurul Islam threatened the police at the Deganga police station. The armed mobs were being led my local toughs like Maqbur Rahman and Mintu Sahji. In the meanwhile, Later on the day the police clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC. They opened fire and started throwing bombs.

After Effects 

32 Durga Puja Committees suspend Puja in Deganga to protest riots
The one-sided riot in Deganga under the district of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on September 6, 2010, is still haunting the Hindus of the area. Many are yet to return home. Burnt and destroyed houses are yet to be rebuilt. In the meantime, a new mosque has come up at the centre of the bazaar area of Deganga and regular azaan and namaaz are being performed there, much to the heart boiling of Hindus.

Hindus of all political colours are united, not only for restoring their homes and hearths, but also to defeat the ill motive of Muslims. Muslims are out to capture the whole area. Hindus, on the other hand, have put forward 10-point demands before the ruling party of the state (CPIM) and the main opposition party (TMC). Apart from the Indian National Congress (INC), these two parties are shamelessly appeasing the Muslims.

It is requested that both State and Central Government should take appropriate action in this case and let not this be repeated again.