Saugar Sengupta Kolkata
All India Minority Forum president Idris Ali, who had last month led the Kolkata riots demanding the ouster of dissident Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, has threatened further violence if she returns to Kolkata.
The AIMF chief, who doubles up as a Pradesh Congress leader, on Monday criticised Kolkata's intellectuals, wondering "why these people are not raising their voice against those who have forced MF Husain into exile for his slanderous depiction of Saraswati".
He accused a "section of PCC leaders of acting as agents of the CPI(M)".
The Congress had expelled Mr Ali from the party but he was taken back within a fortnight. Emboldened by the "favourable" turn of events, he has cautioned both the Centre and the State Government against allowing Nasreen to return to Kolkata. "She has hurt Muslim sentiments and they would not relish her coming back to Kolkata. The two Governments would do good not to allow her return," she said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=STATES&file_name=state1%2Etxt&counter_img=1
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Indian Government's Ultimatum to Taslima
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, Dec. 20:
Driving her further to the wall, the Centre has debarred the controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen from returning to her adopted city of Kolkata and from coming out in public or freely meeting people even in the Capital, her current heavily-guarded “safe house”, thereby virtually putting a stark choice to her to either continue staying here under virtual “house arrest” or consider the option of leaving the country.
Hounded out of Kolkata and packed off from Jaipur, Taslima has been living in an undisclosed location under state security cover here for the last month. Today, a senior official of the ministry of external affairs conveyed to her the Centre’s decision that she will not be allowed to go back to Kolkata.
“If I live in India, I would not be allowed outside. I will not be allowed to meet any friends. I will have to live this way in India and it must not be in Kolkata,” an emotionally-shaken and distraught Taslima said, quoting the official’s message to her. The Bangladeshi writer felt the Central government has virtually asked her to leave India by indicating she could live here only confined in a room without being able to visit anywhere or receive visitors.
Wondering what “crime” she has committed, she said the Indian government, despite being aware that she could not return to Bangladesh, would like her to stay here like a “prisoner in a room”. Taslima said she told the official that “I am not a criminal that I will not be allowed to return to Kolkata.” “I told the official (in vain) that I should be allowed to lead a normal life at least in Delhi,” she said. “I will have to live this way in India and it must not be in Kolkata. So I asked them when I will be able to go to Kolkata. They don’t know when. And how long I will have to remain under house arrest. That they don’t know.”
Taslima also said the official made it clear to her that she would only be able to live in Delhi the way she has stayed here so far. She said she was told she would not be able to lead a “normal life” even in Delhi, which, she added, amounted to asking her to consider leaving the country. She asserted that she still wants to live in India and return to Kolkata. Hounded out of Kolkata last month following violent protests by a fringe Muslim body against her stay in the city, where she has lived since 2004, Taslima was shunted out to Jaipur by the West Bengal government. After barely a night, however, she was shifted from Jaipur to the Capital.
There is resentment against the 46-year-old Bangladeshi writer among a section of the Muslim community for her alleged anti-Islam writings. Taslima has denied such charges. A few weeks ago, she even offered to remove some controversial portions of her novel Dwikhandita (Split in Two) in a bid to pacify such Muslim groups. Taslima was forced to leave her country in the 1990s by enraged Muslim clerics.
.
The Centre’s fresh ultimatum to Ms Nasreen is believed to have followed discussions between the Centre and the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government. Both the Congress-led Central government and the CPM-led state government have sought to wash their hands of Taslima’s stay in India, particularly in Kolkata, due to their perceived anxiety over any adverse Muslim reaction. The Bhattacharjee government has been stonewalling any bid by Taslima to return to Kolkata. The UPA government, which survives on crucial Left support, also appears to be under the CPM’s pressure on the Nasreen issue.
Meanwhile, Mr Idris Ali, president West Bengal Minority Forum, who was released on bail after 26 days, said in Kolkata that Taslima should not be allowed to return to the city.
Taslima Nasrin
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=181483
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Separatist Leader Reveals Bangladesh Links to India's Northeast Terrorist Groups
Shillong, Dec. 18: The surrendered chairman of a separatist group has revealed that he lived in Dhaka for several years, possibly the first time a militant leader has publicly contested Bangladesh’s claim that it does not host rebels.
Julius Dorphang, the head of a group fighting for over a decade for an independent nation Khasiland carved out of Meghalaya, told The Telegraph in an exclusive interview that top leaders of many Northeast militant groups lived in Dhaka.
“It is true that for better communication with other militant groups and also with others, we, the top leaders, used to stay in Dhaka,” he said at the Mawiong rehabilitation camp, 7km from Shillong.
Dorphang, 44, who headed the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for several years, surrendered on July 23 after what he describes as ideological differences with his colleagues.
He gave the name of one apartment building where he had lived — Banani — “in Dhaka, close to the airport”. Meghalaya police have cross-checked that there is a building by this name.
“However, we used to change places every now and then. Maybe six months in one place and another six months somewhere else,” he said.
Dorphang did not identify any other militant leader who lived in Dhaka. “We used to see each other either in hotels or other rented places.”
But he did say that like the HNLC, the NSCN(I-M) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura have camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. “I came to know that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) had to disband a camp because of a misunderstanding with the locals,” he said.
“We had relations with NSCN and other top militant groups. But we did not have any connection with the Ulfa.”
Although Northeast militants have spoken about acquiring training in Bangladesh at surrender ceremonies, Dorphang is the first top leader to say he lived there. “Why should I hide it? It is a fact,” he said.
Ulfa’s Paresh Barua and Arabinda Rajkhowa, NDFB’s Ranjan Daimary, All Tripura Tiger Force’s Ranjit Debbarma and National Liberation Front of Tripura’s Biswamohan Debbarma are said to be holed up in Bangladesh.
Other top leaders of Dorphang’s own group, HNLC, are also there.
Bangladesh officially denies the presence of Indian militants or their camps on its soil. But privately, it has been making positive gestures to India on several issues, including fugitive insurgents, ever since the military-backed regime took over in Dhaka.
Julius Dorphang, the head of a group fighting for over a decade for an independent nation Khasiland carved out of Meghalaya, told The Telegraph in an exclusive interview that top leaders of many Northeast militant groups lived in Dhaka.
“It is true that for better communication with other militant groups and also with others, we, the top leaders, used to stay in Dhaka,” he said at the Mawiong rehabilitation camp, 7km from Shillong.
Dorphang, 44, who headed the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for several years, surrendered on July 23 after what he describes as ideological differences with his colleagues.
He gave the name of one apartment building where he had lived — Banani — “in Dhaka, close to the airport”. Meghalaya police have cross-checked that there is a building by this name.
“However, we used to change places every now and then. Maybe six months in one place and another six months somewhere else,” he said.
Dorphang did not identify any other militant leader who lived in Dhaka. “We used to see each other either in hotels or other rented places.”
But he did say that like the HNLC, the NSCN(I-M) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura have camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. “I came to know that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) had to disband a camp because of a misunderstanding with the locals,” he said.
“We had relations with NSCN and other top militant groups. But we did not have any connection with the Ulfa.”
Although Northeast militants have spoken about acquiring training in Bangladesh at surrender ceremonies, Dorphang is the first top leader to say he lived there. “Why should I hide it? It is a fact,” he said.
Ulfa’s Paresh Barua and Arabinda Rajkhowa, NDFB’s Ranjan Daimary, All Tripura Tiger Force’s Ranjit Debbarma and National Liberation Front of Tripura’s Biswamohan Debbarma are said to be holed up in Bangladesh.
Other top leaders of Dorphang’s own group, HNLC, are also there.
Bangladesh officially denies the presence of Indian militants or their camps on its soil. But privately, it has been making positive gestures to India on several issues, including fugitive insurgents, ever since the military-backed regime took over in Dhaka.
Julius Dorphang
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071219/asp/frontpage/story_8686256.asp
Saturday, December 15, 2007
ISI operative held in Guwahati
K Anurag in Guwahati | December 15, 2007 19:56 IST
The Assam police on Saturday claimed to have arrested a hardcore operative of the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence in a special operation carried out in a Guwahati locality on Friday night.
A senior police official of the Special Operation Unit of the Assam police informed that the arrested ISI operative was identified as S M Alam alias Mujibullah Alam alias Asif Alam.
He hails from Ajampur under Uttara police station in Dhaka in Bangladesh.
The ISI operative has been active in Assam and the north-east since 2006 and used to look after all operational matters of the ISI there.
He has been under surveillance of the Assam police for sometime and is currently being interrogated by the special branch of Assam police in Guwahati.
The arrested 'ISI operative' was a member of Jamati Islami and Chatra Sibir in Bangladesh and joined the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in 1993. He underwent training in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the police claimed
The police further informed that S M Alam then joined Jamatul Mujahideen in Bangladesh in the year 2005 and had been active in Assam and the north-east since 2006.
The Assam government, the police and the army have been engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the state and have been maintaining that the Pakistani ISI has close links with north-east militant groups including the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom.
Kolkata: Eight hours of madness
At Topsia near Park Circus in Kolkata on November 21, residents fight the flames rising from a police jeep that was set on fire by a mob.
PARTS of central Kolkata took on the appearance of a war zone as demonstrators answering to a call by the All India Minority Forum (AIMF) suddenly turned violent and ran amok for more than eight hours – from around 9:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – on November 21. At least 35 persons, mostly policemen, were injured and more than 50 miscreants were arrested. The Army was deployed in the city for the first time since 1992 when it was called out to quell the riots that broke out following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
It all started when a few hundred demonstrators, mostly Urdu-speaking Muslims, assembled to stage a ‘chakka jam’ (road block) at Park Circus and Ripon Street in central Kolkata, following a call given by the AIMF and the Furfura Sharif Nujaddidin Foundation. The protest was against the renewal of the visa of exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin and the alleged violence by CPI(M) cadre at Nandigram. The crowd gathered in strength and when the police tried to clear the roadblock they faced a barrage of brickbats, which seriously injured two senior police officers.
The Jamait-i-Ulema-e-Hind, the Islamic fundamentalist group that apparently played a significant role in perpetrating violence in Nandigram, denied any involvement in the agitation. But police sources said Jamait members were the “invisible driving force”. The police also do not rule out the hand of outside forces, such as the Harkat-ul-Jehadi-al-Islami, a Bangladeshi terror outfit, in the violence.
It was guerilla style warfare as the miscreants used the narrow lanes in the area to launch surprise attacks. They also hurled missiles from the rooftops of houses. They remained undaunted even when the Rapid Action Force was deployed. Passing vehicles, besides the police, were the main targets; more than 20 vehicles were wrecked or burnt, and not even ambulances and school buses were spared. The area has a number of well-known schools, and it was a harrowing experience for the stranded children and their hapless guardians.
In the afternoon, four companies of the Army moved in at the request of the State government and conducted flag marches at around 4 p.m. at Park Circus and AJC Bose Road. Subsequently, Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborti visited the affected areas and announced a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the disturbed areas.
Although some sections of the media criticised the police for their inaction and attributed it to their lack of preparedness, failure of intelligence, and even pusillanimity, others were of the view that the police showed remarkable restraint. The mob seemed to be spoiling for a fight and police retaliation could well have provided the spark for a communal conflagration. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee called the incident a “dangerously irresponsible act of a few people” and expressed confidence that it would founder on the bedrock of good sense and communal amity that has been the tradition of Kolkata’s citizenry. According to political observers, the motivating factor was neither Taslima Nasrin’s visa nor Nandigram but the polarisation of the urban minority vote against the Left Front, in particular the CPI(M).
The Jamait-i-Ulema-e-Hind chief Sidiqullah Chowdhuri later reportedly said: “It’s a warning for the CPI(M). This is just the beginning. The CPI(M) will feel the heat soon. It has suffered major erosion among the minorities. All the areas from where people came in huge numbers are CPI(M) bases.”
However, the disturbance was confined to a narrow area of the city, indicating that the ‘uprising’ was not of the urban minority as a body but one that was engineered by a few conspirators for political ends. The AIMF chief Idris Ali, a veteran Congress leader, argued that he could not foresee the violent turn of events. He was later placed under arrest.
The urban Muslims in Kolkata are linguistically, culturally and ethnically different from the rural Muslims, who, like most of the rural poor, vote largely for the Left. In any case, for many years now, the minorities have voted on political and ideological lines during elections and not followed a communal herd mentality. But a carefully crafted communal conflagration could very well alter the situation, at least temporarily, to destabilise not only the political situation but also the communal harmony that has prevailed in West Bengal even in its most difficult hours.
Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay
Frontline
Volume 24 - Issue 24 :: Dec. 08-21, 2007
http://www.flonnet.com/stories/20071221501602400.htm
Friday, December 7, 2007
Muslim outfit imposes dress code in Manipur
IMPHAL, Dec 7 –
A Muslim militant organisation in Manipur has asked Muslim girl students to refrain from wearing frock and skirt or any western dress in educational institutions in the State from next year.In a statement issued here, the People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) said Muslim girl students should wear the dress accepted by the Islamic law.The statement said anyone violating the diktat of the outfit would be punished and added that civil societies, school authorities and students should not appeal to the PULF to relax its diktat.It said those who violated the diktat would be punished from January 2008. – PTI
Thursday, November 29, 2007
PETITION: Granting of Citizenship to Ms Taslima Nasreen
http://www.petitiononline.com/eiw2007/petition.html
Please Click on Link to Support Petition !
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
President of India
presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
manmohan@sansad.nic.in
Granting of Citizenship to Ms Taslima Nasreen
Honourable President, Honourable Prime Minister:
We are writing this petition to you for granting citizenship to Ms Taslima Nasreen, the exiled Bangladeshi writer & a human rights defender, who currently lives in Kolkata.
Nasreen has been terrorised in Kolkata during the week beginning 17 November 2007 by certain groups of Islamic fanatics. The latter’s methods of terrorising included assaulting police, burning cars, and holding school children hostage.
In August 2007, a group of Muslim fundamentalist MLAs & their party political cadres committed criminal acts with impunity by targeting Nasreen in Hyderabad where she was invited to speak.
Hate crimes come naturally to these violent & criminally inclined people and, they pose a great danger to & bring instability in a civilized democratic country that value pluralism, human rights, freedom of expression & peaceful assembly. Such people should be regarded as unfit for public office & continual citizenship in any democracy because of deliberately violating the constitution or charter of rights. Further, they should be charged with criminal activities committed against a lawful resident.
Nasreen, a writer & a human rights defender, has a right to live in an Indian city of her choice, doesn’t have to go into hiding in a free country & should be protected from terrorism. (Terrorism needn't always be committed through use of firearms & bombing of civilian targets but can also be perpetrated by violent bigots threatening civilians through assaults, death threats, eviction threats, inciting hate, & spreading fear.)
.
(Dr.) Talisman Nasreen (a child specialist turned writer & human rights defender) should be given favourable consideration for Indian citizenship, as well as honoured for her exemplary courage with which she expresses her thoughts on abuse of human rights
Indians of all faith should admire her unique work "Lajja” (“Shame”.) It's not just a novel (as some Bengali writers & readers tend to make out), Lajja reveals more including a vivid account of the atrocities at the time that led to 2,500+ Hindu women being attacked & brutally raped in one single week of December 1992. (Indians of all faith groups and, the world media/ politicians/ governments should be ashamed of themselves for not condemning such heinous crimes.) There is more. 3000+ Hindu temples were razed/ desecrated in that same week, and, there were murders and burning down of Hindu owned shops & businesses located a short distance away from the seat of the then Government & Dhaka Police head quarters.
Taslima received fatwa not for insulting Islam (although it’s never difficult to whip up one) but for telling the truth for which Bangladeshi Islamic cadres, mullahs & politicians should be held to account. One can charge the Pakistani Sunni army for raping 200,000 Hindu girls & women as their ‘comfort women” and for slaughtering 2 million Hindu civilians between March & Dec 1971: but in December 1992, thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims, who could have been annihilated by the West Pakistani army without India’s help & intervention, committed crimes against humanity.
Nasreen has been facing death threats & fatwas in Bangladesh, her country of birth, for last 15 years. So we understand why she is restrained in expressing her outrage on the unprecedented level of minority cleansing & the thousands of gang rapes of minority women in Bangladesh that have been ongoing since October 2001.
It is unacceptable the way Nasreen is being moved around at this time. The Government of the Indian state of West Bengal is wrong on not safeguarding her as a human being & for sending her to Rajasthan. India should not cowed by any home grown &/or imported religious extremists.
India has accommodated millions of persecuted people (Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Sufi Muslims) over many centuries and, during last 50 years, India has incurred the wrath & enmity of China for welcoming Dalai Lama, given shelter to Burmese dissidents & refugees, housed 10 million displaced East Pakistanis during 1971, and, taken Tamils fleeing earlier atrocities in Sri Lanka.
Nasreen is a naturalised Indian and should be favourably considered for citizenship. She should be allowed to live and write without fear of persecution and any kind of threats from religious fanatics. A freethinking citizen from any faith or a human being who seeks justice & freedom would strongly support the cause of granting Indian citizenship to her. It’s only to save her from the bigots and religious zealots, Taslima, the writer & the human rights defender, is now a "saranagata" in India.
Taslima Nasrin: 'India is my home. I would like to keep living in this country until I die'. Photograph: Getty
Ultimately, the Indian Government should protect Nasreen adequately through all available means. In Indian citizenship law there simply is no place of taking the side of one faith that discriminates or terrorises.
We urge you to grant Taslima Nasren citizenship rights, and, protect India’s core values of pluralism, individual human rights, and freedom of expression.
Yours truly:
Copy to:
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of the House
psm@sansad.nic.in
Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Leader of Opposition
advanik@sansad.nic.in
H.E. Dr. Louise Arbour
larbour@ohchr.org
Ms Irene Khan
ikhan@amnesty.org
Ms Catherine Baber
cbaber@amnesty.org
KennethRoth<hrwnyc@hrw.org>
HRWLondon<rattazc@hrw.org>
HRWToronto<herltj@hrw.org>
CarolineMcCormick<excecutivedirector@internationalpen.org.uk>
WritersInExileNetwork<pen@pencanada.ca>
Please Click on Link to Support Petition !
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
President of India
presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
manmohan@sansad.nic.in
Granting of Citizenship to Ms Taslima Nasreen
Honourable President, Honourable Prime Minister:
We are writing this petition to you for granting citizenship to Ms Taslima Nasreen, the exiled Bangladeshi writer & a human rights defender, who currently lives in Kolkata.
Nasreen has been terrorised in Kolkata during the week beginning 17 November 2007 by certain groups of Islamic fanatics. The latter’s methods of terrorising included assaulting police, burning cars, and holding school children hostage.
In August 2007, a group of Muslim fundamentalist MLAs & their party political cadres committed criminal acts with impunity by targeting Nasreen in Hyderabad where she was invited to speak.
Hate crimes come naturally to these violent & criminally inclined people and, they pose a great danger to & bring instability in a civilized democratic country that value pluralism, human rights, freedom of expression & peaceful assembly. Such people should be regarded as unfit for public office & continual citizenship in any democracy because of deliberately violating the constitution or charter of rights. Further, they should be charged with criminal activities committed against a lawful resident.
Nasreen, a writer & a human rights defender, has a right to live in an Indian city of her choice, doesn’t have to go into hiding in a free country & should be protected from terrorism. (Terrorism needn't always be committed through use of firearms & bombing of civilian targets but can also be perpetrated by violent bigots threatening civilians through assaults, death threats, eviction threats, inciting hate, & spreading fear.)
.
(Dr.) Talisman Nasreen (a child specialist turned writer & human rights defender) should be given favourable consideration for Indian citizenship, as well as honoured for her exemplary courage with which she expresses her thoughts on abuse of human rights
Indians of all faith should admire her unique work "Lajja” (“Shame”.) It's not just a novel (as some Bengali writers & readers tend to make out), Lajja reveals more including a vivid account of the atrocities at the time that led to 2,500+ Hindu women being attacked & brutally raped in one single week of December 1992. (Indians of all faith groups and, the world media/ politicians/ governments should be ashamed of themselves for not condemning such heinous crimes.) There is more. 3000+ Hindu temples were razed/ desecrated in that same week, and, there were murders and burning down of Hindu owned shops & businesses located a short distance away from the seat of the then Government & Dhaka Police head quarters.
Taslima received fatwa not for insulting Islam (although it’s never difficult to whip up one) but for telling the truth for which Bangladeshi Islamic cadres, mullahs & politicians should be held to account. One can charge the Pakistani Sunni army for raping 200,000 Hindu girls & women as their ‘comfort women” and for slaughtering 2 million Hindu civilians between March & Dec 1971: but in December 1992, thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims, who could have been annihilated by the West Pakistani army without India’s help & intervention, committed crimes against humanity.
Nasreen has been facing death threats & fatwas in Bangladesh, her country of birth, for last 15 years. So we understand why she is restrained in expressing her outrage on the unprecedented level of minority cleansing & the thousands of gang rapes of minority women in Bangladesh that have been ongoing since October 2001.
It is unacceptable the way Nasreen is being moved around at this time. The Government of the Indian state of West Bengal is wrong on not safeguarding her as a human being & for sending her to Rajasthan. India should not cowed by any home grown &/or imported religious extremists.
India has accommodated millions of persecuted people (Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Sufi Muslims) over many centuries and, during last 50 years, India has incurred the wrath & enmity of China for welcoming Dalai Lama, given shelter to Burmese dissidents & refugees, housed 10 million displaced East Pakistanis during 1971, and, taken Tamils fleeing earlier atrocities in Sri Lanka.
Nasreen is a naturalised Indian and should be favourably considered for citizenship. She should be allowed to live and write without fear of persecution and any kind of threats from religious fanatics. A freethinking citizen from any faith or a human being who seeks justice & freedom would strongly support the cause of granting Indian citizenship to her. It’s only to save her from the bigots and religious zealots, Taslima, the writer & the human rights defender, is now a "saranagata" in India.
Taslima Nasrin: 'India is my home. I would like to keep living in this country until I die'. Photograph: Getty
Ultimately, the Indian Government should protect Nasreen adequately through all available means. In Indian citizenship law there simply is no place of taking the side of one faith that discriminates or terrorises.
We urge you to grant Taslima Nasren citizenship rights, and, protect India’s core values of pluralism, individual human rights, and freedom of expression.
Yours truly:
Copy to:
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of the House
psm@sansad.nic.in
Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Leader of Opposition
advanik@sansad.nic.in
H.E. Dr. Louise Arbour
larbour@ohchr.org
Ms Irene Khan
ikhan@amnesty.org
Ms Catherine Baber
cbaber@amnesty.org
KennethRoth<hrwnyc@hrw.org>
HRWLondon<rattazc@hrw.org>
HRWToronto<herltj@hrw.org>
CarolineMcCormick<excecutivedirector@internationalpen.org.uk>
WritersInExileNetwork<pen@pencanada.ca>
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
''Bengal is my home''
I am a Bengali and Bengal is my home and feel at home in Kolkata, I know I am loved by the people there. I am not a political person. I am an ordinary human being who writes for equal rights. I don't write about religion, I write about human rights, women rights and secular humanism--
Taslima Nasreen
Taslima-Nandigram mix brings Army out
Md Safi Shamsi / Ravik Bhattacharya / Subrata Nagchoudhury
Fearing communal flare-up, West Bengal calls in Army, clamps curfew in parts of Kolkata after angry mob clubs Bangla author’s presence with Nandigram violence.
KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 21:
For the first time since the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, the Left Front government in West Bengal called out the Army and imposed night curfew in central Kolkata after mob violence following a protest against the presence of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen in the city and attacks on Nandigram villagers by CPM cadres.
The Army’s presence brought peace on the main streets but lanes and bylanes seethed with tension until late tonight forcing the government to clamp curfew from 10 pm to 6 am in areas under five police stations, including Park Street, Park Circus and Ripon Street.
By evening, the clashes had left a trail of injured — 35 policemen, including a Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police. The police arrested 57 people. Mobs attacked a couple of CPM offices close to the party headquarters in Alimuddin Street.
Nasreen, hounded by fundamentalists in Bangladesh, has been in the city since 2004. And several hardline Muslim groups have earlier too protested against her presence.
What was of concern to the government today was how little-known groups got together to bring both Nasreen and Nandigram together — a majority of the victims in Nandigram of CPM violence are Muslim — to confront the CPM and the government.
While police are still trying to figure out the key players, The Indian Express spoke to several eyewitnesses, police sources and protesters to find that the rallyists included fundamentalist Islamic leaders, Opposition politicians from Trinamool Congress and Congress and religious Muslim organizations.
Their “cause” was a potentially explosive mix of Taslima Nasreen and Nandigram, both on full display in the placards they carried and the slogans they shouted.
bThe dramatis personae:
Officially, the rally was organised by the All India Minority Forum headed by Idris Ali of the Congress. This organisation in the past has never been able to mobilise more than 40 people for a rally. Police officials don’t know how, given its limited logistical capability, it could spark off such widespread violence today.
• FurFuraSharif Foundation, a religious organization with a sizeable following of Bengali Muslims. On several occasions, it has officially interacted with the government — over a year ago, it held a protest rally against a madrasa textbook on Islamic history that it alleged contained “objectionable references.”
• Said its leader Maulana Toha Siddiqui: “Our protest was against the atrocities by CPM cadres against Muslims in Nandigram and Taslima Nasreen’s visa extension. A magazine patronized by the CPM, Path Sanket, ran an anonymous letter in which a blasphemous comment was made against the Prophet. The same issue had a piece by Biman Bose, CPM politburo member. We made our displeasure known to the government and called for a ban on the magazine.”
• Quami Awaz Welfare Society: Roshan Ali of this little-heard organization was one of the three leaders arrested from Park Circus prior to the outbreak of violence. Sources said that Quami Awaz is a new organisation, more religious than political.
• Opposition political activists: The mob had a large following from both the Trinamool and the Congress. One of those arrested was Mumtaz Alam, a former Congress councillor. In Linton Street and Tantibagan Lane, the epicentre of the violence, the mob was being led by Fahim, a local Trinamool leader. In Ripon Street and Goltala, the mob was led by Iqbal and Sultan Ahmed, who have shuttled between the Congress and the Trinamool.
• A section of the followers were from the Milli Ittehad Parishad — a conglomerate of 12 Muslim organizations formed in August this year as a pressure group in close touch with the government on the Taslima issue. It has sent letters to the Governor and the Chief Minister protesting against her presence.
• Jamiat-e-Ulema-Hind’s Sidiqullah Chowdhury, who is one of the prime movers behind the Nandigram protests, has been one of the most vocal protestors against Taslima too. Just six days ago, he led a massive procession holding placards demanding her “eviction” from the state and India. Although his banner was absent today, police said the rally had members from the People’s Democratic Conference of India — the Jamiat’s political wing.
• In the evening, the government sent Syed Md. Noorur Rahman Barkati, Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Mosque, to the troubled areas to appeal for peace. After his visit, Barkati, known for his allegiance to both the Congress and Trinamool, said: “Messages have been conveyed to the people and things will soon be under control.”
Such a gallery of characters made for a controversial mix. “Communal sentiments were involved and the issue is also sensitive. We will now work along with Army men to maintain peace,” admitted police chief Gautam Mohan Chakraborti, facing his first trial by fire after taking over from Prasun Mukherjee who had to resign over the Rizwanur-Priyanka case.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/242020.html
Fearing communal flare-up, West Bengal calls in Army, clamps curfew in parts of Kolkata after angry mob clubs Bangla author’s presence with Nandigram violence.
KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 21:
For the first time since the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, the Left Front government in West Bengal called out the Army and imposed night curfew in central Kolkata after mob violence following a protest against the presence of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen in the city and attacks on Nandigram villagers by CPM cadres.
The Army’s presence brought peace on the main streets but lanes and bylanes seethed with tension until late tonight forcing the government to clamp curfew from 10 pm to 6 am in areas under five police stations, including Park Street, Park Circus and Ripon Street.
By evening, the clashes had left a trail of injured — 35 policemen, including a Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police. The police arrested 57 people. Mobs attacked a couple of CPM offices close to the party headquarters in Alimuddin Street.
Nasreen, hounded by fundamentalists in Bangladesh, has been in the city since 2004. And several hardline Muslim groups have earlier too protested against her presence.
What was of concern to the government today was how little-known groups got together to bring both Nasreen and Nandigram together — a majority of the victims in Nandigram of CPM violence are Muslim — to confront the CPM and the government.
While police are still trying to figure out the key players, The Indian Express spoke to several eyewitnesses, police sources and protesters to find that the rallyists included fundamentalist Islamic leaders, Opposition politicians from Trinamool Congress and Congress and religious Muslim organizations.
Their “cause” was a potentially explosive mix of Taslima Nasreen and Nandigram, both on full display in the placards they carried and the slogans they shouted.
bThe dramatis personae:
Officially, the rally was organised by the All India Minority Forum headed by Idris Ali of the Congress. This organisation in the past has never been able to mobilise more than 40 people for a rally. Police officials don’t know how, given its limited logistical capability, it could spark off such widespread violence today.
• FurFuraSharif Foundation, a religious organization with a sizeable following of Bengali Muslims. On several occasions, it has officially interacted with the government — over a year ago, it held a protest rally against a madrasa textbook on Islamic history that it alleged contained “objectionable references.”
• Said its leader Maulana Toha Siddiqui: “Our protest was against the atrocities by CPM cadres against Muslims in Nandigram and Taslima Nasreen’s visa extension. A magazine patronized by the CPM, Path Sanket, ran an anonymous letter in which a blasphemous comment was made against the Prophet. The same issue had a piece by Biman Bose, CPM politburo member. We made our displeasure known to the government and called for a ban on the magazine.”
• Quami Awaz Welfare Society: Roshan Ali of this little-heard organization was one of the three leaders arrested from Park Circus prior to the outbreak of violence. Sources said that Quami Awaz is a new organisation, more religious than political.
• Opposition political activists: The mob had a large following from both the Trinamool and the Congress. One of those arrested was Mumtaz Alam, a former Congress councillor. In Linton Street and Tantibagan Lane, the epicentre of the violence, the mob was being led by Fahim, a local Trinamool leader. In Ripon Street and Goltala, the mob was led by Iqbal and Sultan Ahmed, who have shuttled between the Congress and the Trinamool.
• A section of the followers were from the Milli Ittehad Parishad — a conglomerate of 12 Muslim organizations formed in August this year as a pressure group in close touch with the government on the Taslima issue. It has sent letters to the Governor and the Chief Minister protesting against her presence.
• Jamiat-e-Ulema-Hind’s Sidiqullah Chowdhury, who is one of the prime movers behind the Nandigram protests, has been one of the most vocal protestors against Taslima too. Just six days ago, he led a massive procession holding placards demanding her “eviction” from the state and India. Although his banner was absent today, police said the rally had members from the People’s Democratic Conference of India — the Jamiat’s political wing.
• In the evening, the government sent Syed Md. Noorur Rahman Barkati, Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Mosque, to the troubled areas to appeal for peace. After his visit, Barkati, known for his allegiance to both the Congress and Trinamool, said: “Messages have been conveyed to the people and things will soon be under control.”
Such a gallery of characters made for a controversial mix. “Communal sentiments were involved and the issue is also sensitive. We will now work along with Army men to maintain peace,” admitted police chief Gautam Mohan Chakraborti, facing his first trial by fire after taking over from Prasun Mukherjee who had to resign over the Rizwanur-Priyanka case.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/242020.html
Attack on Durga Puja in Birbhum
by Asim Kumar Mitra
Yet again Durga Pratima (Idol of Devi Durga) of a community Puja pandal was attacked by the Muslims of Murarai in the district of Birbhum in West Bengal . Last year also they attacked Saraswati Idol of a community Puja pandal and desecrated it in the same place i.e. Murarai. Police and bosses of administration had, as usual, promised to take action against the culprits. That was nothing but a tactics to divert the attention of the people. Fact remains that nothing was done about it. And now a repetition of the same kind of attack on the sentiments of Hindus. This time they have killed one person and injured six persons who have been hospitalized in Rampurhat Sub Divisional hospital. Among the injured hospitalized, condition of one person is very serious. The venue of this incident was Paschimpara of Rudranagar under Murarai sub division of Birbhum district. Police had already arrested three persons on the allegation of murder, rioting , looting and arson.
The attack took place on 22nd October, at about 6 p.m. The Muslim attackers came with full preparation. They were armed with lethal weapons. As the distribution centre of electricity in that area was located in Muslim area, they conveniently switched off the power supply. Suddenly, the whole area immersed into deep darkness and Muslims started their action on the devotees and onlookers. The organizers of the Durga Puja committee were taken aback as they were not prepared. By the time they could put up any resistance a person named Bhabesh Bhuimali (54) was killed by the attackers. After some time police came to the spot and deployed police picket in the village so that no further escalation of the incident could take place.
Actually this incident was preceded with another incident which took place in the morning and where Muslim young men were involved in teasing the young Hindu girls. Every year, in the morning of Dussera, bullock race used to be organized. This was the specialty of Rudranagar village. Hindu young men did not tolerate the audacity of Muslim young men and they opposed the acts of Muslims. Muslims realized that Hindus were organized and their number was also large. So they fled away. Hindus thought that nothing would follow, because they had got a good lesson. But Muslims could not digest this defeat and they came back on the scene with full preparation. Hence this attack was there. The Hindu Muslim population ratio in Murarai and Rudranagar was 50: 50.
The Superintendent of Police, Birbhum district, Satyasankar Panda had tried to divert attention from the actual incident and said that there was an old quarrel regarding the harvesting of paddy from the field. The attackers came to take revenge of that. He further said that recently there was theft of fishes from a pond of that village and this had prompted the incident. Because of this incident, immersion of the idol in a nearby river could not take place. Residents of Rajbansipara said that when the preparation of immersion was going on Muslims from Suryapara fully armed with lethal weapons attacked them. Among the attackers some known criminals were also there.
Those who witnessed the incident from a very close quarter had confirmed that the attack was a pre planned episode. Not only that the electric supply was stopped by them, they had fixed their target beforehand. According to that plan they had chased Bhabesh Bhuimali and some six-seven people applying their own tactics singled him out and killed him by beating. Although the attackers thought that Bhabesh had died, but he was still living. Anyhow Bhabesh could crawl to his house, but ultimately he had succumbed to his injuries in Rampurhat Sub Divisional hospital at about 12 in the night.
On the other hand, under the strong Police ‘bandobast’ Durga idol was immersed at midnight.
The police had lodged criminal cases against 14 persons but they could not arrest all those 14 criminals. Only three alleged criminals could be arrested and their names were Tonic Sheikh, Husmat Sheikh and Sherafat Sheikh. They were produced before the Rampurhat court and they were remanded to jail custody for 14 days by the court’s order. SDPO (Sub Divisional Police Officer) of Rampurhat Mrinal Majumdar said that search for other alleged criminals were on. He had promised that stern action would be taken against these anti-social elements.
In this connection grave concern has been expressed by responsible citizens of the state. Because Birbhum district is situated on the western bank of Ganga river which is far away from the Bangladesh border. Naturally, pressure of Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh should not be there. In fact, Birbhum is not a Muslim majority district. But there are few pockets e.g. Nalhati, Murarai, etc. where Muslims are dominating and they have made the lives of Hindus hell. These Muslims indulge in all sorts of activities to irritate Hindus. Eve-teasing has taken a dangerous shape in these areas. Cow slaughter on the open street is a regular feature. Police do not stop them in the name of secularism although this is an illegal act. Hindus living in these areas have become victims of theft, robberies and abduction of girls from their families. Hindus are not always sure that they will be in a position to bring home the yearly harvest of paddy, wheat or other products. Cultivation of fish in ponds has again become a risky proposition for these Muslims as they use to steal or at times forcefully loot them. Police and administration are simply slipping over these things for fear of political interference.
On the one hand continuous efforts to build up communal harmony by the majority community with all sincerity is going on and the on the other, minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, are indulging in increasing number of incriminating incidents by taking advantage of majority community’s magnanimous attitude towards them. If all political parties, perhaps without any exception, pursue such a policy then what will be the ultimate fate of this country.
It is surprising that the media, as a whole, had tried to hush up the whole incident as Muslims are involved in this attack. One or two newspapers published the news without disclosing the identity of those criminals. This type of self-defeating news catering has made the situation more complicated.
---------------
Yet again Durga Pratima (Idol of Devi Durga) of a community Puja pandal was attacked by the Muslims of Murarai in the district of Birbhum in West Bengal . Last year also they attacked Saraswati Idol of a community Puja pandal and desecrated it in the same place i.e. Murarai. Police and bosses of administration had, as usual, promised to take action against the culprits. That was nothing but a tactics to divert the attention of the people. Fact remains that nothing was done about it. And now a repetition of the same kind of attack on the sentiments of Hindus. This time they have killed one person and injured six persons who have been hospitalized in Rampurhat Sub Divisional hospital. Among the injured hospitalized, condition of one person is very serious. The venue of this incident was Paschimpara of Rudranagar under Murarai sub division of Birbhum district. Police had already arrested three persons on the allegation of murder, rioting , looting and arson.
The attack took place on 22nd October, at about 6 p.m. The Muslim attackers came with full preparation. They were armed with lethal weapons. As the distribution centre of electricity in that area was located in Muslim area, they conveniently switched off the power supply. Suddenly, the whole area immersed into deep darkness and Muslims started their action on the devotees and onlookers. The organizers of the Durga Puja committee were taken aback as they were not prepared. By the time they could put up any resistance a person named Bhabesh Bhuimali (54) was killed by the attackers. After some time police came to the spot and deployed police picket in the village so that no further escalation of the incident could take place.
Actually this incident was preceded with another incident which took place in the morning and where Muslim young men were involved in teasing the young Hindu girls. Every year, in the morning of Dussera, bullock race used to be organized. This was the specialty of Rudranagar village. Hindu young men did not tolerate the audacity of Muslim young men and they opposed the acts of Muslims. Muslims realized that Hindus were organized and their number was also large. So they fled away. Hindus thought that nothing would follow, because they had got a good lesson. But Muslims could not digest this defeat and they came back on the scene with full preparation. Hence this attack was there. The Hindu Muslim population ratio in Murarai and Rudranagar was 50: 50.
The Superintendent of Police, Birbhum district, Satyasankar Panda had tried to divert attention from the actual incident and said that there was an old quarrel regarding the harvesting of paddy from the field. The attackers came to take revenge of that. He further said that recently there was theft of fishes from a pond of that village and this had prompted the incident. Because of this incident, immersion of the idol in a nearby river could not take place. Residents of Rajbansipara said that when the preparation of immersion was going on Muslims from Suryapara fully armed with lethal weapons attacked them. Among the attackers some known criminals were also there.
Those who witnessed the incident from a very close quarter had confirmed that the attack was a pre planned episode. Not only that the electric supply was stopped by them, they had fixed their target beforehand. According to that plan they had chased Bhabesh Bhuimali and some six-seven people applying their own tactics singled him out and killed him by beating. Although the attackers thought that Bhabesh had died, but he was still living. Anyhow Bhabesh could crawl to his house, but ultimately he had succumbed to his injuries in Rampurhat Sub Divisional hospital at about 12 in the night.
On the other hand, under the strong Police ‘bandobast’ Durga idol was immersed at midnight.
The police had lodged criminal cases against 14 persons but they could not arrest all those 14 criminals. Only three alleged criminals could be arrested and their names were Tonic Sheikh, Husmat Sheikh and Sherafat Sheikh. They were produced before the Rampurhat court and they were remanded to jail custody for 14 days by the court’s order. SDPO (Sub Divisional Police Officer) of Rampurhat Mrinal Majumdar said that search for other alleged criminals were on. He had promised that stern action would be taken against these anti-social elements.
In this connection grave concern has been expressed by responsible citizens of the state. Because Birbhum district is situated on the western bank of Ganga river which is far away from the Bangladesh border. Naturally, pressure of Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh should not be there. In fact, Birbhum is not a Muslim majority district. But there are few pockets e.g. Nalhati, Murarai, etc. where Muslims are dominating and they have made the lives of Hindus hell. These Muslims indulge in all sorts of activities to irritate Hindus. Eve-teasing has taken a dangerous shape in these areas. Cow slaughter on the open street is a regular feature. Police do not stop them in the name of secularism although this is an illegal act. Hindus living in these areas have become victims of theft, robberies and abduction of girls from their families. Hindus are not always sure that they will be in a position to bring home the yearly harvest of paddy, wheat or other products. Cultivation of fish in ponds has again become a risky proposition for these Muslims as they use to steal or at times forcefully loot them. Police and administration are simply slipping over these things for fear of political interference.
On the one hand continuous efforts to build up communal harmony by the majority community with all sincerity is going on and the on the other, minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, are indulging in increasing number of incriminating incidents by taking advantage of majority community’s magnanimous attitude towards them. If all political parties, perhaps without any exception, pursue such a policy then what will be the ultimate fate of this country.
It is surprising that the media, as a whole, had tried to hush up the whole incident as Muslims are involved in this attack. One or two newspapers published the news without disclosing the identity of those criminals. This type of self-defeating news catering has made the situation more complicated.
---------------
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Islamist-Communist Alliance in South Asia: Hyperbole or Hazard?
Sanjay Upadhya | Bio <http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/author.aspx>
01 Nov 2007
Patterns of a resurgence in cooperation between Islamic extremists and
radical communists -- faint in some places, more pronounced in others -- are
emerging. While much of the current focus is on parts of Europe, South Asia
could emerge as the principal arena for a communist-jihadist alliance.
Depending on whom you talk to, an alliance between Islamic extremists and
radical communists is either more sinister war-on-terror hyperbole or a
clear and present danger. At the most basic level, the two groups are
divided by their outlook on the supreme being. For Islamist extremists,
killing in the name of and dying for God is an investment in the hereafter.
But the communist's variety of death and destruction is motivated by a
worldview rooted in materialism.
Yet the two philosophies clearly have much in common. Both profess a disdain
for the excesses of Western capitalism packaged as globalization. Like Marx
and Lenin of the last century, today's jihadists have a utopian vision of a
chaste internationalism. Their glorification of death is an act of piety.
Both groups also are strategic pragmatists. They have a history of joining
hands with unlikely allies to destroy the primary enemy of the day. Like
Joseph Stalin's alliance with America and Britain to defeat Hitler,
jihadists had worked with the United States to defeat the Soviets in
Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, media organizations in India's Jammu and Kashmir state
received a video recording in which al-Qaida purportedly declared war on the
country. New Delhi has long blamed the Pakistani military's Inter-Service
Intelligence (ISI) for fomenting violence in the Himalayan territory, which
Islamabad has claimed since both nations gained independence from Britain 60
years ago. But the timing of al-Qaida's threat worried many Indians. It came
amid a resurgence of a Maoist insurgency across vast swathes of the world's
most populous democracy.
Known locally as "Naxalites," after the district of Naxalbari in the
northern state of West Bengal where they mounted an uprising in 1967, Indian
Maoist rebels were virtually wiped out in a massive government crackdown in
the 1970s. Since last year, however, they have spread
across rural and
impoverished hinterlands in at least 11 of India's 28 states, prompting
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to equate Naxalism with terrorism as the two
big threats to the country's internal security.
Indian Maoist groups have strenuously denied ties to Islamist extremists.
Skeptics contend that Indian law-enforcement authorities may be whipping up
fears of a non-existent alliance to bolster their authority and influence.
In May, India's Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, acknowledged his government
had no hard evidence of a formal association. But, he said, the government
possesses enough circumstantial information to suggest coordination.
A report prepared by Indian security agencies two years ago suggested the
Maoists may be using other Indian separatist groups to get arms and
ammunition from the ISI -- a link that continues to be highlighted by the
Indian media with each rebel attack.
As India and Pakistan trade tirades, the issue has gone beyond the two
nuclear-armed rivals. Some Indian analysts claim that almost all recent
terrorist strikes on their country had links to neighboring Nepal, where
Maoists have such sway that the country's mainstream political parties
invited them to join the government
earlier this year.
Islamic militants involved in terrorist attacks in India, the South Asia
Terrorism Portal points out, either used Nepal as a transit point between
Pakistan and Bangladesh or masterminded operations from Nepalese towns.
Days after deadly bombs ripped through commuter trains in India's financial
hub of Mumbai in July last year, Nepalese police arrested two Pakistani
nationals in a Katmandu hotel for their alleged involvement. New Delhi
regularly accuses Pakistan of using Bangladesh and Nepal as bases for
anti-India subversion, a charge Islamabad, Dhaka and Katmandu deny equally
assiduously.
Bangladesh, which won independence from Pakistan in 1971, has seen a growing
Islamist presence in politics. Indian officials accuse that country's
intelligence services of promoting armed wings of these political parties to
perpetuate hostility toward their giant neighbor.
Although Nepal is a predominantly Hindu nation, its small Muslim population
is heavily concentrated along the 1,000-mile open and largely unregulated
border with India. Meanwhile, Nepal's decade-long Maoist insurgency claimed
13,000 lives before a tentative peace was reached last year. After signing a
peace treaty with the government, Maoist leader Prachanda conceded at a
conference in New Delhi that Pakistan had offered to arm and train his
group, which he said he had declined.
In the past, however, the Maoist leader's rhetoric has been similar to the
pronouncements of Islamist groups like al-Qaida. Two years ago, while still
fighting to overthrow Nepal's monarchy and multiparty democracy, Prachanda
called his struggle "a totally new 21st century war [against] the evil of
the imperialist world, the hypocrisy of so-called democracy that a
superpower like the U.S. represents." He enjoined like-minded groups from
around the world to join in his epic struggle.
That kind of summons has largely ebbed. But after joining the peace process,
some reports indicate the Nepalese Maoists continue to attend secret
meetings of South Asian allies, joining in pledges to turn the region into a
revolutionary zone. The former rebels may have laid down their guns, but
Nepal's mainstream political parties as well as principal donor governments
accuse them of continuing a campaign of abduction, extortion and
intimidation.
Some Indian security officials believe former Nepalese insurgents are
actively involved in Maoist attacks in their country. By making new demands
in Katmandu earlier this month that have delayed
previously
scheduled elections, the Maoists have bolstered suspicions of their real
motives.
In February, Indian police arrested an alleged Nepalese Maoist gunrunner
who, they said, offered clues of ties between the Maoists and Islamic
militants. Although the Nepalese Maoists denied having ties with the man,
Indian security agencies consider him a key link to a network of terror in
and around India.
One arrest, to be sure, may not amount to definitive proof. Yet the motive
and opportunity for cooperation between Islamist and communist radicals may
be too compelling to ignore.
Sanjay Upadhya is a Nepalese journalist who divides his time between the
United States and Nepal. A Fulbright Scholar at New York University from
1993-96, he has worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Times
of London, Inter Press Service and the Khaleej Times.
01 Nov 2007
Patterns of a resurgence in cooperation between Islamic extremists and
radical communists -- faint in some places, more pronounced in others -- are
emerging. While much of the current focus is on parts of Europe, South Asia
could emerge as the principal arena for a communist-jihadist alliance.
Depending on whom you talk to, an alliance between Islamic extremists and
radical communists is either more sinister war-on-terror hyperbole or a
clear and present danger. At the most basic level, the two groups are
divided by their outlook on the supreme being. For Islamist extremists,
killing in the name of and dying for God is an investment in the hereafter.
But the communist's variety of death and destruction is motivated by a
worldview rooted in materialism.
Yet the two philosophies clearly have much in common. Both profess a disdain
for the excesses of Western capitalism packaged as globalization. Like Marx
and Lenin of the last century, today's jihadists have a utopian vision of a
chaste internationalism. Their glorification of death is an act of piety.
Both groups also are strategic pragmatists. They have a history of joining
hands with unlikely allies to destroy the primary enemy of the day. Like
Joseph Stalin's alliance with America and Britain to defeat Hitler,
jihadists had worked with the United States to defeat the Soviets in
Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, media organizations in India's Jammu and Kashmir state
received a video recording in which al-Qaida purportedly declared war on the
country. New Delhi has long blamed the Pakistani military's Inter-Service
Intelligence (ISI) for fomenting violence in the Himalayan territory, which
Islamabad has claimed since both nations gained independence from Britain 60
years ago. But the timing of al-Qaida's threat worried many Indians. It came
amid a resurgence of a Maoist insurgency across vast swathes of the world's
most populous democracy.
Known locally as "Naxalites," after the district of Naxalbari in the
northern state of West Bengal where they mounted an uprising in 1967, Indian
Maoist rebels were virtually wiped out in a massive government crackdown in
the 1970s. Since last year, however, they have spread
impoverished hinterlands in at least 11 of India's 28 states, prompting
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to equate Naxalism with terrorism as the two
big threats to the country's internal security.
Indian Maoist groups have strenuously denied ties to Islamist extremists.
Skeptics contend that Indian law-enforcement authorities may be whipping up
fears of a non-existent alliance to bolster their authority and influence.
In May, India's Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, acknowledged his government
had no hard evidence of a formal association. But, he said, the government
possesses enough circumstantial information to suggest coordination.
A report prepared by Indian security agencies two years ago suggested the
Maoists may be using other Indian separatist groups to get arms and
ammunition from the ISI -- a link that continues to be highlighted by the
Indian media with each rebel attack.
As India and Pakistan trade tirades, the issue has gone beyond the two
nuclear-armed rivals. Some Indian analysts claim that almost all recent
terrorist strikes on their country had links to neighboring Nepal, where
Maoists have such sway that the country's mainstream political parties
invited them to join the government
Islamic militants involved in terrorist attacks in India, the South Asia
Terrorism Portal points out, either used Nepal as a transit point between
Pakistan and Bangladesh or masterminded operations from Nepalese towns.
Days after deadly bombs ripped through commuter trains in India's financial
hub of Mumbai in July last year, Nepalese police arrested two Pakistani
nationals in a Katmandu hotel for their alleged involvement. New Delhi
regularly accuses Pakistan of using Bangladesh and Nepal as bases for
anti-India subversion, a charge Islamabad, Dhaka and Katmandu deny equally
assiduously.
Bangladesh, which won independence from Pakistan in 1971, has seen a growing
Islamist presence in politics. Indian officials accuse that country's
intelligence services of promoting armed wings of these political parties to
perpetuate hostility toward their giant neighbor.
Although Nepal is a predominantly Hindu nation, its small Muslim population
is heavily concentrated along the 1,000-mile open and largely unregulated
border with India. Meanwhile, Nepal's decade-long Maoist insurgency claimed
13,000 lives before a tentative peace was reached last year. After signing a
peace treaty with the government, Maoist leader Prachanda conceded at a
conference in New Delhi that Pakistan had offered to arm and train his
group, which he said he had declined.
In the past, however, the Maoist leader's rhetoric has been similar to the
pronouncements of Islamist groups like al-Qaida. Two years ago, while still
fighting to overthrow Nepal's monarchy and multiparty democracy, Prachanda
called his struggle "a totally new 21st century war [against] the evil of
the imperialist world, the hypocrisy of so-called democracy that a
superpower like the U.S. represents." He enjoined like-minded groups from
around the world to join in his epic struggle.
That kind of summons has largely ebbed. But after joining the peace process,
some reports indicate the Nepalese Maoists continue to attend secret
meetings of South Asian allies, joining in pledges to turn the region into a
revolutionary zone. The former rebels may have laid down their guns, but
Nepal's mainstream political parties as well as principal donor governments
accuse them of continuing a campaign of abduction, extortion and
intimidation.
Some Indian security officials believe former Nepalese insurgents are
actively involved in Maoist attacks in their country. By making new demands
in Katmandu earlier this month that have delayed
scheduled elections, the Maoists have bolstered suspicions of their real
motives.
In February, Indian police arrested an alleged Nepalese Maoist gunrunner
who, they said, offered clues of ties between the Maoists and Islamic
militants. Although the Nepalese Maoists denied having ties with the man,
Indian security agencies consider him a key link to a network of terror in
and around India.
One arrest, to be sure, may not amount to definitive proof. Yet the motive
and opportunity for cooperation between Islamist and communist radicals may
be too compelling to ignore.
Sanjay Upadhya is a Nepalese journalist who divides his time between the
United States and Nepal. A Fulbright Scholar at New York University from
1993-96, he has worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Times
of London, Inter Press Service and the Khaleej Times.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Gang raped by Islamic Zealots in West Bengal, India
Gang raped by Islamic Zealots
in West Bengal
Date: 16 Jul 2007
Location: Sarisha Shukdebpur
Police Station: Diamond Harbour
District: South 24 Parganas
State: West Bengal
Source: Anandabazar Patrika [17 Jul 2007]
Source: Bartaman [17 Jul 2007]
Source: Times of India [17 Jul 2007]
Two Muslim rowdies with alleged CPI (M) links raped a Nepeli Hindu woman
and her two daughters in Diamond Harbour ( a place hardly 30 km from
Kolkata) on Sunday (July 15, 2007). The Nepali man works as a security
guard at a soft drink company at Budge Budge and he was away on duty that
night. His wife and two unmarried daughters were in the house.
On the night of 15th July, Sunday, half an hour past midnight two Muslim
goons namely Shahjahan Sheikh and Matiyar Rahaman Mollah knocked on the door
of the house. When the Nepali man's wife refused to open the door, the
Muslim criminals forced open the door and pounched on the eldest daughter,
aged 25. Shajahan forcefully lifted her and took her to a deserted house
and raped her there. While her mother started fighting to save her dughter,
Motiar kicked her in the stomach and beat her up severely with slaps and
blows. When she fell on the ground, Motiar raped the helpless mother.
When she finally staggered home with daughter, she was shocked
to find her second daughter missing. They soon found out that she, too, had
been raped. Then they raised alarm and the neighbours took them to the
Sarisha Haat hospital. According to the local residents, Shajahan and Motiar
followed them to the hospital, along with some local CPI (M) leaders and
tried to influence the doctors and the medical staff to submit a false
medical report.
The two leaders accompanied them to the hospital were (1)
Nityananda Mandal and (2) Murselin Seikh. The former was the secretary of
the Diamond Harbour-II Panchayat Samiti and the latter was the elder brother
of culprit Shajahan Seikh. These leaders tried to save the culprits. It is
the practice all over West Bengal. It is an open secret that ruling CPI(M)
party provides protection to the Muslim criminals for the sake of Muslim
vote-bank. In this case the local police arrested the culprits only when
local residents put pressure on them to do so. Sri Pravin Kumar, the Diamond
Harbour SP, said, " We have arrested the two criminals based on the
allegation of the mother".
It is really a matter of serious concern that this type offence
against the Hindus has become a regular feature in West Bengal, where
Muslims are a majority. Throughout the entire stretch of West Bengal, lying
adjacent to the Bangladeshi border, the jihadi activities has reached a
dangerous level and it has become nearly impossible for the Hindus to live
there with the security of life, honour and property. In fact, the Hindus
are now being forced to flee from those areas and settle in safer places. In
the districts of North and South 24 Parganas, there are some pockets, though
distant from the Bangladeshi border, where Muslims are a majority. And in
such areas jihadi activities against the Hindus have also gone up and police
remains a silent spectator when incidents of atrocities occur.
The place, under the sub-division of Diamond Harbour, where the incident
took place, also lies in a similar Muslim majority belt. In this Muslim
majority pocket, murdering Hindus, raping Hindu women and looting Hindus'
wealth has become a daily affair. The oppressed Hindus get no respite either
from the police or from the administrative authorities and local political
leaders. In most of the cases, police arrests tormented Hindus and take no
step against the Muslim offenders.
in West Bengal
Date: 16 Jul 2007
Location: Sarisha Shukdebpur
Police Station: Diamond Harbour
District: South 24 Parganas
State: West Bengal
Source: Anandabazar Patrika [17 Jul 2007]
Source: Bartaman [17 Jul 2007]
Source: Times of India [17 Jul 2007]
Two Muslim rowdies with alleged CPI (M) links raped a Nepeli Hindu woman
and her two daughters in Diamond Harbour ( a place hardly 30 km from
Kolkata) on Sunday (July 15, 2007). The Nepali man works as a security
guard at a soft drink company at Budge Budge and he was away on duty that
night. His wife and two unmarried daughters were in the house.
On the night of 15th July, Sunday, half an hour past midnight two Muslim
goons namely Shahjahan Sheikh and Matiyar Rahaman Mollah knocked on the door
of the house. When the Nepali man's wife refused to open the door, the
Muslim criminals forced open the door and pounched on the eldest daughter,
aged 25. Shajahan forcefully lifted her and took her to a deserted house
and raped her there. While her mother started fighting to save her dughter,
Motiar kicked her in the stomach and beat her up severely with slaps and
blows. When she fell on the ground, Motiar raped the helpless mother.
When she finally staggered home with daughter, she was shocked
to find her second daughter missing. They soon found out that she, too, had
been raped. Then they raised alarm and the neighbours took them to the
Sarisha Haat hospital. According to the local residents, Shajahan and Motiar
followed them to the hospital, along with some local CPI (M) leaders and
tried to influence the doctors and the medical staff to submit a false
medical report.
The two leaders accompanied them to the hospital were (1)
Nityananda Mandal and (2) Murselin Seikh. The former was the secretary of
the Diamond Harbour-II Panchayat Samiti and the latter was the elder brother
of culprit Shajahan Seikh. These leaders tried to save the culprits. It is
the practice all over West Bengal. It is an open secret that ruling CPI(M)
party provides protection to the Muslim criminals for the sake of Muslim
vote-bank. In this case the local police arrested the culprits only when
local residents put pressure on them to do so. Sri Pravin Kumar, the Diamond
Harbour SP, said, " We have arrested the two criminals based on the
allegation of the mother".
It is really a matter of serious concern that this type offence
against the Hindus has become a regular feature in West Bengal, where
Muslims are a majority. Throughout the entire stretch of West Bengal, lying
adjacent to the Bangladeshi border, the jihadi activities has reached a
dangerous level and it has become nearly impossible for the Hindus to live
there with the security of life, honour and property. In fact, the Hindus
are now being forced to flee from those areas and settle in safer places. In
the districts of North and South 24 Parganas, there are some pockets, though
distant from the Bangladeshi border, where Muslims are a majority. And in
such areas jihadi activities against the Hindus have also gone up and police
remains a silent spectator when incidents of atrocities occur.
The place, under the sub-division of Diamond Harbour, where the incident
took place, also lies in a similar Muslim majority belt. In this Muslim
majority pocket, murdering Hindus, raping Hindu women and looting Hindus'
wealth has become a daily affair. The oppressed Hindus get no respite either
from the police or from the administrative authorities and local political
leaders. In most of the cases, police arrests tormented Hindus and take no
step against the Muslim offenders.
Student (girl) Raped by Muslim teacher in West Bengal
Date: 10-30 AM, date not mentioned
Village: Bamunpukur
Panchayat:
Police Station: Nabadwip
Block:
Sub-division:
District: Nadia
State: West Bengal
Source: The Telegraph [6th August, 2007, Monday]
THE TELEGRAPH REPORT
A meeting of village elders led by the CPM panchayat chief let off with a
fine a young man who raped his 10-year-old student. The culprit - first-year
BA student Mizanur Biswas - was told to pay Rs 2,000 at Bamunpukur village
in Nadia's Nabadwip last Tuesday. The 19-year-old would have got away by
paying the fine had it not been for the victim's parents, who thought it was
a shame to compromise and refused to accept the money. The girl's father,
Bidyut Das, a carpenter, lodged an FIR against Mizanur yesterday. The
Nabadwip College student is absconding. His father is an affluent man,
owning two shops - a stationery shop and a grocery - in Mayapur.
Police said Mizanur called Rani (name changed), a Class IV student, to his
house for tuition around 10.30am, when his parents were away shopping. The
girl returned home bleeding and crying about an hour later. "She was visibly
in pain. But she could not express herself properly when we repeatedly asked
her what had happened," said Bidyut. Rani was taken to the Nabadwip State
General Hospital. "The medical report has confirmed rape. We have started a
rape case against Mizanur and are looking for him," said Pradyut Banerjee,
the inspector in charge of Nabadwip police station.
Mizanur's father Rafique, who is known for his close contacts with local CPM
leaders, had sought the Bamunpukur village panchayat's help. The village boy
called the shalishi - a conciliatory meeting. Such meetings to discuss
criminal complaints are illegal. So, the chief, Ayan Nabi Sheikh, convened
an unofficial meeting with some other villagers. It was evident from the
outcome of the meeting that their objective was to bail out Mizanur. "The
boy (Mizanur) told us that he caned the girl for not learning her lessons
properly and beat her up with a cane," said Ayan, also a CPM local committee
member. "We decided to fine the boy Rs 2,000 for the girl's medical
expenses. But I don't know what happened later," he added.
Inspector Banerjee confirmed that bruises on the girl's body indicated that
she had been caned. "But she bled from her private parts and the doctor who
examined her confirmed rape," he added. Bidyut and his wife Swapna put their
foot down after hearing the shalishi's verdict. "We may be poor, but how can
money compensate what happened to our daughter?" asked Swapna.
Village: Bamunpukur
Panchayat:
Police Station: Nabadwip
Block:
Sub-division:
District: Nadia
State: West Bengal
Source: The Telegraph [6th August, 2007, Monday]
THE TELEGRAPH REPORT
A meeting of village elders led by the CPM panchayat chief let off with a
fine a young man who raped his 10-year-old student. The culprit - first-year
BA student Mizanur Biswas - was told to pay Rs 2,000 at Bamunpukur village
in Nadia's Nabadwip last Tuesday. The 19-year-old would have got away by
paying the fine had it not been for the victim's parents, who thought it was
a shame to compromise and refused to accept the money. The girl's father,
Bidyut Das, a carpenter, lodged an FIR against Mizanur yesterday. The
Nabadwip College student is absconding. His father is an affluent man,
owning two shops - a stationery shop and a grocery - in Mayapur.
Police said Mizanur called Rani (name changed), a Class IV student, to his
house for tuition around 10.30am, when his parents were away shopping. The
girl returned home bleeding and crying about an hour later. "She was visibly
in pain. But she could not express herself properly when we repeatedly asked
her what had happened," said Bidyut. Rani was taken to the Nabadwip State
General Hospital. "The medical report has confirmed rape. We have started a
rape case against Mizanur and are looking for him," said Pradyut Banerjee,
the inspector in charge of Nabadwip police station.
Mizanur's father Rafique, who is known for his close contacts with local CPM
leaders, had sought the Bamunpukur village panchayat's help. The village boy
called the shalishi - a conciliatory meeting. Such meetings to discuss
criminal complaints are illegal. So, the chief, Ayan Nabi Sheikh, convened
an unofficial meeting with some other villagers. It was evident from the
outcome of the meeting that their objective was to bail out Mizanur. "The
boy (Mizanur) told us that he caned the girl for not learning her lessons
properly and beat her up with a cane," said Ayan, also a CPM local committee
member. "We decided to fine the boy Rs 2,000 for the girl's medical
expenses. But I don't know what happened later," he added.
Inspector Banerjee confirmed that bruises on the girl's body indicated that
she had been caned. "But she bled from her private parts and the doctor who
examined her confirmed rape," he added. Bidyut and his wife Swapna put their
foot down after hearing the shalishi's verdict. "We may be poor, but how can
money compensate what happened to our daughter?" asked Swapna.
Muslim Headmaster charged with molesting Hindu girl students
Muslim Headmaster charged with molesting Hindu girl students
http://www.thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=23&theme=&usrsess=1&id...
Headmaster charged with molesting students
Statesman News Service
DURGAPUR, Aug 9: A headmaster at a primary school in a Katwa village in
Burdwan was arrested today on charges of molesting several school girls a
day after a headmaster in an adjoining district was arrested on charges of
sexual abuse.
Mr Motiar Rehman, headmaster at Bonkapashi village primary school in
Mongalkote police station area in Katwa was dragged to his office as he
arrived at the school today and locked in for six hours by class III and IV
girls and their guardians.
Mr Amit Chatterjee, the OC of Mongalkote, was assaulted by the villagers and
refused entry to the school when he tried to rescue the accused teacher. The
situation was only brought under control when an additional contingent from
Katwa police station reached the school with senior school council officials
and arrested the headmaster late this afternoon.
A group of girls allege that each day Mr Rehman would call a class-IV girl
to a vacant room and molest them.
The first allegation was made by Barnali Ghosh, a class IV student who had
initially complained to her mother of serious chest pain last night but
later claimed she had been molested by the headmaster.
Not long afterwards the guardians of several other girls in classes IV and
III - Payel Mondal, Chanda Patra, Shanti Mondal - brought similar charges
against Mr Rehman.
Mr Gopal Pal, a school inspector from Burdwan brought to the school by the
school council members, said: "We have received complaints against the
teacher and the charges brought against him are grave. We shall hold an
independent inquiry and take whatever steps are necessary to bring back the
confidence of the guardians."
Barnali's mother, Mrs Manabi Ghosh, claimed around 12 young girls had been
molested by Mr Rehman.
http://www.thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=23&theme=&usrsess=1&id...
Headmaster charged with molesting students
Statesman News Service
DURGAPUR, Aug 9: A headmaster at a primary school in a Katwa village in
Burdwan was arrested today on charges of molesting several school girls a
day after a headmaster in an adjoining district was arrested on charges of
sexual abuse.
Mr Motiar Rehman, headmaster at Bonkapashi village primary school in
Mongalkote police station area in Katwa was dragged to his office as he
arrived at the school today and locked in for six hours by class III and IV
girls and their guardians.
Mr Amit Chatterjee, the OC of Mongalkote, was assaulted by the villagers and
refused entry to the school when he tried to rescue the accused teacher. The
situation was only brought under control when an additional contingent from
Katwa police station reached the school with senior school council officials
and arrested the headmaster late this afternoon.
A group of girls allege that each day Mr Rehman would call a class-IV girl
to a vacant room and molest them.
The first allegation was made by Barnali Ghosh, a class IV student who had
initially complained to her mother of serious chest pain last night but
later claimed she had been molested by the headmaster.
Not long afterwards the guardians of several other girls in classes IV and
III - Payel Mondal, Chanda Patra, Shanti Mondal - brought similar charges
against Mr Rehman.
Mr Gopal Pal, a school inspector from Burdwan brought to the school by the
school council members, said: "We have received complaints against the
teacher and the charges brought against him are grave. We shall hold an
independent inquiry and take whatever steps are necessary to bring back the
confidence of the guardians."
Barnali's mother, Mrs Manabi Ghosh, claimed around 12 young girls had been
molested by Mr Rehman.
Tripura's Education Minister Condemned by Islamists
Tripura's Education Minister Condemned by Islamists
Friday, August 10, 2007
Mistake turns costly for minister
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Agartala, Aug. 9: An inadvertent mistake by Tripura school education minister Keshab Mazumder yesterday drew howls of protests from the Tripura Arabic Forum and the state unit of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind which questioned his knowledge of Islamic history and scripture. The organisations also asked him not to intervene in religious affairs of the minorities.
Yesterday, Mazumder inaugurated the double-storeyed buildings of Rangamatia and Kulubari higher secondary schools.
He also announced the elevation of Rabindranagar high school to the status of a higher secondary school in minority-dominated Sonamura subdivision of West Tripura. At Kulubari, while mentioning the Left Front’s programmes for the state’s minorities in front of a large gathering, the minister questioned the need of sticking to “outmoded practices like wearing veils”.
“Muslim women must come out of their veils and shun the habit of confining themselves to home if they want to progress. You must also realise that by studying in madarsas, you are depriving yourself of the benefits of modern scientific education,” Mazumder said, adding that “all forms of religious superstitions must be rejected to achieve development”.
Two residents of the area defended the practice of Muslim women wearing veils. “It is a religious right protected by the Constitution,” they said.
Abdul Qasim, a CPM supporter and two senior members of the forum, have sought a clarification. Reacting to Mazumder’s statements, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Mufti Taibur Rahaman, said: “It only shows his ignorance of Islamic history. His statement betrays his lack of understanding of issues like development and progress.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070810/asp/northeast/story_8174478.asp
Friday, August 10, 2007
Mistake turns costly for minister
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Agartala, Aug. 9: An inadvertent mistake by Tripura school education minister Keshab Mazumder yesterday drew howls of protests from the Tripura Arabic Forum and the state unit of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind which questioned his knowledge of Islamic history and scripture. The organisations also asked him not to intervene in religious affairs of the minorities.
Yesterday, Mazumder inaugurated the double-storeyed buildings of Rangamatia and Kulubari higher secondary schools.
He also announced the elevation of Rabindranagar high school to the status of a higher secondary school in minority-dominated Sonamura subdivision of West Tripura. At Kulubari, while mentioning the Left Front’s programmes for the state’s minorities in front of a large gathering, the minister questioned the need of sticking to “outmoded practices like wearing veils”.
“Muslim women must come out of their veils and shun the habit of confining themselves to home if they want to progress. You must also realise that by studying in madarsas, you are depriving yourself of the benefits of modern scientific education,” Mazumder said, adding that “all forms of religious superstitions must be rejected to achieve development”.
Two residents of the area defended the practice of Muslim women wearing veils. “It is a religious right protected by the Constitution,” they said.
Abdul Qasim, a CPM supporter and two senior members of the forum, have sought a clarification. Reacting to Mazumder’s statements, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Mufti Taibur Rahaman, said: “It only shows his ignorance of Islamic history. His statement betrays his lack of understanding of issues like development and progress.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070810/asp/northeast/story_8174478.asp
Muslim group in India threatens to behead Bangladeshi author
Muslim group in India threatens to behead Bangladeshi author
Posted on : 2007-08-10 Author : DPA
News Category : India
New Delhi - An Islamic group, whose legislators attacked Bangladeshi author
Taslima Nasreen in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, has threatened to
behead her if she returns to the city, news reports said. Nasreen, who fled
from Bangladesh in 1994 after hardline Muslim clergymen said her writings
were blasphemous and demanded her execution, has been living in exile in
India for the past few years after spending several years in Europe.
The 45-year-old author was attacked by a group of youths led by three
legislators of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party while she was
speaking at the Hyderabad Press Club to mark the release of her latest novel
on Thursday.
The group hurled bags, flower pots and books at the novelist, who escaped
shocked but unhurt.
"Muslims are proud of what our legislators and workers have done because we
can never tolerate any insult to Prophet Mohammed," MIM leader Akbaruddin
Owaisi was quoted as saying by IANS news agency.
"If she comes to the city again, we will kill her," Owaisi, one of the
legislators who led the attack, told reporters.
Other Muslim leaders and intellectuals, however, condemned the attack on
Nasreen terming it "shameful" and "barbaric."
"The incident was outrageous and shameful. In a civilised society, you have
a right to approve or disapprove of anything," lyricist and author Javed
Akhtar was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
"Fundamentalists - Hindu and Muslim - are getting bolder and bolder as they
can get away with almost anything. That is the problem," Akhtar said.
Delhi Minorities Commission Chairperson Kamal Farooqui said the incident
should be condemned, specially as three lawmakers were involved.
But the Indian government should also ensure that Nasreen is not allowed to
do or write anything which hurts the sentiments of Muslims, he said.
This is not the first time Nasreen has been threatened in India. In March
2007, the All India Ibtehad Council, a Muslim group based in northern Uttar
Pradesh state, offered a 500,000-rupee-bounty (11,319 dollars) for beheading
her.
The Bangladesh author lives in Kolkata, capital of eastern West Bengal
state. The West Bengal government is considering upgrading Nasreen's
security after the latest incident, PTI reported. The Indian government
recently extended her permission to stay in India by six months.
"I think she is safe in this city. However, I hope she refrains from making
explosive comments," Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee said.
Nasreen writes in the Bengali language, which is spoken in Bangladesh and in
India's West Bengal.
Nasreen, whose requests for citizenship have been repeatedly turned down by
India, said she was shocked by Thursday's incident.
"For half-an-hour death stared at me up close as I locked myself in a room
and those men tried to break in and kill me," she was quoted as saying by
IANS news agency. "I was attacked earlier too, but it was never like
yesterday."
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/92196.html#
Posted on : 2007-08-10 Author : DPA
News Category : India
New Delhi - An Islamic group, whose legislators attacked Bangladeshi author
Taslima Nasreen in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, has threatened to
behead her if she returns to the city, news reports said. Nasreen, who fled
from Bangladesh in 1994 after hardline Muslim clergymen said her writings
were blasphemous and demanded her execution, has been living in exile in
India for the past few years after spending several years in Europe.
The 45-year-old author was attacked by a group of youths led by three
legislators of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party while she was
speaking at the Hyderabad Press Club to mark the release of her latest novel
on Thursday.
The group hurled bags, flower pots and books at the novelist, who escaped
shocked but unhurt.
"Muslims are proud of what our legislators and workers have done because we
can never tolerate any insult to Prophet Mohammed," MIM leader Akbaruddin
Owaisi was quoted as saying by IANS news agency.
"If she comes to the city again, we will kill her," Owaisi, one of the
legislators who led the attack, told reporters.
Other Muslim leaders and intellectuals, however, condemned the attack on
Nasreen terming it "shameful" and "barbaric."
"The incident was outrageous and shameful. In a civilised society, you have
a right to approve or disapprove of anything," lyricist and author Javed
Akhtar was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
"Fundamentalists - Hindu and Muslim - are getting bolder and bolder as they
can get away with almost anything. That is the problem," Akhtar said.
Delhi Minorities Commission Chairperson Kamal Farooqui said the incident
should be condemned, specially as three lawmakers were involved.
But the Indian government should also ensure that Nasreen is not allowed to
do or write anything which hurts the sentiments of Muslims, he said.
This is not the first time Nasreen has been threatened in India. In March
2007, the All India Ibtehad Council, a Muslim group based in northern Uttar
Pradesh state, offered a 500,000-rupee-bounty (11,319 dollars) for beheading
her.
The Bangladesh author lives in Kolkata, capital of eastern West Bengal
state. The West Bengal government is considering upgrading Nasreen's
security after the latest incident, PTI reported. The Indian government
recently extended her permission to stay in India by six months.
"I think she is safe in this city. However, I hope she refrains from making
explosive comments," Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee said.
Nasreen writes in the Bengali language, which is spoken in Bangladesh and in
India's West Bengal.
Nasreen, whose requests for citizenship have been repeatedly turned down by
India, said she was shocked by Thursday's incident.
"For half-an-hour death stared at me up close as I locked myself in a room
and those men tried to break in and kill me," she was quoted as saying by
IANS news agency. "I was attacked earlier too, but it was never like
yesterday."
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/92196.html#
Muslim beats Hindu couple for Rs. 20
Muslim beats Hindu couple for Rs. 20
Date: 8th Aug 2007, Wednesday
Village/Locality: Krishna Colony, North Taldi
Panchayat/Municipality:
Police Station: Canning
Block:
Sub-division: Canning
District: 24 Pargana(S)
Source: Anandabazar Patrika [9th Aug 2007, Thursday] Online Edition
Description:
About a month back, one Shri Biltu Mondal, a rang mistri by profession, a resident of Krishna Colony, Taldi had borrowed Rs 20 from his neighbour Meena Mollah. On Wednesay afternoon, when Biltu was away from his home, Meena went to Biltu's house. He was drunk and Biltu's wife Shrimati Ratna Mondal was alone at home. She was pregnant. Meena demanded the money back from Ratna Devi. Ratna Devi had no knowledge of any such borrowing. So she asked Meena to wait until her husband returned. Meena started an altercation on this. After a short while, when Biltu returned, Meena attacked him with a lathi and beat him black and blue. Meena Mollah's two brothers Atiyar Mollah and Mannan Mollah too joined him. When Ratna Devi tried to save her husband they didn't spare her even. She was badly beaten. Biltu is fighing for his life in the Canning Sub-divisional hospital.
Meanwhile the neighbours caught hold of Meena and started to beat him while his brothers escaped. The police came to the rescue of Meena and took him to custody.
Date: 8th Aug 2007, Wednesday
Village/Locality: Krishna Colony, North Taldi
Panchayat/Municipality:
Police Station: Canning
Block:
Sub-division: Canning
District: 24 Pargana(S)
Source: Anandabazar Patrika [9th Aug 2007, Thursday] Online Edition
Description:
About a month back, one Shri Biltu Mondal, a rang mistri by profession, a resident of Krishna Colony, Taldi had borrowed Rs 20 from his neighbour Meena Mollah. On Wednesay afternoon, when Biltu was away from his home, Meena went to Biltu's house. He was drunk and Biltu's wife Shrimati Ratna Mondal was alone at home. She was pregnant. Meena demanded the money back from Ratna Devi. Ratna Devi had no knowledge of any such borrowing. So she asked Meena to wait until her husband returned. Meena started an altercation on this. After a short while, when Biltu returned, Meena attacked him with a lathi and beat him black and blue. Meena Mollah's two brothers Atiyar Mollah and Mannan Mollah too joined him. When Ratna Devi tried to save her husband they didn't spare her even. She was badly beaten. Biltu is fighing for his life in the Canning Sub-divisional hospital.
Meanwhile the neighbours caught hold of Meena and started to beat him while his brothers escaped. The police came to the rescue of Meena and took him to custody.
Bangla Hindus' plight depicted
Bangla Hindus' plight depicted
Press Trust of India
Houston, Aug. 8: An exhibition of photographs and panels depicting alleged
atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh caught the attention of prominent US
Congressmen recently.
The two-day exhibition titled Asru (tears) was held at the Rayburn House
Office Building at the US Capitol on from 30 to 31 July.
The 28 panels were put together by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh
Minorities (HRCBM) and Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (Fact), which
allege the condition of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh
was deteriorating over the past several decades.
"It is time that the world knew what is happening with the Hindu minorities
in Bangladesh," said Amalendu Chatterjee, the Director of HRCBM. The
population of the Hindus in Bangladesh, he said, has dropped from as high as
37 per cent in 1940s to a mere 11 per cent now.
"It is all because of the atrocities perpetrated on the Hindus by the ruling
class all these years," he alleged.
http://www.thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=8
Press Trust of India
Houston, Aug. 8: An exhibition of photographs and panels depicting alleged
atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh caught the attention of prominent US
Congressmen recently.
The two-day exhibition titled Asru (tears) was held at the Rayburn House
Office Building at the US Capitol on from 30 to 31 July.
The 28 panels were put together by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh
Minorities (HRCBM) and Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (Fact), which
allege the condition of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh
was deteriorating over the past several decades.
"It is time that the world knew what is happening with the Hindu minorities
in Bangladesh," said Amalendu Chatterjee, the Director of HRCBM. The
population of the Hindus in Bangladesh, he said, has dropped from as high as
37 per cent in 1940s to a mere 11 per cent now.
"It is all because of the atrocities perpetrated on the Hindus by the ruling
class all these years," he alleged.
http://www.thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=8
Video on Nandigram
Video on Nandigram
This video reveals the March 14 massacre at Nandigram perpetrated by West
Bengal's Communist Party of India (Marxist). On the orders of the Left Front
government, more than 4,000 heavily armed police stormed the Nandigram area
with the aim of stamping out protests against the West Bengal government's
plans to expropriate 10,000 acres of land for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
to be developed by the Indonesian-based Salim Group. The police shot dead at
least 14 villagers and wounded 70 more. In early January the peasants of
Nandigram rose up in revolt after learning of government plans to seize
10,000 acres of land in the area for a Special Economic Zone to be operated
by the Indonesian-based Salim Group. On the night of January 6-7, more than
200 Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] thugs invaded Nandigram, with
the tacit support of the police, so as to terrorize the populace and stamp
out the opposition movement. Six people died in the ensuing confrontation,
but the villagers ultimately chased off the CPM goons. Nandigram massacre
truely reveals the nature of communist rule in West Bengal, India.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9038296401916557044
This video reveals the March 14 massacre at Nandigram perpetrated by West
Bengal's Communist Party of India (Marxist). On the orders of the Left Front
government, more than 4,000 heavily armed police stormed the Nandigram area
with the aim of stamping out protests against the West Bengal government's
plans to expropriate 10,000 acres of land for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
to be developed by the Indonesian-based Salim Group. The police shot dead at
least 14 villagers and wounded 70 more. In early January the peasants of
Nandigram rose up in revolt after learning of government plans to seize
10,000 acres of land in the area for a Special Economic Zone to be operated
by the Indonesian-based Salim Group. On the night of January 6-7, more than
200 Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] thugs invaded Nandigram, with
the tacit support of the police, so as to terrorize the populace and stamp
out the opposition movement. Six people died in the ensuing confrontation,
but the villagers ultimately chased off the CPM goons. Nandigram massacre
truely reveals the nature of communist rule in West Bengal, India.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9038296401916557044
ULFA and the Changing Demographic Face of Assam
Arjun Nair
Research Intern, IPCS
The situation in Assam has once again caught the attention of the public eye
with a series of attacks and abductions, beginning in January 2007 and
intensifying in May, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred innocent
civilians and leaving hundreds more injured. Although the killing of
civilians is not a new phenomenon on Assam, it is the renewed targeting of
the Hindi speaking population that is causing worry not just to the state
government and the centre, but also to the indigenous Assamese population,
whose interests the ULFA claims to protect. Needless to say, the ULFA's
renewed focus on the migrant population is causing them to leave in droves
back to their places of origin, mostly in Bihar and Jharkhand. According the
North-East Hindi-speakers Forum, at least 100,000 Hindi-speaking migrants
have fled the state so far since the attacks in January, with the rate of
exodus quickening after the attacks in May. Why the renewed focus on migrant
workers? Why, more importantly is it worrying the native Assamese people?
And what effect do these attacks pose to the demography of the state?
The expulsion of migrants is, and always has been an issue high on ULFA's
agenda. In the December 2006 issue of the organization's mouthpiece,
Freedom, migrant workers were described as a threat to the existence of an
independent Assam and a cause of considerable damage to the social fabric of
the state. However, many believe that the renewed attacks are an attempt by
ULFA to boost its sagging approval rate, which was last polled at less than
four per cent in a public opinion poll conducted by an NGO, the Assam Public
Works, late last year. The strategy, going by the dismal approval ratings
doesn't seem to be working for the ULFA. By attacking crowded commercial
areas - allegedly to corner prized real estate - they are directly affecting
business opportunities in the state and forcing the state to call for more
security forces, whose presence is not welcome by the Assamese people.
However it is the rapidly increasing population of illegal immigrant workers
from Bangladesh that has caused tensions in the past and further threaten
ULFA's support base.
The void left behind by the fleeing Hindi-speaking population has been
quickly filled by the Bangladeshi population in the state that is
unofficially estimated to be 10 million-strong. In the article from Freedom
quoted above, the ULFA makes its priorities clear regarding illegal
immigrants. It clearly states that illegal workers from Bangladesh and Nepal
must be driven out, "but before that the illegal migrants from India must be
expelled. The main illegal foreigners in the State are the Indian rulers and
the principal illegal occupational forces are the Indian Army who also must
be driven out from the State." This is an almost complete turnaround from
ULFA's originally outright opposition to the presence of illegal migrants
from Bangladesh and is explained by senior ULFA leaders including its
commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah being granted asylum by Dhaka and their
generous donations to the major political parties such as the Awami League
and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The direct fallout from the attacks on Hindi-speaking migrant workers and
their leaving the state, has been the increase in fear of Islamization of
the state which began with the immigration of Bangladeshis. The 2001 Census
figures in Assam showed the increase of Muslim population from 24.56 percent
in 1971 to 30.91 percent in 2001 which gives some indication of the
importance of minority politics to the ruling parties which have done little
to prevent this vast influx of illegal migrants. This could lead to the rise
of terrorism associated with Islamic organizations operating out of
Bangladesh and could lead to a situation similar to Kashmir for the Indian
government, according to some theorists. Furthermore, Assamese believe they
are slowly losing their political franchise and are fearful of an eventual
merger with Bangladesh, which ULFA would be instrumental in bringing about,
if it continues its current policy of attacking migrant populations.
On 16 January 2007, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured full security
to Hindi-speaking migrants and gave a tough message to militant outfits that
there would be no compromise if they resorted to violence. However, while
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had requested for an additional 4,000
paramilitary troops following the January attacks, the Centre's priorities
lay in allotting a similar number of troops to oversee the elections in
Uttar Pradesh in June. In order to prevent the rise of another base for
terrorist activities in the already troubled northeast, it is time the
central government mended its lax policy concerning Bangladeshi immigrants
and took firm steps to protect the Hindi-speaking migrant population whose
role in Assam's stability has been ignored.
http://www.ipcs.org/North_east_articles2.jsp?action=showView&kValue=2...
ntry=1016&status=article&mod=a&portal=pakistan
Research Intern, IPCS
The situation in Assam has once again caught the attention of the public eye
with a series of attacks and abductions, beginning in January 2007 and
intensifying in May, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred innocent
civilians and leaving hundreds more injured. Although the killing of
civilians is not a new phenomenon on Assam, it is the renewed targeting of
the Hindi speaking population that is causing worry not just to the state
government and the centre, but also to the indigenous Assamese population,
whose interests the ULFA claims to protect. Needless to say, the ULFA's
renewed focus on the migrant population is causing them to leave in droves
back to their places of origin, mostly in Bihar and Jharkhand. According the
North-East Hindi-speakers Forum, at least 100,000 Hindi-speaking migrants
have fled the state so far since the attacks in January, with the rate of
exodus quickening after the attacks in May. Why the renewed focus on migrant
workers? Why, more importantly is it worrying the native Assamese people?
And what effect do these attacks pose to the demography of the state?
The expulsion of migrants is, and always has been an issue high on ULFA's
agenda. In the December 2006 issue of the organization's mouthpiece,
Freedom, migrant workers were described as a threat to the existence of an
independent Assam and a cause of considerable damage to the social fabric of
the state. However, many believe that the renewed attacks are an attempt by
ULFA to boost its sagging approval rate, which was last polled at less than
four per cent in a public opinion poll conducted by an NGO, the Assam Public
Works, late last year. The strategy, going by the dismal approval ratings
doesn't seem to be working for the ULFA. By attacking crowded commercial
areas - allegedly to corner prized real estate - they are directly affecting
business opportunities in the state and forcing the state to call for more
security forces, whose presence is not welcome by the Assamese people.
However it is the rapidly increasing population of illegal immigrant workers
from Bangladesh that has caused tensions in the past and further threaten
ULFA's support base.
The void left behind by the fleeing Hindi-speaking population has been
quickly filled by the Bangladeshi population in the state that is
unofficially estimated to be 10 million-strong. In the article from Freedom
quoted above, the ULFA makes its priorities clear regarding illegal
immigrants. It clearly states that illegal workers from Bangladesh and Nepal
must be driven out, "but before that the illegal migrants from India must be
expelled. The main illegal foreigners in the State are the Indian rulers and
the principal illegal occupational forces are the Indian Army who also must
be driven out from the State." This is an almost complete turnaround from
ULFA's originally outright opposition to the presence of illegal migrants
from Bangladesh and is explained by senior ULFA leaders including its
commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah being granted asylum by Dhaka and their
generous donations to the major political parties such as the Awami League
and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The direct fallout from the attacks on Hindi-speaking migrant workers and
their leaving the state, has been the increase in fear of Islamization of
the state which began with the immigration of Bangladeshis. The 2001 Census
figures in Assam showed the increase of Muslim population from 24.56 percent
in 1971 to 30.91 percent in 2001 which gives some indication of the
importance of minority politics to the ruling parties which have done little
to prevent this vast influx of illegal migrants. This could lead to the rise
of terrorism associated with Islamic organizations operating out of
Bangladesh and could lead to a situation similar to Kashmir for the Indian
government, according to some theorists. Furthermore, Assamese believe they
are slowly losing their political franchise and are fearful of an eventual
merger with Bangladesh, which ULFA would be instrumental in bringing about,
if it continues its current policy of attacking migrant populations.
On 16 January 2007, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured full security
to Hindi-speaking migrants and gave a tough message to militant outfits that
there would be no compromise if they resorted to violence. However, while
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had requested for an additional 4,000
paramilitary troops following the January attacks, the Centre's priorities
lay in allotting a similar number of troops to oversee the elections in
Uttar Pradesh in June. In order to prevent the rise of another base for
terrorist activities in the already troubled northeast, it is time the
central government mended its lax policy concerning Bangladeshi immigrants
and took firm steps to protect the Hindi-speaking migrant population whose
role in Assam's stability has been ignored.
http://www.ipcs.org/North_east_articles2.jsp?action=showView&kValue=2...
ntry=1016&status=article&mod=a&portal=pakistan
Perpetual Muslim Atrocities have forced 20 Hindu Families to flee their Homes in West Bengal
It is well-known that Hindus in Bangladesh are victims of severe religious persecutions by the Muslims. It is a matter of serious concern that exactly similar types of oppression and torture now a common affair in the Muslim dominated districts of West Bengal lying along the entire stretch of Bangaladeshi border, where robbery, forceful abduction of women, murdering and beating Hindus mercilessly, stealing cattle, catching fish from ponds of the Hindus and looting grains and other valuables have become a regular feature. While Muslims, as a part of their jihad against the Hindus, commit all these crimes, police and other law enforcing authorities remain silent spectators. In most of the instances police arrests the oppressed Hindus and set the Muslim oppressors free.
Hoglaberia is a small village in the district of Nadia, situated at the border of the districts of Murshidabad, separated by the river Jalangi and also near to the border of Bangladesh. Murshidabad is a Muslim majority district from days of time of the Muslim Nawabs and the border areas of Nadia have also become infested with Muslims due to uncontrolled illegal emigration or demographic aggression by the Bangladeshi Muslims. The sheer majority in numbers and the despicable policy of Muslim appeasement of the CPI (M) led Left Front Government of the state has turned these regions, spread over all the districts bordering Bangladesh, into fertile grounds for Islamic jihad.
For the past a few years, most of the Hindu households of Hoglaberia, being victims of constant torture and atrocity by the Muslims, have been forced to leave hoglaberia and took shelter in Hindu dominated areas far away from the Bangladeshi border. But nearly 22 families of the Durlabhpara and Baganpara areas of Hoglaberia had to stay due to lack resources. These people allege that for past 4 years, they being targets of severe jihadi activities. Local Muslims and the Muslims from the neighbouring district of Murshidabad have unleashed constant terror heaps of unimaginable torture and atrocities on them. Robbery, rape and abduction of women in the darkness of night have become a daily affair. These unfortunate people allege that they have never obtained any respite by making repeated complaints to the police and local administrative authorities. Complaints to the local Panchayet have also fallen on deaf ears.
But from the second one week of July, the terror unleashed by the jihadis crossed all previous records. The Hoglaberia village lies on the bank of river Jalangi. The head of the village Sri Durga Paharia says, “There are about 120 Hindus live in the village and most them earn their living as agricultural labourers-men folk go out of the village in search of work while women remain to guard the households. At such hour of the day, Muslims, mainly from the district of Murshidabad, come to Hoglaberia by crossing the river Jalangi and unleash atrocity on the women that continue for hours. Sometimes Muslims from Bangladesh accompany the local Muslims in such operations”. He says that, being unable to sustain such attacks any longer, they had to flee the village.
Sri Dhiren Paharia, another elder of the village says, “Situation went so bad that grown up girls were no longer safe. We had no other option but to withdraw them from schools and to shift them to their kin’s places for safety, or married them off early. So four days ago we have left our village, our land and other belongings and started to stay in these makeshift shanties beside the highway”. Such is the story of the Hindus to tell, who are living in the Muslim dominated areas in West Bengal, spread over the entire area bordering Bangladesh. No respite is obtained from the police and in most cases this law enforcing cops let the Muslim oppressors free and arrest and harass the oppressed Hindus.
Hoglaberia is a small village in the district of Nadia, situated at the border of the districts of Murshidabad, separated by the river Jalangi and also near to the border of Bangladesh. Murshidabad is a Muslim majority district from days of time of the Muslim Nawabs and the border areas of Nadia have also become infested with Muslims due to uncontrolled illegal emigration or demographic aggression by the Bangladeshi Muslims. The sheer majority in numbers and the despicable policy of Muslim appeasement of the CPI (M) led Left Front Government of the state has turned these regions, spread over all the districts bordering Bangladesh, into fertile grounds for Islamic jihad.
For the past a few years, most of the Hindu households of Hoglaberia, being victims of constant torture and atrocity by the Muslims, have been forced to leave hoglaberia and took shelter in Hindu dominated areas far away from the Bangladeshi border. But nearly 22 families of the Durlabhpara and Baganpara areas of Hoglaberia had to stay due to lack resources. These people allege that for past 4 years, they being targets of severe jihadi activities. Local Muslims and the Muslims from the neighbouring district of Murshidabad have unleashed constant terror heaps of unimaginable torture and atrocities on them. Robbery, rape and abduction of women in the darkness of night have become a daily affair. These unfortunate people allege that they have never obtained any respite by making repeated complaints to the police and local administrative authorities. Complaints to the local Panchayet have also fallen on deaf ears.
But from the second one week of July, the terror unleashed by the jihadis crossed all previous records. The Hoglaberia village lies on the bank of river Jalangi. The head of the village Sri Durga Paharia says, “There are about 120 Hindus live in the village and most them earn their living as agricultural labourers-men folk go out of the village in search of work while women remain to guard the households. At such hour of the day, Muslims, mainly from the district of Murshidabad, come to Hoglaberia by crossing the river Jalangi and unleash atrocity on the women that continue for hours. Sometimes Muslims from Bangladesh accompany the local Muslims in such operations”. He says that, being unable to sustain such attacks any longer, they had to flee the village.
Sri Dhiren Paharia, another elder of the village says, “Situation went so bad that grown up girls were no longer safe. We had no other option but to withdraw them from schools and to shift them to their kin’s places for safety, or married them off early. So four days ago we have left our village, our land and other belongings and started to stay in these makeshift shanties beside the highway”. Such is the story of the Hindus to tell, who are living in the Muslim dominated areas in West Bengal, spread over the entire area bordering Bangladesh. No respite is obtained from the police and in most cases this law enforcing cops let the Muslim oppressors free and arrest and harass the oppressed Hindus.
Islamist Appeasement in West Bengal: If India surges ahead, can West Bengal remain far behind?
Islamist Appeasement in West Bengal: If India surges ahead, can West Bengal remain far behind ?
On August 2, all the Ananda Bazar Patrika, a leading Bengali daily of Kolkata carried an advertisement by the government of West Bengal, elaborating its future programme to uplift the condition of the minorities (i.e. Muslims). The ad had the title “What the state government is going to do to uplift the condition of the minorities”.
1) The government has entrusted the Indian Statistical Institute to prepare a report on the socio-economic condition of the minorities of the state.
2) The government is going to implement all possible measures for a all-round up-lift of the Muslims, which no other state government has taken so far. The government has already allocated 15 per cent more funds for developing the areas where Muslims are a majority.
3) For appointment of 10 or more employees in the 3rd and 4th standard government jobs, the presence of at least one Muslim in the selection committee has been made mandatory.
4) Various types of development programmes, such as Golden Jubilee Rural Self-employment Programme, Golden Jubilee Urban Self-employment Programme, vocational training programmes for employment of urban unemployed, the government will now provide more privileges for the Muslims, in excess what they are enjoying today, the basis of their percentage of population.
5) Two directorates, with 100 posts each, have been created to work under this Department, who will look after the progress of the said programmes.
6) Maps have been prepared to indicate the state of education in different parts of the state and steps have already been taken to set up new schools and colleges in backward areas.
6) Financial assistances including stipends, scholarships and interest free educational loans have been made available to poor but meritorious Muslim students pursuing studies in engineering and medical science.
7) Twenty two Muslim dominated areas have been earmarked and steps have been taken to set up polytechnic schools and Industrial Training Institutes in those areas.
8) At present, the government has ten hostels for Muslim girls and four more are in the stage of near completion.
9) Arrangement for mid-day meal has been made ready for Muslim students reading in class I and up to class V standard and girl students studying in madrassas are to get free clothes and books and other stationeries.
10) A fund of rupees 203 crores has allotted for madrassa education.
11) Necessary steps have been taken to increase the number of madrassas and to elevate the standard of teaching.
12) In the financial year of 2007-08, the government is going to set up 100 new madrassas and 400 secondary schools for the Muslims.
13) Requisite funds have been allocated for appointing more teachers, setting up laboratories and the educational infrastructure in madrassas. Vocational training and computer courses are also to be introduced in Madrassas education.
14) Steps have been taken to elevate the Calcutta Madrassa as an independent university and 10 bighas of land has been allotted for this purpose.
15) A separate building for the Madrassa Board is to be built at Salt Lake city spending nearly rupees 5 crores.
16) A new educational complex is to be set up on 52 cottahs of land on the G. C. Dey Road in collaboration with the Learnium Group. At least 50 per cent of learners in this complex must come from the Muslims and Special concessions would be provided for the Muslim learners. It would also have facilities for providing vocational trainings.
17) A programme, under joint effort of the Minority Development Cell and the Finance Ministry of the government, has been undertaken to provide unemployed Muslim young men and women with vocational training and easy loans for self employment. The programme for self-employment, micro-loan and vocational training for various professional courses are running under full swing. A new building to this end is to be erected at the Salt Lake City by spending Rs 4 crore on 20 cottahs of land.
18) Initiative has been taken to survey and mapping of the Wakf properties afresh and their protection. Initiatives have also been taken to build schools, students’ hostels, vocational training centres and residential complexes on Wakf land. Several other programmes have been undertaken to this end. The task of preserving important documents using the modern techniques has been handed over to experienced people.
19) A new lodge is being set up near the airport, spending Rs 5 crore, for providing facilities to the Hajj pilgrims.
20) Several programmes have been undertaken for the Urdu speaking people which include preparation of books and periodicals, preparation of question papers, operating computers using Urdu, diploma in multi-lingual DTP technique, organizing seminars and symposia, publishing books and rewarding the Authors for excellence.
21) A major initiative has been undertaken to protect Muslim graveyards in all the districts and, after prior discussions with the respective district magistrates, walls have already been erected around 42 graveyards and work is under way in 5 others.
On August 2, all the Ananda Bazar Patrika, a leading Bengali daily of Kolkata carried an advertisement by the government of West Bengal, elaborating its future programme to uplift the condition of the minorities (i.e. Muslims). The ad had the title “What the state government is going to do to uplift the condition of the minorities”.
1) The government has entrusted the Indian Statistical Institute to prepare a report on the socio-economic condition of the minorities of the state.
2) The government is going to implement all possible measures for a all-round up-lift of the Muslims, which no other state government has taken so far. The government has already allocated 15 per cent more funds for developing the areas where Muslims are a majority.
3) For appointment of 10 or more employees in the 3rd and 4th standard government jobs, the presence of at least one Muslim in the selection committee has been made mandatory.
4) Various types of development programmes, such as Golden Jubilee Rural Self-employment Programme, Golden Jubilee Urban Self-employment Programme, vocational training programmes for employment of urban unemployed, the government will now provide more privileges for the Muslims, in excess what they are enjoying today, the basis of their percentage of population.
5) Two directorates, with 100 posts each, have been created to work under this Department, who will look after the progress of the said programmes.
6) Maps have been prepared to indicate the state of education in different parts of the state and steps have already been taken to set up new schools and colleges in backward areas.
6) Financial assistances including stipends, scholarships and interest free educational loans have been made available to poor but meritorious Muslim students pursuing studies in engineering and medical science.
7) Twenty two Muslim dominated areas have been earmarked and steps have been taken to set up polytechnic schools and Industrial Training Institutes in those areas.
8) At present, the government has ten hostels for Muslim girls and four more are in the stage of near completion.
9) Arrangement for mid-day meal has been made ready for Muslim students reading in class I and up to class V standard and girl students studying in madrassas are to get free clothes and books and other stationeries.
10) A fund of rupees 203 crores has allotted for madrassa education.
11) Necessary steps have been taken to increase the number of madrassas and to elevate the standard of teaching.
12) In the financial year of 2007-08, the government is going to set up 100 new madrassas and 400 secondary schools for the Muslims.
13) Requisite funds have been allocated for appointing more teachers, setting up laboratories and the educational infrastructure in madrassas. Vocational training and computer courses are also to be introduced in Madrassas education.
14) Steps have been taken to elevate the Calcutta Madrassa as an independent university and 10 bighas of land has been allotted for this purpose.
15) A separate building for the Madrassa Board is to be built at Salt Lake city spending nearly rupees 5 crores.
16) A new educational complex is to be set up on 52 cottahs of land on the G. C. Dey Road in collaboration with the Learnium Group. At least 50 per cent of learners in this complex must come from the Muslims and Special concessions would be provided for the Muslim learners. It would also have facilities for providing vocational trainings.
17) A programme, under joint effort of the Minority Development Cell and the Finance Ministry of the government, has been undertaken to provide unemployed Muslim young men and women with vocational training and easy loans for self employment. The programme for self-employment, micro-loan and vocational training for various professional courses are running under full swing. A new building to this end is to be erected at the Salt Lake City by spending Rs 4 crore on 20 cottahs of land.
18) Initiative has been taken to survey and mapping of the Wakf properties afresh and their protection. Initiatives have also been taken to build schools, students’ hostels, vocational training centres and residential complexes on Wakf land. Several other programmes have been undertaken to this end. The task of preserving important documents using the modern techniques has been handed over to experienced people.
19) A new lodge is being set up near the airport, spending Rs 5 crore, for providing facilities to the Hajj pilgrims.
20) Several programmes have been undertaken for the Urdu speaking people which include preparation of books and periodicals, preparation of question papers, operating computers using Urdu, diploma in multi-lingual DTP technique, organizing seminars and symposia, publishing books and rewarding the Authors for excellence.
21) A major initiative has been undertaken to protect Muslim graveyards in all the districts and, after prior discussions with the respective district magistrates, walls have already been erected around 42 graveyards and work is under way in 5 others.
Suspected ATTF militants kill three civilians in Tripura
According to Tripurainfo, suspected All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) militants killed three civilians, Malendra Debbarma, Gajendra Debbarma and their 60-year-old mother Krishnabati, at Baijalbari under Khowai police station in the West Tripura district on August 6. An unnamed police officer said, "The militants were, in fact, chasing one of their cadres Ramendra Debbarma who had fled from the militant hideout in Bangladesh with firearms. The killer squad came to Ramendra’s village Baijalbari in search of him. When they did not find him at his home the militants in fit of fury mowed down Ramendra’s brothers and mother."
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=8/7/2007#1
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=8/7/2007#1
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Hindus suffering in West Bengal --- East Midnapur
East Medinipur district was and is never known as Muslim dominated district. It’s Muslim population is only 14 percent. 85 percent are Hindus. In spite of that Hindus are suffering a lot due to Muslims. But all these sufferings, tortures and humiliations of Hindus are suppressed – thanks to political machinations and ‘secular’ media.
On 8th July this year, a small dispute arised in village Sarberia of Bhagawanpur p.s. of Medinipur district. In this village, there is a market named ‘Bhawanichak Dharmabazar’. In that village market there is one ‘PIRER THAN’ worshiped by Hindus all through the year. 2 years back, Muslims of nearby villages converted it to a MAZAR forcefully. This year in the 1st week of July, Muslims started construction work to build a Masjid (mosque) on that spot. Local Hindus objected to it very peacefully and asked them whether they have obtained any proper permission either from local administration or market committee. The Muslims could not show any. So, the Hindus requested them to stop the unauthorized construction work and obtain proper permission.
Muslims left the place only to reappear in bigger number a few hours later at 11 a.m. About 1500 in number they first attacked the/a nearby Kali Temple and a Hari Mancha. They snatched all the idols of the Kali Temple outside the temple and demolished/destroyed the idols by kicking. Then they broke top portion of the Hari Mancha.
Then the Muslims started looting and destroying the shops of the Hindus in that market and mercilessly beating the Hindu shop owners who tried to resist the massacres. Earlier Hindus informed the police about the development. A small contingent of police came there to maintain peace. 2 policemen were also beaten up by the Muslims. Hindus arranged for their primary treatment.
Hindu shop owner Basudeb Pradhan became severely injured. He got head injury and treated in Contai Darua govt. hospital. Police when taking him to hospital by an ambulance, that too was chased and attacked by the Muslims. Police left the ambulance unfended. So Hindus could not dare to take the other injured persons to hospital as the road to hospital passes through Muslim villages. The other injured persons are Sadhan Pradhan, Biswajit Barik, Atal Manna, Pravat Barik, Biswajit Mandal, Ramshankar Pradhan, Anukul Shasmal, Pranab Das and others. The Hindus whose shops were destroyed and looted are Basudeb Pradhan, Phanibhusan Kamelia, Anup Porua, Atal Manna, Anukul Shasmal, etc.
The attackers were : Seikh Gaffar Ali, vill. – Paschim Sarberia; Lutfar Ali- vill--Hinchageria, Aminul Khan- vill--Purba Sarberia (also secretary of market committee); Anwar Ali- vill- Hinchageria, Saber Ali, Rahaman Ali, Fajlu Ali, Raju Ali, Tasiruddin Ali, all vill- Paschim Sarberia; Kalu Seikh, Budha Khan, Kalu Khan, Metu Khan- all vill-- Sultanpur, Jahangir Ali and Bablu Ali- vill- Barogeria, Nurul Islam, vill—Narayandari and others.
After being severely tortured and looted, Hindus could not go to the police station to lodge their complain because the road goes through Muslim villages. Hindus lodged a complain by registered post only.
In this predominantly Hindu majority district of Medinipur, Muslims successfully resisted the entry of renowned writer Taslima Nasreen to Medinipur town where she was invited to attend a literary program. Receiving threatening from the Muslims of Medinipur, District Magistrate served a notice to Smt Nasreen not to enter Medinipur town because he is unable to give her protection.
On 8th July this year, a small dispute arised in village Sarberia of Bhagawanpur p.s. of Medinipur district. In this village, there is a market named ‘Bhawanichak Dharmabazar’. In that village market there is one ‘PIRER THAN’ worshiped by Hindus all through the year. 2 years back, Muslims of nearby villages converted it to a MAZAR forcefully. This year in the 1st week of July, Muslims started construction work to build a Masjid (mosque) on that spot. Local Hindus objected to it very peacefully and asked them whether they have obtained any proper permission either from local administration or market committee. The Muslims could not show any. So, the Hindus requested them to stop the unauthorized construction work and obtain proper permission.
Muslims left the place only to reappear in bigger number a few hours later at 11 a.m. About 1500 in number they first attacked the/a nearby Kali Temple and a Hari Mancha. They snatched all the idols of the Kali Temple outside the temple and demolished/destroyed the idols by kicking. Then they broke top portion of the Hari Mancha.
Then the Muslims started looting and destroying the shops of the Hindus in that market and mercilessly beating the Hindu shop owners who tried to resist the massacres. Earlier Hindus informed the police about the development. A small contingent of police came there to maintain peace. 2 policemen were also beaten up by the Muslims. Hindus arranged for their primary treatment.
Hindu shop owner Basudeb Pradhan became severely injured. He got head injury and treated in Contai Darua govt. hospital. Police when taking him to hospital by an ambulance, that too was chased and attacked by the Muslims. Police left the ambulance unfended. So Hindus could not dare to take the other injured persons to hospital as the road to hospital passes through Muslim villages. The other injured persons are Sadhan Pradhan, Biswajit Barik, Atal Manna, Pravat Barik, Biswajit Mandal, Ramshankar Pradhan, Anukul Shasmal, Pranab Das and others. The Hindus whose shops were destroyed and looted are Basudeb Pradhan, Phanibhusan Kamelia, Anup Porua, Atal Manna, Anukul Shasmal, etc.
The attackers were : Seikh Gaffar Ali, vill. – Paschim Sarberia; Lutfar Ali- vill--Hinchageria, Aminul Khan- vill--Purba Sarberia (also secretary of market committee); Anwar Ali- vill- Hinchageria, Saber Ali, Rahaman Ali, Fajlu Ali, Raju Ali, Tasiruddin Ali, all vill- Paschim Sarberia; Kalu Seikh, Budha Khan, Kalu Khan, Metu Khan- all vill-- Sultanpur, Jahangir Ali and Bablu Ali- vill- Barogeria, Nurul Islam, vill—Narayandari and others.
After being severely tortured and looted, Hindus could not go to the police station to lodge their complain because the road goes through Muslim villages. Hindus lodged a complain by registered post only.
In this predominantly Hindu majority district of Medinipur, Muslims successfully resisted the entry of renowned writer Taslima Nasreen to Medinipur town where she was invited to attend a literary program. Receiving threatening from the Muslims of Medinipur, District Magistrate served a notice to Smt Nasreen not to enter Medinipur town because he is unable to give her protection.
Hindus suffering in West Bengal --- South 24 Parganas part II
TAPASI NAIATapasi Naia (12) is a little girl, studies in class five in her village primary school. Her village is Khas Kumrakhali under Canning P.S. of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. Tabajul Mollah(30), son of Abul Mollah, sells icecream in front of that primary school. He is a married person with 2 children. This Tabajul Mollah regularly disturbs and teases that little girl Tapasi. Feeling extremely humiliated by the indecent gestures and proposal by Tabajul, Tapasi complained to her teachers. Two of the school’s teachers confronted Tabajul for his misdemeanor. But he is unconcerned. Then Tapasi complained to the Head Mistress of that school Mrs. Saraswati Halder. The Head Mistress called Tabajul to her office. But he just ignored her and didn’t turn up.Getting no remedy from school, Tapasi told the matter to her parents. Tabajul and Tapasi’s family live in same village in nearby localities and are known to each other. So, Tapasi’s parents Sanatan Naia and Basanti Naia, on 20th March this year, along with their daughter , went to Tabajul’s locality, i.e., Uttarpara (near Shiv Mandir) of Khas Kumrakhali village. They asked Tabajul why he disturbs their daughter. Being asked, Tabajul and his brother` Zakir started abusing them. By this time, Tapasi’s uncle Bishu Naia and his wife Laxmi arrived at the spot. They objected to the abusing language of Tabajul and his brother. Instantly, a large number of Muslim gatheredthere and started mercilessly beating Tapasi and her family. Some Hindus came to rescue them, they were also severely beaten up by the Muslims. Among them, Mahesh Chandra Sapui s/o, Sirish Chandra Sapui and Meghnad Mandal s/o, Chandrakanta Mandal were seriously injured.The assaulters who were recognized are : 1) Tabajul Mollah s/o, Abul Mollah2) Zakir Mollah s/o, do3) Abul Mollah s/o, Rabbani Mollah4) Akram Piada s/o, Kurman Piada5) Farid Mollah s/o, Eunus Ali MollahBeing beaten up, Tapasi’s father went to Canning Police Station and lodged a complain. The complain no. is : G.D.E. No. 1258 date 20.03.2007.But Police took no action as most of the accused are C.P.I.M. activists. The miscreants are still at large and are continuing to threaten and molest the hapless Hindu families in the village till date. The Hindus of this region are barely literate and extremely poor. It is impossible for them to seek judicial redress as they do not have the wherewithal to bear the legal costs. Neither are they getting their due redressal from the law enforcement agencies. Because the accused are members of the ruling CPI(M) party, the district Police have decided to play the proverbial three wise monkeys regarding this case. The helpless Hindus of Khas Kumrakhali village are scared of approaching the higher authorities as the accused are running free and the part played by the police is far from reassuring. In this unfortunate village, the above incident is not an isolated affair. For quite a long time Hindus of this village have been at the receiving end of the depredations of the local Muslims. And the long arm of law has always remained inactive and the voice of justice, silent.
Hindus suffering in West Bengal --- South 24 Parganas
Date: 16 Jul 2007
Location: Sarisha Shukdebpur
Police Station: Diamond Harbour
District: South 24 Parganas
State: West Bengal
Source: Anandabazar Patrika [17 Jul 2007]
Bartaman [17 Jul 2007]
Times of India [17 Jul 2007]
On the night of 15th July, Sunday, half an hour past midnight two Muslim
goons namely Shahjahan Shaikh and Matiyar Rahaman Mollah broke open the
door of a Nepali Hindu family. The Nepali man works a security guard at
a soft drink company at Budge Budge and he was away on duty that night.
His wife and two unmarried daughters were in the house.
It was a very rainy night. The Muslims entered the house and dragged the
eldest daughter to a nearby garden and started to rape her. Her mother
raised an alarm and pleaded help form her neighbours. But due to severe
rains nobody could hear her calls. So she herself went to save her
daughter. But the Muslims caught hold of her and raped her too. When
they left her she ran to the local CPI(M) member of Sarisha Panchayat
Murselim Shaikh, who is none other than the brother of rapist Shahjahan
Shaikh and told him what happened. When she returned she found that her
younger daughter was being raped by the two monsters.
The Police have arrested both the criminals on Saturday the basis of FIR
lodged. The brother of the Hindu woman, Jagadish Mistry complained that
the CPI(M) leaders Murselim Shaikh (Sarisha Panchayat) and Nityananda
Mondal (Diamond Harbour - 2 Panchayat) are pressing the victims to
settle the issue in lieu of money. Rishi Haldar, the CPI(M) MLA from
Diamond Harbour claimed this to be a false accusition. SP Praveen Kumar
is investigating the case. All India Trinamool Congress has submitted a
memorandum to the Police demanding exemplary punishment for the criminals.
Location: Sarisha Shukdebpur
Police Station: Diamond Harbour
District: South 24 Parganas
State: West Bengal
Source: Anandabazar Patrika [17 Jul 2007]
Bartaman [17 Jul 2007]
Times of India [17 Jul 2007]
On the night of 15th July, Sunday, half an hour past midnight two Muslim
goons namely Shahjahan Shaikh and Matiyar Rahaman Mollah broke open the
door of a Nepali Hindu family. The Nepali man works a security guard at
a soft drink company at Budge Budge and he was away on duty that night.
His wife and two unmarried daughters were in the house.
It was a very rainy night. The Muslims entered the house and dragged the
eldest daughter to a nearby garden and started to rape her. Her mother
raised an alarm and pleaded help form her neighbours. But due to severe
rains nobody could hear her calls. So she herself went to save her
daughter. But the Muslims caught hold of her and raped her too. When
they left her she ran to the local CPI(M) member of Sarisha Panchayat
Murselim Shaikh, who is none other than the brother of rapist Shahjahan
Shaikh and told him what happened. When she returned she found that her
younger daughter was being raped by the two monsters.
The Police have arrested both the criminals on Saturday the basis of FIR
lodged. The brother of the Hindu woman, Jagadish Mistry complained that
the CPI(M) leaders Murselim Shaikh (Sarisha Panchayat) and Nityananda
Mondal (Diamond Harbour - 2 Panchayat) are pressing the victims to
settle the issue in lieu of money. Rishi Haldar, the CPI(M) MLA from
Diamond Harbour claimed this to be a false accusition. SP Praveen Kumar
is investigating the case. All India Trinamool Congress has submitted a
memorandum to the Police demanding exemplary punishment for the criminals.
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