A manhunt started to arrest Ajit Mahato for his offensive remarks on Devi Durga & Hindu Dharma.

Kurmi leader Ajit Prasad Mahato’s derogatory comments about goddess Durga sparked a huge row. Several FIRs are registered in different Police stations. A manhunt started to arrest Ajit in Purulia and in  Jharkhand.  

Shiddhananda Purakayastha | HENB | Kolkata | Sept 19, 2023:: A new row has surfaced in West Bengal as the ‘mul manta’ (chief leader) of the  Kurmi community (claiming their ST Status) commented about Goddess Durga in a very derogatory manner.  Ajit Prasad Mahato, the chief leader of the Kurmi community allegedly made offensive remarks about Goddess Durga during a public meeting of the Kurmi people held in Purulia on Sept 15. The video that has gone viral on social media has created a tense situation in Jangalmahal in Purulia and adjacent Bankura and West Midnapur districts.

All political parties including TMC and BJP took to the streets and strongly condemned the incident without seeing any color since Saturday morning. They also demanded the immediate arrest of the main manta of Kurmi society. In this incident, tension spread in various parts including Purulia city on Saturday. On this day, several political parties and various religious and social organizations protested at the Purulia Sadar Police Station and the District Police Superintendent’s office. To protest the offensive remarks on Devi Durga Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran Manch, and Vishva Hindu Parishad also registered their strong protest through rallies and sit-in protests.

As per the available video, Ajit Prasad said, “Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja are not for us. Saraswati has four hands. Durga Has ten hands. Panchanan has five heads. How is that possible? Have you seen anyone nowadays born with ten or four hands? No. All these are fake. We are not Hindus and don’t worship such deities. We worship Nature.”

He continued, “How does Durga sleep with her ten hands at night? Tell me, how does she wear a blouse? At least, tell me who sews her blouse?” In his speech, Ajit Prasad Mahato commented against Lord Brahma, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Pamchanan and wanted to prove all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses are fake. He also attacked the Hindu Dharma and Brahmins earlier in his other speeches which are available on social media.

As the video went viral, angry Hindus held a rally in Purulia town. They demanded his immediate arrest. Later, on the 16th of September, a complaint was filed at Purulia Town Police Station. Based on the complaint, the Police have filed an FIR(number- 143/2023) and have started a case under IPC 153A, 295A, 505(2) and 509. As per a report of Sangbad Pratidin, several FIRs have been filed against Ajit Mahato in several police stations including Purulia Sadar, Balrampur, and Baghmundi.

Purulia District Trinamool  Vice President Sujoy Banerjee said, “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state government have taken several steps for the demand of Kurmi people. We are with them. But we want to arrest this Ajit Mahato for what he said. He does not know Purana. He insulted Hindu Gods and Hindu society. This is highly unfortunate.”

Purulia Citizen Forum also took out a torch rally  with a demand to arrest Ajit Prasad Mhato.

Abhimanyu Kumar, on behalf of the Bajrang Dal, said, “We demand his immediate arrest against such offensive comments by Ajit Mahato against Mother Durga, and Hindu Dharma.”

BJP’s Purulia district vice-president Gautam Roy said, “Ajit Prasad Mahato has insulted the Hindu gods and goddesses, the women race, in the language he has spoken to Jagatjanani Maa Durga. He should be arrested immediately. If police and administration do not take any action against this, they will face public anger.”

Bangiyo Hindu Sena’s President Ambikananda Maharaj told HENB, “We have lodged our grievance against Ajit Prasad Mahato to National Human Rights Commission (Complaint Diary No. 15356/IN/2023) for utter offensive comments against Devi Durga through our State Secretay Kaushik Panda on 18/09/2023. It is strange that the culprit is not arrested yet.”

As per the latest information, the Police have yet to arrest the hate preacher Kurmi leader, but a manhunt has started to arrest Ajit in Purulia and in  Jharkhand to neutralize the public retaliation.

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__Inputs from Sangbad Pratidin, Ei Samay, and Marsal Taras YouTube video channel.