Kolkata: Garden Reach Durga Puja Pandal Stormed By Muslim Hooligans. Case Filed.

As Muslim Hooligans Stormed A Garden Reach Durga Puja In Kolkata, Suvendu Adhikari Calls For Police Action, Saying It’s Kolkata, Not Dhaka.

The club has submitted video footage of the incident to the police and is requesting immediate action, stating, “We are requesting you to take strong action immediately regarding our FIR.

Madhuparna Dutta | HENB | Kolkata | Oct 12, 2024:: In Kolkata, the ‘City of Joy,’ Islamists are increasingly encroaching on Hindu festivities, spreading demoralization. A disturbing incident occurred at a Garden Reach Durga Puja pandal, where Muslim extremists stormed the premises, demanding an end to the traditional dhak beats, bell ringing, and hymn chanting over loudspeakers during Friday Namaz time. The situation quickly descended into chaos, with tensions running high between the two groups.

Kolkata’s New Bengal Sporting Club, renowned for its spectacular Durga Puja celebrations, lodged a complaint with local police alleging disruption of puja rituals by a group of men from the Muslim community. According to the club, during Ashtami and Navami puja, young men objected to the music, claiming it disturbed their Friday Namaz prayers, and created a ruckus at the pandal. The area of incident falls in Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s 133 Ward in Mudiyali locality which is politically controlled by Kolkata Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, who once referred the Gardren Reach, Port Areas as ‘Mini Pakistan’.  

A verbal altercation erupted between a group of boys and puja committee members at New Bengal Sporting Club’s Durga Puja celebrations. However, timely intervention by senior community members and police swiftly defused the tension, allowing the puja to resume uninterrupted.

“Today at 1:13 pm, near about 50-60 hooligans (Muslim mob) came to our Puja pandal and interrupted rituals and threatened to disrupt our Puja pandal and also said that they would break Maa Durga’s idol. In between this, they pushed and used slang language against our women members and other members as well”, the complaint by the club secretary Ashok Sadhukhan read.

New Bengal Sporting Club officials submitted a complaint to Garden Reach police, accompanied by video footage of the incident. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. Authorities confirm that the situation is now under control.

The Leader of Opposition in WB Assemblr, Suvendu Adhikari vehemently condemned the incident and wrote in his X handle, “What is this Mr. @CPKolkata; Shri Manoj Kumar Verma (IPS)? How did the goons garner the ability to storm into a Durga Puja Pandal under the Jurisdiction of the  @KolkataPolice and threaten to vandalise the idol of Maa Durga if the rituals aren’t stopped? The incident happened at the Puja Pandal of New Bengal Sporting Club at Garden Reach; Kolkata. The Organizers have already made a complaint to the Garden Reach Police Station. The Office Bearers and Members of the New Bengal Sporting Club have also provided video footage of the incident. How can you allow this to happen? I believe you will take the strictest action possible against the culprits and make them realize that it is Kolkata not Dhaka.“

In another tweet, Adhikari hinted a Hindu unity to deter such attack on Hindu festivity. Adhikari also visited the Puja of New Bengal Sporting Club at Garden Reach.

No condemnation for such Islamic attack on Durga Puja in Kolkata from ruling Trinamul Congress leadership  is reported so far. 
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__Inputs from ANI.