Joydeep Sarkar 
Kolkata: Internet access was restricted in parts of Murshidabad district of Bengal following a surge in communal tensions sparked by an message displayed at a local religious event. The message led to vandalism, arson, and injuries to several individuals from both communities.
The incident took place at Beldanga, where an illuminated display showed a phrase that was deemed insulting to Muslims. The Wire has seen videos that were shared of the purported message on social media but has not been able to independently verify them. Clashes took place in the area in response, locals and police said.
Authorities have arrested 17 people and claim to have brought the situation under control. However, tensions remain high.
“Tensions escalated due to a local issue. We are identifying the guilty individuals and taking appropriate action. I request everyone to cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order. I appeal to both parties not to take the law into their own hands,” said superintendent of police, Murshidabad, Surya Pratap Yadav.
Police are investigating how the offensive message ended up on the illuminated display. Heightened security measures were implemented in Beldanga on November 17 as well, as 163 puja committees organised a joint procession for the immersion of Jagaddhatri idols. The district police chief and local MP visited the area to oversee security operations.
“Such incidents have never happened here before. The police are investigating how a derogatory remark about a religious leader was written on a display at a festive arch. This remark provoked people from one community, leading to clashes with the police and injuries to several people. However, the situation is now relatively under control. I don’t think Kartik Maharaj has anything to do with this incident,” said Abu Taher Khan, MP, Murshidabad.
In the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the area witnessed similar communal tensions. At the time, chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the spiritual leader Kartik Maharaj, who is linked to a local religious institution, of instigating unrest.
Murshidabad’s Beldanga is historically linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh through a local ashram which was once patronised by M.S. Golwalkar. The area has been a hotbed of communal tension for decades despite its agricultural prosperity.
“Murshidabad is a district of harmony, but planned communal forces want to incite riots. These disturbances are a step towards creating a division that can pave the way for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens. The BJP is starting a game of division in Beldanga by putting forward social faces like Kartik Maharaj,” observed local writer and social activist Manik Fakir, who has been tracking RSS politics in the region.
Former MP and state Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that he too is loathe to place the blame on a particular person. “However, for the past few years, there have been planned attempts to spread religious hatred and create unrest. We trust that local well-wishers can thwart this conspiracy. A few evil forces are doing this in a planned manner, we have demanded that they be investigated and punished accordingly,” Chowdhury said.
CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim condemned the incident and called for “strict action against all those responsible.”
Soon after the clashes, BJP leaders took to social media to put the blame on the Muslim community. A post by BJP leader Amit Malviya making such a claim is no longer on X, presumably as a result of a notice by the Bengal police.
West Bengal Police wrote on X: “Malicious efforts are being made from certain quarters to spread misinformation and rumours about last night’s incident at Beldanga in Murshidabad where clashes took place between two groups over some condemnable mischief.”
Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.