In Wake of Riots, Muslims in Basirhat Pool Money to Help Hindus

An objectionable post on social media triggered violence across the North 24 Parganas region in West Bengal.

Communal clashes broke out in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Monday night.

(Photo: IANS)

In riot-hit Basirhat, Muslims have come together to help their Hindu neighbours back on their feet even as latent tensions continue in the region since violence earlier this week.

A crowd of Muslim men gathered around a ransacked shop, urging its owner Ajay Pal to accept a contribution of Rs 2,000 to reopen his shop, reported The Indian Express.

On Tuesday, an objectionable post on social media triggered violence across North 24 Parganas region in West Bengal, along the border of Bangladesh. Nearly a hundred shops were ransacked and a dozen homes vandalised.

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I lost goods worth over Rs 15,000 when hundreds of people came and ransacked my shop on Tuesday. They took away everything. I do not know why. My neighbours and Muslim friends are now offering me money to restart my business. I will take a decision soon

Pal told <i>The Indian Express</i>

Muslim residents in other areas of Basirhat have also taken initiative to get their Hindu neighbours back in business.

Binay Pal, a Hindu resident of Masjidpara, told The Indian Express how his Muslim neighbour and childhood friend, Ershad Ali Gazi, saved his life when the riot hit home.

Everyone told me to leave my home and flee to save myself. Hundreds of people were swarming the street in front of my house. I called up Ershad, who told me to stay put and rushed to my house. He stayed with us and ensured that we were safe.

Binay, who has a wife and two children, was saved, but his pharmacy downstairs was destroyed.

Both Hindus and Muslims have accused police of not taking action soon enough when the violence began. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, blamed the Centre for not cooperating and for “over-deploying” forces in the riot-hit zone after the imposition of Section 144.

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