Tension gripped the Rabindranagar-Akra locality in West Bengal’s Maheshtala on Wednesday evening after a land dispute snowballed into a communal flashpoint, resulting in widespread violence, arson, and injuries to law enforcement officers.
What started as a simmering land disagreement turned violent after a mob, reportedly angered by the sudden construction of a tulsi mancha (a small Hindu religious altar), clashed with police near Rabindranagar Police Station. The altar was allegedly built on a spot where a Muslim trader ran a shop before leaving town for Eid celebrations.
According to The Times of India, as police personnel tried to intervene, they were met with heavy stone-pelting from an agitated crowd. The situation quickly escalated, forcing police to resort to lathi-charge and tear gas shelling to control the chaos.
In the melee, five police officers — including DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai — sustained injuries. Two government vehicles and a motorcycle were set ablaze by the rioters. The violence later spread to Santoshpur, leaving more officers hurt in the ensuing confrontation.
Locals claimed that the issue was triggered by accusations that the shop stood on land belonging to a nearby temple. “The shop was encroaching on temple land,” alleged some local Hindu residents, while others from the Muslim community said the structure was being unfairly targeted in the trader's absence.
Before authorities could mediate, roadblocks were set up, clashes broke out, and Maheshtala turned into a flashpoint of communal unrest. So far, four people have been arrested, and security has been intensified across the city with riot police deployed in sensitive areas.
Reacting sharply, Leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari condemned the violence, accusing the ruling government of turning a blind eye to targeted attacks on Hindus.
“We demand immediate deployment of central forces in the area to save and protect people,” Adhikari said, as quoted by The Times of India.
He further alleged, “Mamata Banerjee hates Hindus.”
However, Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Kunal Ghosh pushed back against Adhikari’s allegations, stating: “This incident is unfortunate and highly condemnable. But it is not a reflection of the state’s overall law and order situation.”
He further emphasized that the police acted with “restraint and responsibility” despite being outnumbered and provoked.
As of now, the West Bengal Police have not released an official statement, but sources suggest more arrests may follow.
