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Ram Navami violence: Hindus, Muslims join hands to bring communal harmony in Asansol

The Hindu and Muslim residents of Sinthla Dangal of Asansol have grouped up to protect houses and business units of each other.

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Muslim youths in front of the Shiv Temple at Sinthla Dangal area, ensuring that it is not harmed.
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At a time when Asansol-Raniganj area is simmering following a communal clash between Hindus and Muslims and heavy police posting is seen at different pockets, the gesture of both Hindu and Muslim residents of Sinthla Dangal of Asansol shows that all is not lost as they have grouped up to protect houses and business units of each other.

Maulana Imdadul Rashidi, imam of Noorani Masjid at Sinthla Dangal a Muslim dominated pocket of Asansol had lost his son during the recent riotous situation which began on March 26, a day after Ram Navami celebration. 

His body was recovered on March 28 and as the local residents were getting ready to retaliate the death of the 16-year-old who had just completed his Class X board exams, Rashidi urged people to maintain peace and not to harm anyone of the other community. 

On March 30, the first Friday after his son’s body was recovered, Rashidi, during his deliberation at the Friday afternoon namaz (prayer) had told people to refrain from violence.

“My faith teaches me peace and thus I had urged everyone to maintain peace. My family has suffered a huge loss but I don’t want people to make it an excuse and spread violence. It is prohibited in my religion,” Rashidi said on Sunday. He said that offenders would be punished by law keepers according to the law of the land. “No one has any right to take law and order in their hands,” he added.

Following his instructions, residents of the area ensured that the few Hindu families who lived there were not harmed. 

“Imam saab has suffered a stupendous loss. Since he himself has been patient enough and had asked us not to take law in our hands, we decided to follow his footsteps. Members of a few Hindu families who used to live here had fled the place and we have ensured that their houses are safe. We have instructed everyone to refrain from trying to raze the place. Youths of the area have also made sure that the only temple of the locality is also not harmed so that no wrong message is given out to the society at large,” said Wasim Raza an area local.

Another local resident, Md Asif Anwar said that one, RK Verma who lived about 5 kms away owned a jewellery shop there. “During situations like these, jewellery shops are one of the most vulnerable targets but none of us here has touched his jewellery shop. In fact we have taken turns to guard his unit,” he said.

Verma, who was out of town owing to health reason, talked to DNA over phone. “I was not in town when the riot broke out. When I heard about it, I was naturally apprehensive which I had put up at the place about one and a half years ago. Someone from the area only had called me up from the place informing me about the incident and had also assured me that my shop has not been harmed. I am happy and don’t have words to express my gratitude to them,” he said. 

Hindu residents too said that they were common people who were engaged in their normal avocation and avoided communal clashes. Sushila Devi Burman whose house has been razed and his son has been injured in the clash, said the violence should be stopped.

“We don’t want revenge and counter revenge to continue. Hindus and Muslims have been living here peacefully for ages and it should remain like that. Violence never benefits poor people like us. My son has been injured and is hospitalised. My house has been razed but we want to forget everything and request administration to ensure peace,” she told DNA, standing in front of her damaged house at Ram Kishan Dangal.


Similar was the emotion of Ratan Mala Devi. The 66-year-old said she had gone through an ordeal on March 28. “People were on a rampage hurling bombs and stones at each other. We want to live in the harmony which had always been here so that people can move around without the fear of being attacked,” she said.

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