‘The fear is real, so we are catching first train’

Haran Mandal, a chemical factory worker, spent Wednesday night in fear as miscreants were throwing stones at his house.

He was attacked on Wednesday evening. “When I was returning home from market with my friends, a young man came running towards us and asked me where I was from and whether I was a Hindu or Muslim. He told me to get out of the city as soon as I told him my name,” recalled Haran.

Later, his house was attacked. “Throughout the night they kept throwing stones at the house. We didn’t switch on the lights as we were scared they would barge in,” he said.

While Haran was threatened, Pramlin Basumuthare, a security guard, was beaten up. “This group of youngsters came running towards me and started punching me. They asked me where I was from. I told them I was from Orissa. I felt I would get into trouble if I told them I was from Assam. That’s when I decided I to go home,” said Pramlin.

Santhosh, a chemical factory worker living in Jiggani, said two of his friends were beaten up. “We were returning home after work when a gang of around 12 people surrounded us and tried to beat us. I ran away and returned with a few of my friends. However, the gang had left and my friends were lying unconscious. We took them to hospital and then brought them to the railway station. They left for Assam on Wednesday,” he said.

When asked why they did not approach the police, Mandal said, “Not only did these guys threaten us with dire consequences, but they also knew my house and where I worked. They even knew my name. From our past experience we know the police usually take the side of local people.”