WEST BENGAL SEES 34 INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE, MOSQUE ATTACKS AND DEMOLITIONS AFTER BJP VICTORY, REPORT SAYS

Sun 10 May 2026:

A report by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights has documented 34 alleged incidents of anti-Muslim violence, mosque attacks, demolitions and intimidation in West Bengal in the aftermath of the BJP’s victory in the state assembly elections.

The APCR said the incidents occurred across the state following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral win.

The report covers incidents recorded between May 4 and May 7 across several districts of the state.

According to the report, 34 incidents of violence were documented across at least eight districts, with Cooch Behar and North 24 Parganas reporting seven incidents each, followed by South 24 Parganas with five incidents and Kolkata Metro with five incidents. Murshidabad recorded three incidents, while Howrah recorded four.

APCR said at least two people died during the violence, including a Muslim man who was killed while allegedly trying to protect a mosque in Gosanimari in Cooch Behar district.

The report alleged that Muslims, Muslim-owned properties, mosques, cattle markets, meat shops, and Trinamool Congress offices and residences were among those targeted in the violence. It said at least 54 properties were attacked or damaged and at least 50 Muslims were affected “physically or otherwise.”

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According to APCR’s findings, the violence included attacks on mosques in Cooch Behar, demolition of Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat, vandalism of Muslim houses in Nandina and Abutra villages, attacks on hawkers and shopkeepers in Kolkata, and bulldozer processions allegedly targeting Muslim-owned establishments.

The report categorised the incidents into multiple forms of violence, including murder, assault, intimidation, attacks on property, demolition, bulldozer violence, and what it described as “economic delimitation.” It documented 19 incidents involving attacks on property, 14 incidents of intimidation, four demolitions, and three instances of bulldozer violence.

The report also alleged that several incidents specifically targeted the sale and transport of non-vegetarian food. It documented forcible closure of cattle markets in Howrah, Kolkata Metro, and South 24 Parganas, along with attacks on meat shops and Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat.

Among the incidents listed in the report were alleged attacks on three mosques in Cooch Behar, a mosque attack during a “Jai Shri Ram” procession in Gosanimari, vandalism of 15 Muslim residences in Nandina and Abutra villages, and assaults on an imam in Birsibpur in Howrah district.

The report further alleged that Muslim women were prevented from wearing hijab at Azad Hind College in Domjur, Howrah.

In North 24 Parganas, the report documented attacks on mosques and demolition of two Muslim-owned hotels in Barasat. It also alleged attempts to rename “N Para Masjid Bari Road” as “Netaji Palli Road” and “Sirajuddaula Udyan” as “Shivaji Udyan.”

The report also claimed that BJP processions in parts of South 24 Parganas included threats and abusive language, while processions were organised against Jamaat-e-Islami over allegations that the organisation had urged people to vote against BJP.

APCR said the incidents documented in the report were compiled from local sources due to “restrictions and gaps in mainstream reporting.” The organisation stated that the incidents reflected “a wider climate of hostility rather than isolated clashes.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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