Jihadi Onslaught against Hindus in West Bengal

On
January 9 2009, four Muslims attacked a Hindu female devotee returning
from a temple, of the Hindu Goddess Kali, and attempted to molest her
in the Masterpara locality of Asansol city.

Local Hindus were
outraged by this incident and beat up these four Muslim hoodlums. The
four soon came back to the same location with a mob of around 300
Muslim activists, armed with swords and sticks, and attacked and
vandalised Hindu owned shops, looted them, and beat up many members of
the local Hindu populace.

As the besieged Hindus attempted to
protect themselves and retaliated, joined by other Hindu residents of
adjoining areas, a clash ensued. A large contingent of policemen from
seven area police stations went to the area and resorted to
baton-charge to separate the two groups in order to de-escalate the
tension. Two companies of Rapid Action Force, an elite armed unit, were
also patrolling the area.

A large number of Hindus were injured
in the clash and resultant police action but the exact number was not
clear. Six persons were indiscriminately arrested for the incident with
police raids still continuing. Senior police officers were camping at
the area as the situation remained vulnerable.