In a shocking incident that took place on Sunday, October 13, in Shyampur, Howrah district of West Bengal, Muslim mobs unleashed havoc during a peaceful celebration of Durga Puja. The mob targeted a Durga Puja pandal, vandalised the sacred idol of the Hindu deity, and went on to set fire to local shops, further escalating the violence in the area.

The incident took place during an art competition organised by the Shyampur Bazaar Babasyayi Samiti as part of the Durga Puja celebrations. The competition aimed to promote religious understanding by asking participants to draw “eminent personalities of different religions.” This initiative was meant to bring people together, especially the Hindu children, and educate them about diverse religious figures.

According to Hindu activist Devdutta Maji, the organisers had displayed pictures of prophets from various religions to promote this educational message. In an attempt to include all communities, the event also featured a picture of Prophet Muhammad. However, this decision quickly became the flashpoint for the chaos that followed.

The display of Prophet Muhammad’s image, even though intended for educational purposes, sparked outrage among local Muslims. Soon, angry mobs took to the streets, claiming that their Prophet had been disrespected. In an alarming turn of events, the peaceful celebration was disrupted by violent mobs seeking vengeance for what they perceived as an ‘insult’ to their religious sentiments.

Despite the efforts of the club officials to de-escalate the situation, including the removal of the picture of Prophet Muhammad, the violence could not be prevented. “Frightened, the club officials removed the picture, but even that didn’t save them,” Devdutta Maji reported. The removal of the picture, which was meant to calm the situation, seemed to have little impact on the already enraged mob. Instead, the violent rampage continued, with stones being pelted at the Hindu devotees attending the festival.

The violence that erupted in Shyampur left behind a trail of destruction and terror. “The idols were vandalized, the pandal was destroyed, several Hindus were beaten and left bloodied, fires were set on the streets—all by the devout worshippers (Muslim mob), because their emotions had been hurt!” said Hindu activist Devdutta Maji, describing the intensity of the mob's actions. What should have been a peaceful celebration of Durga Puja turned into a scene of chaos as the mob unleashed its anger on everything in its path.

Visual evidence of the aftermath, which surfaced on social media, showed the extent of the devastation. The idol of Goddess Durga was seen shattered, a heartbreaking sight for the Hindu community, as this is not just a physical object but a sacred symbol of their faith. The pandal, which was meticulously decorated for the festival, lay in ruins. Several shops and local establishments were reduced to ashes as the mob set them on fire, spreading fear and panic among the people of Shyampur.

The violence did not stop there. The mob resorted to pelting stones at the police, who had arrived at the scene in an attempt to control the situation. The Hindu devotees, who had gathered to celebrate the festival, were also targeted. Stones were thrown indiscriminately, injuring many, and the peaceful gathering quickly turned into a scene of chaos.

Amit Thakur, a BJP Karyakarta, took to the social media platform X to express his outrage. "No, No what you are thinking is totally wrong. It's not #Bangladesh this image is from Howrah, Shyampur under Uluberia Sub Division. You easily understand who is behind this heinous crime," he wrote, drawing attention to the severity of the situation. The message resonated with many who saw the images of the destruction and were reminded of similar incidents elsewhere.

In response to the escalating violence, a large contingent of police was deployed to the area, along with the Rapid Action Force (RAF). Their presence helped to restore some sense of order, but not before significant damage had been done. According to reports, a total of 67 extremists were arrested by the police. These individuals were produced before the court to face charges for their involvement in the violent attacks, offering a glimmer of hope for justice in the face of such devastation.

As tensions simmered in the wake of the violent attacks in Shyampur, Howrah Rural Police Superintendent, Swati Bhangalia, addressed the media to reassure the public about the steps being taken to restore order. “Police and security personnel are keeping a close vigil in the area. Appropriate steps will be taken according to the progress of the situation,” she stated, underscoring the commitment of law enforcement to maintaining peace and safety in the region.

Bhangalia also shed light on the events leading up to the violent outbreak. According to her, a formal complaint was filed by a section of the community regarding the image of Prophet Muhammad displayed during the Durga Puja celebrations. This complaint led to the police registering a case and taking initial actions, including arrests. “In the Howrah district, unrest broke out during a Durga Puja celebration over a picture. The community objected to it and they came to the police station to submit a deputation. The deputation was received and a complaint was taken. Accordingly, a case was filed and arrests were also made,” she explained.

However, even after the authorities took these steps, the situation quickly spiraled out of control. A faction of the enraged mob decided to take matters into their own hands, attacking the police as they attempted to manage the crowd. The police were forced to respond, resulting in further arrests as the violence escalated. Bhangalia made it clear that the police had acted in response to this direct attack, ensuring that those involved were apprehended.

Despite the volatile situation, Swati Bhangalia assured the public that order had been restored. “The situation is under control,” she confirmed, adding that strict measures would be taken against anyone attempting to reignite tensions or disrupt the peace in the area.

Prohibitory Orders in Howrah After Violence Erupts During Durga Puja Celebrations, 30 Arrested

"We received information about vandalism in some puja pandals. We immediately sent force and the situation was brought under control. So far, 25 to 30 people have been arrested. We are patrolling in the area and have also imposed Section 144 in the area," said Swati Bhangalia, Superintendent of Police, Howrah.

The unrest that unfolded during the celebrations led the authorities to take strict measures. Section 163 of the BNSS, which now replaces Section 144 of CrPC, was enforced on Monday in Shyampur to prevent any further escalation of violence. The violent clashes, which began over a controversial picture displayed at a puja pandal, spiraled into acts of arson and vandalism. The community’s protests over the issue quickly turned into widespread unrest, causing significant damage.

Visuals from the area showed the extent of the destruction, with several structures damaged and scenes of arson painting a grim picture of the aftermath. This was far from the usual joyous atmosphere of Durga Puja, with locals reeling from the shock of the sudden violence that broke out during what should have been a time of celebration.

According to Swati Bhangalia, the police took prompt action after receiving reports of vandalism at multiple puja pandals. "Police were sent to review the situation. The situation is now under control. We are patrolling, and we have a request to the people to maintain communal harmony. We have also imposed Section 144," she informed the media on Sunday, stressing that the authorities were doing everything possible to ensure the safety of the community.

The decision to impose Section 144, which prohibits gatherings and public assemblies in the area, was necessary to prevent any further violence. The situation, which could have escalated further, was brought under control by the quick deployment of forces. Swati Bhangalia emphasized that the police are maintaining a strong presence in the region, and strict prohibitory orders were imposed as an additional measure to ensure peace.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari called for immediate steps to be taken against the vandals. He urged the police and administration to act swiftly, stating, "Today a group of miscreants while returning from the Shyampur Police Station where they went to submit a deputation, went berserk and started vandalising the Durga Puja Pandals. They set on fire the idols at the Shyampur Bazar Byabsayi Samiti Puja Pandal and vandalised other Pandals as well. Some of them even pelted stones at the immersion ghaat."

Adhikari highlighted the severity of the situation, adding, "The situation is very tense at the area under the Shyampur Police Station in the Howrah Rural Police District. I would like to urge the DG @WBPolice to send adequate forces immediately at the spot to quell the vandalism and take action against the unruly vandals." His post, made on the X platform, further requested that the Secretary @HomeBengal and senior officials closely monitor the situation until peace was fully restored. Adhikari concluded by urging the DM @HowrahDistrict & SP @RuralHowrah to take all necessary steps to contain the violence and protect the community.

Amit Malviya, in charge of the BJP IT Cell, also voiced his concerns on X, drawing attention to the deteriorating situation. "West Bengal is burning, again. A group of criminal thugs, after submitting a deputation at Shyampur Police Station, unleashed chaos in the Shyampur area. These anti-social individuals engaged in blatant vandalism, targeting Durga Puja pandals in the locality. In a disturbing act of violence, they set fire to the sacred idols at the Shyampur Bazar Byabsayi Samiti Puja Pandal and damaged several other pandals. Their destructive actions escalated further, with some even throwing stones at the immersion ghat, defiling our cultural and religious heritage. The situation has grown increasingly tense in areas under the Shyampur Police Station, which comes under the Howrah Rural Police District. This is a heinous act of violence and an assault on our traditions and the peaceful observance of Durga Puja. Mamata Banerjee Govt is threatening local media from telecasting details." Malviya emphasized that this violence not only threatened the physical structures but was also an assault on the traditions and peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja. He lamented the growing tension in the areas under the Shyampur Police Station, describing the acts as heinous and deeply disrespectful to the cultural fabric of the community.

As the situation continued to evolve, the local authorities responded by suspending internet services in Shyampur until further notice, a measure taken to prevent the spread of misinformation and to ease communication for law enforcement agencies working to maintain order.

This recent surge in violence follows an earlier incident on 11th October in the Garden Reach area of Kolkata, where another frenzied Muslim mob stormed the Puja Pandal of the New Bengal Sporting Club. The mob threatened to vandalise the idols unless the Puja celebrations were stopped immediately, further escalating tensions in the region. These back-to-back incidents have left the Hindu community on edge, fearing for the sanctity of their religious practices during this sacred festival.