Kolkata: Lives in minority pockets across Kolkata changed overnight after the election results, with bike gangs riding through Muslim neighbourhoods and letting out “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.In South Tangra, the situation turned extremely volatile on Tuesday night when a mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram” attacked a Trinamool Congress office and targeted bikes and houses of Muslims in the neighbourhood. When Trinamool supporters — both Muslim and Hindu — converged in huge numbers to counter the attack, the situation threatened to spiral out of hand. MLA Javed Ahmed Khan arrived in the nick of time and controlled the situation.“Innocent people were mercilessly beaten, the local club and our party office destroyed. Such acts of violence are completely unacceptable. Targeting common people and community institutions shows a complete disregard for law, order, and basic human dignity,” the MLA said.A Punjabi dhaba owner, whose outlet drew motorists at night for tea, dialled some Muslim customers he knew for years and cautioned them. “Avoid coming for the next couple of days as the situation here is volatile,” he told an exporter who lived near Bondel Road and frequented the outlet.A Muslim man living in Dilkhusha Street behind Quest Mall asked his wife to ensure she accompanied their daughters whenever they stepped out. A motor parts trader living on Darga Road told his teenage son to stay indoors unless it was essential and not to hang around with friends in the neighbourhood for now.An advisory circulated in family and society WhatsApp groups cautioned: “Avoid arguments, conflicts and heated discussions. Stay away from crowded gatherings. Do not engage in any form of confrontation.”Shafkat Alam, who operated an NGO that educated children from marginalised families in the Topsia-Tiljala belt, said two Muslim toughs switched from TMC to BJP a day after the election results and led bike gangs into the minority-dominated localities.“The bike gangs are riding through the lanes and bylanes of Topsia and Tiljala, shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to provoke a reaction. While the literate in the community are tense and scared, those who are not and don’t care about their lives are on the edge and itching to retaliate. We are extremely worried and want the govt to control the situation at the earliest,” he said.Near Simla Biryani near EM Bypass Ruby corssing, a group of youths cornered a Muslim driver and asked him to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. The youths fled when a few other Muslims gathered to check out if he was in trouble.In north Kolkata’s Belgachhia, Muslim youths, including delivery boys, have stopped venturing into Paikpara after dark following the thrashing of a youth on result day. Wasim Akhter, who lives there, said the feeling in minority neighbourhoods was one of fear and anger. “While youths are seething in anger, women are crouching in fear and are trying to protect the children,” he said. An exporter said he has asked his children to stay at home. “My friends who stay outside have been asking me to leave the city. I never thought the situation would come to such a pass,” the Bondel Road resident said.
