Hindu extremists’ attack claims Muslim man’s life in Kolkata amidst surge in lynchings
Kolkata: Following a series of lynchings in West Bengal, Kolkata witnessed yet another tragic incident of mob violence as a Muslim man fell victim to a fatal assault by Hindutva extremists.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the victim, Azgar Molla, a resident of Phulbari, accused falsely of theft, was brutally beaten and left critically injured just 500 meters from the local police station. His family, devastated by the incident, lamented the lack of intervention that could have saved his life.
The incident adds to a disturbing trend of anti-Muslim violence that has intensified across northern and eastern India under the Narendra Modi government. Since the ascent of the Narendra Modi government, northern and eastern India has witnessed a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim violence. Molla’s death marks the 13th lynching incident since June 4, with cases reported in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Jharkhand. Among these, nine victims were Muslim men, alongside a Christian woman and three individuals from backward Hindu communities.
In Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, mobs associated with Hindu right-wing groups targeted Muslim men in their 20s and 30s, subjecting them to brutal attacks. A Christian woman also fell victim to similar violence in Chhattisgarh.
West Bengal has witnessed over 15 incidents of mob violence in the past two weeks alone, resulting in severe injuries and five deaths. Many families of the victims have contested the allegations, stating they were based on rumors and false accusations. The victims, predominantly Muslims as well as from economically and socially marginalized backgrounds, face the brunt of these tragic events.
