Influentials behind Thakurpara violence

We are outraged by the fact that the violent attacks on Hindu houses in Thakurpara, Rangpur, over a Facebook post that may well be fake, were instigated by influential locals who have been spreading communal hatred in the village. Reportedly, this includes an imam of a mosque from a nearby village and a trader who first filed a case against a Hindu accusing him of uploading a post on Facebook that apparently hurt religious sentiments. We cannot help but ask: Is this what our imams are supposed to do, spread bigotry and instigate violence on helpless people?

It is a positive sign that the police have arrested 60 people including the imam who had started this campaign of hatred. A case has been filed accusing 2,000 people. But whether this means that these helpless victims of this shameful attack will get justice, is something that is not guaranteed. We say this as almost identical attacks have taken place in Ramu and Nasirnagar. We do not know the disposal of the accused in these two cases. In the Thakurpara case too, there was plenty of warning that an attack was about to take place yet the police did not take any preemptive action. What were they waiting for and why?

We fervently hope that Thakurpara's fate will not be as bleak and disillusioning as that of Ramu and Nasirnagar. Since one of the main instigators has been arrested along with others who took part in this deplorable act, let the law take its course and mete out exemplary punishment to these bigots. Unless that happens the minority community of Thakurpara will continue to live in fear and insecurity.