Muharram violence in Kaliachak

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 DEC: Thousands of people from a Muharram rally attacked doctors and nurses of Kaliachak hospital with arms, this afternoon, when a boy was killed and several others were injured due to the bursting of a gas cylinder, belonging to a ballon seller, in a local Muharram fair at Maheshpur-Alipur.

Dr Sukdeb Biswas and other staff on duty, had to flee the hospital campus to save their lives. The angry mob entered the hospital quarters, which is close to the Kaliachak police station, damaging it thoroughly. They ransacked the hospital and at least six rooms were damaged in presence of police, according to the health officials.

Trouble broke out when one doctor and a few sisters failed to monitor the treatment of more than twenty injured persons, including many children. Nearly eight boys, most of them between 8 to 14 years old, including the balloon seller were brought to the hospital in a critical condition. The angry mob demanded immediate treatment which could not be delivered because of staff shortage.

According to the chief medical officer of health, Dr Srikanta Roy, on duty doctor, Dr Biswas and other staff on duty had to flee when hundreds of people with arms like sword, rod and other weapons chased them demanding immediate treatment.

The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “A fourteen year old gas balloon seller died. Seven critically injured patients were admitted to Malda district hospital. They are under going treatment. Some other injured were admitted to Kaliachak hospital”.

Unconfirmed sources said that two more persons died on the spot. The Malda SP said: “We don't have information about two more deaths.”

After the incident the CMOH sought help from the DM and SP and large police forces were dispatched to the spot. Till late evening police could not drive out nearly 500 angry people from the hospital campus.The sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, rushed to the spot this evening to pacify the mob. After the incident two doctors of Kaliachak hospital Mr Mansoor Ali and Mr Razzak, were asked to visit the Kaliachak hospital with police escort. Initially the doctors denied but the Malda SP ensured police escort for them. When trouble broke out a small number of police had to return from the spot. In another incident at Mirjatpur in Ratua police station, people from a Muharram rally damaged a few houses of Hindus. Police rushed to the spot to control communal tension. The Malda SP said the situation is under control in Ratua.