‘Bengal cops didn't answer our calls, BSF reached hours before them’: Murshidabad villagers reveal their ‘saviour’

Murshidabad villages demand a BSF outpost in the area.

As violence hit Murshidabad on April 8, West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Border Security Force (BSF) of fuelling tension. “I came across news claiming the role of elements from across the border in the Murshidabad unrest. Is it not the role of the BSF to guard the border? The BSF is under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The state government does not guard the international border. The Central government can’t evade responsibility. I will find the local youths the BSF paid to throw stones during the violence," the CM had said, addressing a meeting with Muslim religious leaders in Kolkata, last Wednesday.

On ground zero, however, the much vilified BSF is seen as a “saviour".

Jaffrabad village in Murshidabad’s Shamsherganj area is still coming to terms with the murders of 72-year-old Haragobinda Das and his 40-year-old son Chandan. Locals, however, allege, the BSF personnel reached the affected village at least two hours before the local police, turning out to be the first responders.

“We fought the attackers for hours. We were tired of resisting them. We called the police a hundred times. They didn’t pick up the calls. When they did answer, the police told us, ‘Jaan bachake bhaago (Save yourselves and run)’. Around 2 pm, a BSF vehicle reached here, giving us the much-needed comfort," says Ranjit Kumar Pal.

He adds that around 4 pm, the local police came to the village. Mandal claims the build-up for the mayhem started around 9 am as an anti-Waqf protest turned communal and violent.

His father, 50-year-old Balaram Pal, nodded as an exasperated Ranjit recounted the chronology of the day. “He bought a bed four days ago. The bed has been completely burnt to ashes," says Balaram, as Ranjit corrects, “The whole house is burnt."

Ranjit has taken refuge at his uncle’s house in the next village until they have a roof on their heads.

Swarup Das, the nephew of Haragobinda Das, echoed the sentiment. “We were calling the police since 8.30 or 9 am. But the police turned up at 4 or 5 pm."

By the time the police reached the area, it was too late for the family, as two of them had become victims of a frenzied mob. “We don’t trust the state authorities. We need the Centre…The Centre should set up a BSF camp here. Otherwise, we won’t be able to live here," adds Swarup.

Meanwhile, six locals — Babul Sk, 24, Abdul Khalek, 24, Saba Karim, 25, Roni Sheikh, 23, Manarul Sheikh, 54, and Azfarul Sheikh, 21, — who had fled to Odisha and were involved in the killing of the father and son have been arrested by the West Bengal Police STF. All are from Sulitala, which is very close to Jaffrabad, as opposed to claims of a “Bangladeshi hand". These arrests take the total count to 10.

Remembering Haragobinda Das, his childhood friend, Sishir Das says, “Why would anyone do this to him? He was the most amicable person. He was equally good to people of both communities, Hindus as well as Muslims. I have never heard him utter a single abuse for anyone in my life."

Das, whose house too was burnt, says, “There was never any tension in this village. In fact, it was so peaceful that the elections were conducted with security by just civic volunteers here." He, too, agrees with Ranjit and Balaram’s charge of police turning up very late.

The distrust for the local law enforcement machinery was palpable even in the voice of the widow of Haragobinda Das. She expressed her faith in the BSF over state law enforcement. “We want a BSF camp here. A state police camp won’t do." When asked why, her reply was clear, “After so many calls for so long, the police did not turn up".

Earlier, News18 met the family of Lily Pal in Degri village, which was caught fleeing their ancestral house in search of safety. For her as well, it is the BSF that inspires a sense of safety and instils hope. “We want a BSF camp here. We demand the President’s Rule in Bengal," she had told News18.

“My request to the Prime Minister is that we should have a BSF camp in Jaffrabad. We will not survive if the BSF doesn’t stay here… Otherwise, the attackers will kill us. Nothing will be left," urges Ranjit.

Unperturbed by political allegations and not burdened by local expectations, the BSF personnel quietly march through the serpentine roads, by the ponds, crossing orchards in violence-torn Murshidabad.