When the city of victory became the city of riots, the 59-year-old story of Hindu-Muslim riots in Kolkata.
First, 29 Hindus were killed in East Pakistan protesting the Hazratbal incident. It got a huge response in Kolkata too. In no time riots spread throughout the city. Hindus and Muslims became thirsty for each other’s blood.
200 people were killed in that Calcutta riot.
Calcutta is called the city of victory, but if you look into the history of this capital of West Bengal, there are many gruesome chapters of riots. These riot chapters are filled with page after page of gory stories. The riots of 1964 are in this chapter. This riot is written in black letters in history. A bloody story never to be forgotten.
It is believed that on December 27, 1963, Mohammad Sahib’s hair was stolen from the Hazratbal Temple in Srinagar, Kashmir. There was a mass movement in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. Sparks of this movement can be seen as far as East Pakistan, which is now independent Bangladesh.
In the Hazratbal incident, members of the Advisory Committee of the Islamic Board in East Pakistan waged jihad against Hindus and other non-Muslims. A meeting was also held on January 13 at Dhaka Stadium regarding the Hazratbal incident. Conspiracies on Pakistani soil played a major role in provoking the whole situation.
Calcutta became a city of riots
First, 29 Hindus were killed in East Pakistan protesting the Hazratbal incident. A big response has been seen in Kolkata as well. In no time riots spread throughout the city. Hindus and Muslims became thirsty for each other’s blood. The entire city of Joy became a city of riots.
On January 13, 1964, around 200 people were killed and more than 300 injured in horrific communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Calcutta. Along with this, the Kolkata riots became one of the biggest riots in the country. The situation turned so bad that the police and security forces were ordered to open fire on sight of the rioters. Hindus and Muslims started setting fire to each other’s houses. So curfew has been issued in five police station areas of Kolkata.
Earlier there were riots in Kolkata
This is not the first such riot on Kolkata soil. Earlier in 1946 also the city faced the terror of riots. After that, more than 20 thousand people died in Kolkata within 72 hours. But the Calcutta riots on January 13, 1964 after independence were no less terrifying.
About seven thousand people were arrested during this riot to restore law and order. Communal tension prevailed in Calcutta for almost the whole of January. After many efforts, the riots were brought under control, but by then every corner of Calcutta city was engulfed in riots.
