From Malda school, families start returning to Dhuliyan homes
Times of India | 15 April 2025
Malda: As many as 19 families who had found refuge at a school in Malda's Baishnabnagar returned to their homes in Murshidabad's Dhuliyan, escorted by a police team, early Monday. Locals claimed about 500 people had escaped trouble-torn Murshidabad and had taken shelter in Parlalpur High School, on the other side of the Ganga, on Saturday.
With central forces deployed around the families' Dhuliyan homes, the homecoming could take place. The rest, however, said they would go back only when things got normal and the tension around the region dissipated.
Dhuliyan vegetable vendor Khudu Sarkar, for instance, was not optimistic. "What shall we return to? Nothing is left there... no homes, nothing," said Khudu. Others like Kalicharan Pramanik and Shyam Ghosh echoed her. "Police are saying we can return home. Some have already left. But we are not so confident," said Shyam.
"Will I spend ‘Nababarsha' here, in the camp? Won't I be able to pray at my ‘thakurghar' even on new year?" wondered 62-year-old Tarini Mandal.
Being a refugee shelter may pose a problem for the school as well. Headmaster Nurul Hoda said: "After three holidays, the school will open on Wednesday. But this won't be possible with so many people living there. I have informed the sub inspector of schools about this."
Police seniors, however, hoped all the families would start returning late on Monday or early Tuesday. ADG (Law & Order) Jawed Shamim told reporters: "Malda Police escorted the families back safely on Monday, with help from both Murshidabad and Malda administrations. We are hoping more villagers will return to Murshidabad by Tuesday." Shamim, however, did not give any specific numbers as to how many had fled their homes. "Malda is just across the river. We do know that around 150-200 persons have taken shelter at a Baishnabnagar school. Some others went to stay with their relatives. The numbers will not be substantial," he said.
ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar, who has been camping in Shamsherganj, said, "People have started returning home. We are providing them with police protection. The situation is slowly getting normal."
Malda DM Nitin Singhania said: "We arranged all the relief material for those who took shelter. Now the situation in Murshidabad is better. Already 20 families have returned home. By tomorrow, all of them will be able to return, I hope."
Meanwhile, NGOs, some at the behest of BJP netas, have been reaching out to the refugees with relief material. Trinamool Congress and BJP netas also made a beeline to speak to the families.