At first Jumma prayers after clashes, community leaders call for peace
Times of India | 19 April 2025
123 Dhuliyan: The first Jumma in Jangipur after clashes broke out exactly a week ago saw a concerted effort to undo the violence and destruction.
Imams and politicians took the lead in appealing for peace and solidarity after Friday prayers. But the dwindling footfall of the faithful in mosques also indicated that numerous people have still not returned home.
Among Hindus, over 150 families still remain homeless or displaced.
"Last Friday, we witnessed a lot of trouble here," said Md Nurul Islam, imam of Mahaldar Para mosque in Dhuliyan. "Because of the subsequent police raids and arrests, many people fled home. Today, the participation halved to 250 during Jumma namaz. Both at the start and the end of my prayer sermon, I repeatedly urged people to head back home directly and not to huddle anywhere."
Imam Ismail, who presided over Friday prayers at the three-storey Notun Para mosque, said: "The turnout today during Jumma namaz dropped to 1,500, from the usual 2,500. People have fled home in fear of being caught by police. During the prayers, I reiterated that a true Muslim always looks after their neighbours." Ghosh Para, about a kilometre away from this mosque, bore the brunt of attacks by miscreants.
"The real culprits should be punished," said the imam of Kanchantala mosque, Abdul Rashid. "But in the name of raids, police should not barge into people's homes at night. Peace is returning slowly."
The peace appeals were not only limited to mosques in Dhuliyan, at the epicentre of the strife. All Bengal Imam Muazzin Association general secretary Md Nizamuddin Biswas, a resident of Murshidabad, said: "There are nearly 650 imams and muezzins in Suti and Shamsherganj alone. Everyone has been told to spread the message of peace and solidarity." The imams, however, admitted that it would take more than appeals to restore peace. Imam Ismail admitted that he never saw violence of such intensity in the 25 years that he has been in this mosque.
More than 150 Hindu families have also been forced to flee homes. Among them are over 80 families in Bethbona and around 40 in Jafrabad, according to local estimates, who still cannot return. Most of those who have fled Bethbona have taken shelter in Malda. The rest have taken shelter in other parts of Murshidabad, with a few taking shelter with relatives in Jharkhand. Those who have taken shelter in the Malda school refuse to return without a permanent BSF camp at their village. Only 30 families have returned to the village where about 110 homes have been damaged.
Farakka MLA Manirul Islam said several homes were still locked in Dhuliyan, and at least one village was without any males. "I was on the streets today, urging those who have done nothing wrong to return home. Only the guilty will not be spared," Islam said.
In Shamsherganj, politicians came together with community elders to take out a peace rally, appealing for peace on Friday. Along with Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, MLAs Amirul Islam and Bayron Biswas, industrialist Ramakrishna Singh, purohit Dilip Das, and locals Shasti Ghosh and Ramesh Memari walked together, urging for peace. Jangipur MP Khalilur Rehman, also with folded hands, appealed for peace. "For ages, Dhuliyan has been the epitome of communal harmony. This has to be retained at all costs. No one but us, if we stay united, can do this," he said.