Supporters of former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir attempt to lynch Hindu journalist, loot his camera equipment in Muslim-dominated Murshidabad

Supporters of Humayun Kabir attacked a journalist in Murshidabad.
Screenshots from viral video showing journalist Abhishek Shandilya being attacked. ( via X/@navneetmishra99)

In an alarming incident in the TMC-ruled West Bengal’s Murshidabad, supporters of suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir recently attemped to lynch a Hindu journalist and a cameraman who had gone there to report about the construction of ‘Babri Masjid’

The incident occured when journalist and Global TV News journalist Abhishek Shandilya and his colleague Aditya Mishra were reporting in Murshidabad, West Bengal. According to Global TV News, a mob of supporters of Humayun Kabir attacked Shandilya and his colleague and held them hostage on the site of the so-called Babri Masjid. The mob reportedly tried to tie up Abhishek Shandilya with plastic pipes and lynch him.

The attackers snatched away their equipment worth ₹4 lakh, including a microphone and a camera. Some videos of the attack have gone viral on social media.

The Murshidabad police somehow rescued Abhishek Shandilya and Aditya Mishra. However, the police, who seemed helpless against the mob, asked the journalist and his colleague to leave the area immediately to avoid the mob following them. The journalist said that the construction work of the Babri Masjid replica was being carried out secretly at the site. He said that he had a 40-minute footage of the construction site on his camera, which was looted by the mob. Shandilya said that the mob attacked him and his colleague in a well-planned manner. Shandilya added that the police recovered the microphone from the mob but did not hand it over to him. The duo left the place without their equipment to save their lives.

State BJP accuses West Bengal Police of being a mute spectator

BJP West Bengal lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee government in the state for the attack on the journalists. The party accused the West Bengal police of being a mute spectator of the attack.

“Reporter Abhishek Shandilya and his cameraman were attacked by supporters of Humayun Kabir, and they looted equipment worth ₹4 lakh in Murshidabad. The police remained mute spectators and did not give them protection. This is the reality of law and order in Murshidabad, which has 70% Muslim population. Under Home Minister Mamata, such antisocial elements have taken over West Bengal!” BJP West Bengal wrote on X on 30th December, sharing a clip of the attack.

Suspended TMC MLA laid the foundation stone of the Babri Masjid replica

Earlier this month, TMC MLA Humayun Kabir had disclosed his intentions to build a replica of Babri Masjid in Beldanga in the Murshidabad district. After this, he was suspended by the TMC in an attempt to distance itself from his plans. Humayun threatened bloodshed if anyone tried to thwart his nefarious plans, and gloated over the fact that the Muslim population is increasing drastically in the State and would become 40% by the time the construction of the mosque is complete. He laid the foundation stone of the Babri Masjid replica on 6th December, coinciding with the anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure, also known as Babri Masjid. 

Written by OpIndia Staff
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