Pl. help me verify this report….
Some of you may have come across this email/ read this article “Terror Unbound: 14 years old Hindu child burnt alive” (- thanks to A Thapar for forwarding it to me).
I am attempting to ascertain its veracity.
All I have at the moment is the information on HinduJagruti site and link to the Statesman’s report on the incident – unfortunately in Bengali (Can someone who knows Bengali please read and confirm whether its the same story).
There is a also a YouTube video on the site with Samrat’s interview.
Has anyone come across other links to this story? Does anyone know more details?
Was this attack definitely linked to Samrat being a Hindu or was there any other angle to it?
Please forward the link https://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/06/30/help-verify-this-report/ to your friends and acquaintances – particularly who may be familiar with Bengal or are Bengalis…I need help in verifying this information.
Please leave a comment here or email me at jai.dharma AT gmail.com
I have read the Bengali article on ‘Dainik Statesman’ dated 23nd June, 2007. The summary of the article is as follows:
14 year old Samrat Mondol, a class 8 student, son of Suroth Mondol, of Bangalpara, Basanti, Bantolla, South 24 parganas, survived an attempted murder by immolation. His family fled their home and are currently residing with his brother in law, Neelaj Mondal, at Vivekananda Nagar, Madhyamgram, North 24 parganas. Despite several requests to local police, administration, councillors, panchayat and political leaders, they are yet to receive any justice.
The main accused persons are Jumsheikh Guyen, and his brother Guyesh Guyen, notorious ‘dacoits’ in the South 24 parganas, Basanti area, who are feared personalities with numerous accusations of murder and dacoities in their name. Apparently (time not specified) Jumsheikh and his gang robbed and looted the house of relatively affluent Suroth Mondal. Mr Mondal reporetd the incidence to police with no avail. In fact within the next one month, Jumsheikh and his gang committed 4 more incidences of ‘dacoity’ on Mr Mondal’s residence. When repeated FIRs were lodged at the local police station, they were threatened to be killed.
Bangalpara’s local panchayat was also informed. Suroth Mondol reports that following a meeting at Panchayat level, it was actually decided that they were to be driven out of the village. Following that in the dark of the night, one day, their house was destroyed. As a punishment for further reporting to the local police station, on 4th May, the ‘dacoits’ got hold of Samrat one day and after beating him up, poured kerosene on him and set him on fire. They tried to push him into a pit but he managed to escape and jumped into a pond nearby. He was rescued by some local residents and taken to Canning Hospital where he was admitted with 50% burn to his body. Later, he was taken to Calcutta Medical College. The family has been living with their son-in-law since 18th June. Despite reports to Police Super, South 24 parganas, local police stations at Basanti and Canning, local councillors and panchayat leaders, against Jumsheikh Guyen and Guyesh Guyen, no arrest has been made and the accused are still at large.
Arindam,
Thank you. It appears that this was more a social crime than a religious incident.
The Bengali article actually presented the story as a communal attack (i.e. Muslims attacking a Hindu boy).
It is true that the attackers were criminals, but the fact that Muslims can openly afford this kind of attacks without being afraid of any consequence is telling.
The article said that the boy did not die immediately from his burns, and that the family tried to ask justice from the local police and from local politicians, but nobody wanted to listen to them (one could wonder why).
Actually the boy’s family received retaliation threats because they had reported the events to the police, so the entire family had to flee the area and take shelter with some relatives living in another area (the mother’s brother’s village). There the boy finally died of his injuries.
The article did not say if the family was able to return to their home later on, but it is very unlikely.
My personal conclusion is that mere ordinary criminality would not explain these facts.