Hindu Samhati leader Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and others freed on bail.

In a happy turn of events on the 27th of June, 2008, Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and others who were incarcerated in the Diamond Harbour Jail for the Gangasagar incident, were freed on bail. At the hearing at Kakdwip Court yesterday all the accused (falsely) persons for the Gangasagar incident of June 12th were freed on personal bail bonds of Rs.1000/- each. As expected, the West Bengal Police could not substantiate any of the 'heavy duty' charges they had levelled against Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and others; and were roundly reprimanded by the judge.

The accused who were freed on bail are:

1. Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh
2. Sri Sundar Gopal Das
3. Sri Amal Bose
4. Sri Prasenjit Sardar
5. Sri Jagannath Ash
6. Sri Pintu Das
7. Sri Samir Mondal
8. Sri Dulal Sardar
9. Sri Kamal Sardar
10. Sri Mukunda Kolay
11. Sri Ram Naskar
12. Sri Prasenjit Haoladar
13. Sri Bappa Samanta
14. Sri Swapan Mondal
15. Sri Gaur Das

Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh's message to our well wishers

Dear friends,
The extreme privations of prison life notwithstanding, all the 15 workers of Hindu Samhati, who are with me in the Diamond Harbour Jail, are in high spirits.
In the incident of the 12th June night 20 of our workers were injured, eight of them seriously. There was also a lady among those who were seriously injured. Both the police and the administration were complete failures in quelling the absolute rampage that went on at the Hindu Samhati campsite, from 7pm in the evening till 1 am at night. Not only that, the police team - many of whom were seriously injured - took shelter inside the camp to save their lives. If the brave young workers of HS had not fought the bloodthirsty Muslim mob back with a desperate courage, one shudders to think what would have happened. The 8 ladies participating in the camp would surely have been violated and then another Godhra would have been enacted in Gangasagar.
What happened and what could have happened - this event can be viewed from numerous perspectives. But what I want to convey to my compatriots, to those who are with me in jail and to those without, that this is the price we have to pay.
In West Bengal Hindus keep their heads down and suffer insults silently. They get persecuted, Hindu women are raped and gang raped but still they do not seek redress or justice. As a last resort they leave the homes of their ancestors and migrate. For all their sufferings they just pray helplessly to God for deliverance. But God does not listen to the entreaties of the weak and piteous. So the persecution does not stop and the Hindus are forced to leave their homes and move elsewhere. Whole areas become cleared of Hindus and India shrinks.
Such a situation cannot be redressed with prayer. One has to pay a price. The Hindu wants peace but does not want to pay for it. Unfortunately, in this world nothing comes free. This is the lesson Hindu Samhati seeks to impart. On 12th June we paid a small part of that ‘price’, being remanded to judicial custody was another part. But a far, far higher price would have to be paid in blood, incarceration and sacrifice to ensure true peace and security of the Hindus. Preparing the Hindu nation for paying this price is the ultimate goal of Hindu Samhati. There are no shortcuts to it.
In the great battle of Kurukshetra those who fought on the side of Dharma, for safeguarding the Dharma, was aided by the Lord (Shri Krishna) himself. Let the devout Hindus, who are so devoted to Shri Krishna, ponder upon the price the side of Dharma and righteousness had to pay. Even though the Lord himself aided them. Arjun, Shri Krishna’s dearest friend, had to suffer the bottomless grief and despair of a father who watches his beloved son die in battle. Why didn’t Shri Krishna save or revive Abhimanyu? He could have, if he wanted to. He was the incarnation of God on earth; the elements were his to command. He didn’t because even he could not act contrary to the law of this world - the law which firmly lays down that anything worthwhile has to be achieved at a price. Thus establishment of Dharma and righteousness could not take place for free and without suffering. Not only did Arjun and Bhim suffer the grief of losing sons. The field of Kurukshetra was soaked in blood and the sky was rent by the lament of the Kshatriya women. That was the price of establishing Dharma.
Today the Hindus of Bengal shall have to pay a dire price for securing peace, security and the honour of their women. Let the Hindus of Bengal prepare for it - this is the message of Gangasagar.
Yours forever,
Tapan Kumar Ghosh
Diamond Harbour Jail
24 Parganas (South), West Bengal
Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and the Hindu Samhati team offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all our workers, compatiots and well wishers, who responded to our call of distress on the night of June 12, 2008 and selflessly did their bit in allaying the dire situation. May God preserve you all.
Hindu Samhati

Muslim Mob Attack on Hindu Samhati Camp at Gangasagar - Full Report

Sagar island at the Gangasagar – the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal – is one of the holiest pilgrimages of India, where millions of Hindus from all over India and the world gather during the ‘Makar Sankranti’ (Winter Solstice) for the ‘punya snan’ or holy bath every year. As per the holy Hindu scriptures, this pilgrimage centre was established more than 2000 years ago by Maharishi Kapil (popularly known as Kapil Muni) the chief proponent of 'Samkhya Darshan' or the Samkhya school of thought within Hindu or Indian theology. This remote island gained popular notice in ancient India when Maharishi Kapil set up his ashram in this distant corner to keep away from the attendant distractions of city or village life and meditate upon the novel theories he was propounding.
Hindu Samhati had planned a 3 day training camp and workshop upon the current socio-political scenario of Eastern India in the serene and peaceful ambience of this island. The camp was scheduled to be conducted from 12th June, 2008 to 15th June, 2008 and would be presided over by Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, the National Convener of Hindu Samhati.

Pic: Sagar Island from the passenger ferry -

The venue of the camp was at the southern end of the island near the Kapil Muni Mandir. There are many rest houses for pilgrims in Sagar island, mostly run by different charities and religious or community trusts. Hindu Samhati had requested the Textile Merchant's Association of Kolkata for the use of their rest house or 'yatri nivas' and the association had most graciously offered their premises as a venue for the camp.

Pic: The Pilgrim's Rest House (Yatri Nivas) of the Calcutta Textile Merchant's Association.

The camp commenced in the afternoon of the 12th of June and was attended by a well disciplined and extremely enthusiastic group of about 170 people. The majority of the attendees were young men with a sprinkling of some older gentlemen. A group of about 12 ladies and some children were also present.
The first session session went extremely well. The session commenced with the recitation of Vedic mantras and then speeches were made by Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and other notables.

Pic: Attendees during the first session of the camp.

Pic: Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, National Convener of Hindu Samhati, delivering his speech.

Pic: Attendees going for a dip in the Sangam and a visit to the Mandir of Kapil Muni.

After afternoon tea, the camp attendees decided to take a holy dip at the sangam (confluence) and pay their obeisance at the temple of Kapil Muni, which is a short walk away from the venue.
Trouble started when they were returning from the sangam. Being young and enthusiastic some of them raised slogans of 'Jai Sri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and many others joined in. Surprisingly a number of Muslim cycle van drivers (and we have it on good authority that most of them are Bangladeshi infiltrators who have been sneaking in for the past few years), who ply their trade of transporting pilgrims around the mandir, took a serious exception and menacingly set upon the Hindu Samhati members. They roundly abused the HS members in a most threatening language and insisted that slogans like 'Jai Sri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' cannot be raised in Gangasagar! They maintained that these slogans are anti Islamic and it offends their religious sentiment! It belabours the intellect of even the most gullible as to how does raising one's voice in the praise of God and motherland offends Islam!

Pic: Fire in one corner of the building caused by petrol soaked fire bombs

Quite naturally the Hindu Samhati members told them off and an altercation ensued. The seniors among the group immediately intervened and tried to placate the situation. They asked both the parties to go their own way in peace. Unfortunately the Muslims proved implacable and the situation took a turn for the worse when some of them passed some lewd comments at the ladies of the group. The younger members of the group were furious but yet again the seniors intervened and somehow placated the situation. But threatening words flew even as the Hindu Samhati members began to walk back towards the venue. This happened at around 7 pm in the evening.

Pic: Fire started by petrol bombs raging in the kitchen.

After returning as the Hindu Samhati members were preparing for the next session, a great commotion ensued. As they ran out to see what was happening they witnessed a violent and murderous mob of about 1000 Muslims approaching. The mob was led by Sheikh Ismail, the CPI(M) backed President of the Sagar Panchayet Samity, Sukdev Panda, CPI(M) member of the Gangasagar Gram Panchayet and Malay Kayal, CPI(M) member of the South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad representing Dakshin Sagar. Shouting slogans and hurling the foulest of abuses the mob tried to barge into the building and practically storm the place. Taken aback by the suddenness of the attack the Hindu Samhati members fell back. While the seniors tried to placate the attackers and restore normalcy, the leaders of the mob accused them of disrupting communal harmony and trying to instigate a riot. By now the mob was baying for blood, brickbats flew in like a hailstorm as cries of 'Nara-e-taqdir, Allahu Akbar' and 'inquilab zindabad' rent the air. At this juncture the mob broke down the gate and tried to force their way in uttering blood curdling threats of massacring everyone inside. Parts of the mob also fanned out towards the villages to gather more of their brethren. As a matter of fact, our fact finding team, which went to the spot a day later, heard from the locals that microphones in the mosques were used to drum up a mini jihad and call the faithful to war.

Pic: Policemen helping in dousing the flames.

In the meantime the Sagar Police Station had been intimated and a posse of 14 to 15 policemen arrived. However the Muslim mob had now surged to around 4000-5000 and practically laid a seige to the camp building. The small group of policemen were woefully inadequate to tackle a murderous mob that size although they lathi-charged and even fired 3-4 rounds in the air. But the Muslims took no heed of police warnings and stormed ahead. Totally unable to quell the mob, the police now fell back inside the building.
By this time the gate of the building had been forced open and the mob tried to storm in. Brickbats were raining in and a muslim mob nearly 5000 strong armed with lathis, iron rods and a vareity of sharp weapons laid a seige to the building. Fearing for their lives and even more apprehensive about the fate of the ladies, if the mob could reach them, the members now fought back desperately. Some of them rushed out with some cots to barricade the open gate while others threw back the hundreds of bricks and stones that rained upon them. Being totally unarmed, without even a broken stick, this was the only way they could defend themselves. By this time about 15 members had fallen down with serious injuries due to brickbats and lathi blows they received in trying to defend the gate. 4 or 5 of them were unconscious from severe head injuries. Two policemen had also fallen down due to head injuries resulting from direct hits with brickbats.

Pic: Camp members plying the water pump for dear life.

Unable to breach through the gate the mob of Muslims now tried a different tack. They started to break open the windows by hurling iron rods at them. Then they doused balls of cloth in petrol, set them alight and threw those fireballs inside the building to roast alive those who were trapped inside. Petrol bombs were made of small bottles filled with petrol, these too were set alight and hurled inside (remember Godhra?). Some of the more imaginative and enterprising of the Muslims dragged in a LPG cylinder and tried to explode it against the wall of the building. It was through God's grace they were unsuccessful otherwise there would have been a severe carnage.
Meanwhile inside the building the boys and the remaining policemen were frantically trying to douse the fires. They were pumping for dear life at the installed tubewell inside the premises and doused bucket loads of water on the petrol fire, rushing through the chocking black smoke. Unfortunately, as they were untrained

Pic: Injured policeman.

in the methods of dealing with petrol fires, the fire spread even faster as the petrol floated over the water.
The fire could only be contained when somebody urged them to choke the fire with wet blankets and moist earth from the potted plants in the compound.
By this time it was around 10:30 to 11:00 pm. As all their attempts of storming the building was meeting with failure, the crowd grew ever more furious and began to vent their anger and frustration else where. A number of neighbouring Hindu homes were assaulted and looted. Another Yatri Nivas, run by the VHP, was broken into, looted and set on fire. Though this building was 300 metres away from camp venue and had absolutely nothing to do with the Hindu Samhati training camp.

Pic: The injured in the Sri Vishuddhanand Hospital, Kolkata.

While this mayhem was going on members inside desperately tried to reach the police and administrative apparatus of the state and their other members and sympathisers outside through their mobile phones. Even though they received the calls the response of the administration especially that of the Superintendent of Police, South 24 Parganas, was dithering and lackadaisical. It was when the frantic calls for help reached other members and sympathisers in Kolkata, phone calls and emails began to rush out and kept rushing out throughout the night, to all corners of India and the world. Friends were rudely aroused from there well deserved sleep and asked to help. The busy office schedules of NRI sympathisers in the far corners of the world were severely disrupted as they were asked to organise assistance and spread the word of this outrage. And Hindus responded. Throughout India and the world. Phones kept ringing, the powers that be in Delhi was nudged and prodded and the need for immediate and affirmative action was stressed through various channels.

It was the pressure of opinion, the mounting Hindu outrage and anger and maybe the fear of severe repercussions if any casualties took place, that whipped the lethargic state machinery into action. By 1:30 am a large police force including a battalion of RAF had reached. The Muslim miscreants tried to put up roadblocks they were beaten down. The police then reached the venue and dispersed the seige of the camp building.
This was by no means the end of things. The Government which dragged its foot in providing speedy assistance to the beleaguered attendees of the camp - whose lives were in danger - now brazenly enacted another travesty of law and justice. The assaulters, who were bent on committing murder and mayhem, were allowed to hold an all party peace and communal harmony meeting on the spot! While the innocent organisers and attendees of the Hindu Samhati camp who had been peaceful, unarmed and victims of the most violent and blood thirsty assault, had their camp and workshop cancelled. The Hindu Samhati members were immediately whisked away by the police and forcibly removed from the island. The more seriously injured were rushed to Kolkata and has been admitted to Sri Vishuddhanand Saraswati Marwari Hospital.

15 members of Hindu Samhati were arrested by the police and produced in Kakdwip court on the 13th of June, 2008. The police slapped completely baseless cases on them under various sections of the IPC like 'incitement to rioting and disruption of communal harmony', 'carrying illegal arms', 'attempt to murder', etc. In court bail was denied to them on the 13th and 13 of them were remanded to Judicial custody. While Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, The National Convener of Hindu Samhati and Sri Sundar Gopal Das was remanded to Police custody. Both of them are now in Kakdwip Police Station. All of them would again be produced in court on the 17th of June.
A fact finding team of Hindu Samhati visited Sagar Island on the 14th of June. They visited the trouble spots and met with the police. They witnessed that the fire in the VHP run yatri nivas was still smouldering even after one and a half days. The report of our team would be uploaded as soon as it is finalised.

At the end of this lengthy and painful report we really wonder if a peaceful Hindu gathering can be assaulted with such viciousness and impunity in one of the most sacred Hindu sites of pilgrimage, one shudders to think what lies in store for the Hindus of West Bengal a few years hence!

Pic: The Yatri Nivas run by VHP in Sagar still burning.

Pic: Smoke billowing out of the windows.

Pic: The burnt out shell of a portion of the Yatri Nivas.

Pic: These cots were meant for poor pilgrims who cannot afford hotels.

Pic: Broken furniture after the ransack.

Pic: Huge stock of mattresses, blankets and quilts meant for the pilgrims - still burning.

Pic: Fire in the pilgrim's kitchen, unfortunately not for preparing a meal.
(Next instalment - the report of our fact finding team.)
Hindu Samhati.

Islamists Atatcks Hindus in Pilgrimage Site: Hindu Samhati Press Release

FRIENDS OF HINDU SAMHATI
Registered in: New York, USA.
Contact: hindusamhati@gmail.com

June 13, 2008

The Friends of Hindu Samhati, USA unequivocally condemns today's gruesome attack on the Hindu Samhati training camp at Ganga Sagar (West Bengal) by a murderous mob of local Muslims, at least 6000-7000 strong, starting Thursday (June 12, 2008).

Ganga Sagar is a very reknowned Hindu Tirtha Kshetra (Place of Pilgrimage) where the sacred Ganga River has a confluence with the Bay of Bengal. Ganga Sagar is located on the western edge of the Sunderban Delta on Sagar Island. At the edge of Sagar town - adjacent to the beach - is the ancient temple dedicated to Kapil Muni, the sage responsible for initiating the chain of events that ultimately resulted in Mother Ganga descending to the earth from heaven and giving mankind an opportunity to wash away its sins in her pure water. The earliest mention of this sacred place is found in the Mahabharata where a learned sage explains to Bhishma the significance of taking a dip at the confluence of Ganga Sagar. Millions of Hindu pilgrims visit this holy place all year round to take a dip in the ho,y Ganges, particularly during the Kumbha Mela and Makara Sankranti festivities.

Since this morning (Thursday, 12 June, 2008), Hindu Samhati had started conducting a training camp and workshop on the current socio-political scenario to 180 men, women and children in the peaceful and serene surroundings of Ganga Sagar.

Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, the National Convenor of Hindu Samhati is conducting the main sessions of this camp. Other eminent people and local notables are also present. Everything went on smoothly until this evening, when suddenly the camp building was surrounded by a murderous mob of about 6000-7000 local Muslims bent on mayhem. The Muslim attackers were well-prepared and have been throwing gas cylinders and petrol bombs (molotov cocktails) and kept on attacking incessantly for a few hours, to incinerate the whole camp. The entire camp building has been reduced to ashes. All 180 of our camp attendees (a large number of them women and children) and 15 policemen are trapped inside this burning camp along with our dear leader Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh.

Already 14-15 attendees of the camp have been injured in the carnage, and at least 7 of them are in very critical condition and are not expected to survive. The names of the critically wounded include: Subodh Kundu, Bivas Mondal, Gopinath Biswas, Prasenjit Sardar and Gautam Halder, apart from 2 others that could not be identified because of serious facial burn injuries.

Nine camp attendees are still missing and may have been kidnapped by the Muslim mob. Their names are: Gautam Mondal, Kartick Biswas, Ram Shil, Palash Roy, Gopal Dolui, Piyush Senapati, Ashok Das, Shankar Nandi and Subhash Roy. We are very apprehensive about their well being.

The local police-station (Thana) has unfortunately sent in a small posse of 15 policemen who are totally inadequate for resisting such a huge Jehadi mob armed to the teeth. The police could not control the mob of Muslims even after firing several rounds.

As of Friday morning (June 13, 2008), as per the recent information received by us, the assault by the Muslim mob at Hindu Samhati campsite in Gangasagar is still on, although the intensity has abated a little bit. Some more police force has reached the trouble spot, though the large force required to subdue a mob of this size and temperament is nowhere in sight. A recent update by phone from the camp is that along with the 14-15 attendees who were injured, 2 policemen have also been seriously injured due to the assault by the Muslim mob. Scores of other attendees to the camp has sustained minor injuries in this most cowardly assault including the National Convener of Hindu Samhati, Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh. Thankfully his injuries are not serious.

Apart from throwing petrol bombs to incinerate the camp building, the Muslim mob also tried to breach the wall by exploding cooking gas cylinders against it. Failing to break into the camp, the rampaging Muslim mob has attacked and seriously damaged some nearby houses of the local Hindus. They have also seriously damaged and set fire to an adjoining Kali temple and a 'Yatri Nivas' (Travellers' Lodge) run by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The fireball attacks have slightly abated but the vicious threats and stone pelting continues – all attuned to the collective chants of both 'naara-e-takbir, allahu akbar' (allah is the Greatest) and 'inquilab zindabad' (Long Live the Revolution).

Sagar island at the Ganga Sagar – the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal – is one of the holiest pilgrimages of India, where millions of Hindus from all over India and the world gather during the 'Makar Sankranti' (Winter Solstice) for the 'Punya Snan' (Holy Bath) every year. If a peaceful Hindu gathering can be assaulted with such viciousness and impunity in one of the most sacred Hindu sites of pilgrimage, one shudders to think what lies in store for the Hindus of West Bengal a few years hence.

In a travesty of justice, instead of arresting the attackers, the Police in West Bengal have slapped a non-bailable arrest warrant against Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and 15 Hindu Samhati activists. The concocted charges against them are listed as being: "Incitement and Instigation for Rioting" and "Disruption of Communal Harmony".

As per the latest news received from the ground, Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and 15 Hindu Samhati activists have been framed and arrested for inciting communal disharmony by Kakdwip Thana (Police Station) in West Bengal.

1) The Friends of Hindu Samhati, USA strongly protests this outrageous attack on a peaceful, indoor religious function that was held behind closed doors. There was no provocation for this vicious assault nor was any outdoor procession held at the location. It is pitiable that the police could not provide security to its peace loving citizens and is instead insisting on closing the camp down.

2) We strongly urge the police and the local administration to arrest all the perpetrators of this heinous crime immediately and provide security to continue the camp at a nearby, alternate location.

3) We deeply deplore the travesty of justice in West Bengal and appeal to the police and the local administration to remove the framed charges and release Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and 15 Hindu Samhati activists immediately.

4) We request all friends and readers in India and abroad to call up the Indian administration to inquire about this incident. At least, they will know that people still care about justice and peace in India. The Numbers to Call are:

a) District Magistrate,
South 24 Parganas
Phone: 033-24793713
Email: dm-ali@wb.nic.in

b) Mr. Praveen Kumar
District Superintendent of Police,
South 24 Parganas, West Bengal
Mobile Phone: 91-98300-23142

c) Ganga Sagar Police-Station/Thana
Officer in ChargePhone:
91-3210-242-555

d) Mr. Tomal Das
Officer in Charge
Kakdwip Thana (Police Station)
Mobile Phone: 98305-99612

e) SubDivisional Police Officer--
Senior to Officer in Charge
Jayanta Banerjee
Phone: 94349-66000
3210-256-535

5) Finally, please show your solidarity with the beleaguered Hindus of West Bengal, and spread the news of this heinous outrage among your friends, co-workers and family.