Thread #Palghar
#BijonSetu massacre, which took place on April 30, 1982, at Bijon Setu in West Bengal, resulted in the brutal killing of 16 male (sadhus) and 1 female (Sadhvi) from the spiritual organization Ananda Marga. Their bodies were set on fire during this tragic event.
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Shockingly, these attacks occurred in broad daylight, yet no arrests were ever made. The victims, seventeen Ananda Marga sannyasins, were dragged out of taxis while on their way to an educational conference at Ananda Marga's headquarters in Tiljala, Kolkata.
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They were beaten to death & set on fire at 3 different locations, with 1000s of people witnessing these gruesome murders.
The Statesman Weekly, a prominent Calcutta newspaper, in 1982, mentioning that Ananda Margis were killed by mobs on suspicion of being child-lifters.
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The initial reporting lacked compassion for victims & their families, influencing the govt and media reactions. Despite calls for formal judicial investigation, it wasn't until 2012 that a single-member judicial commission was established to look into the killings.
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However, justice remains elusive for the victims and their families.
The murders that took place during Jyoti Basu's tenure as CM in Bengal were met with accusations of inaction towards him & his police force.
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In response to the mounting pressure, the Deb Commission was established. However, the Ananda Margis had little faith in the commission's impartiality, as it included accused individuals such as Kanti Ganguly and other prominent CPI (M) leaders.
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The National Human Rights Commission took over the investigation in 1996, but progress was hindered due to alleged interference from the state government.
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This tragic incident serves as a painful reminder of the pervasive violence and intolerance that can persist, leaving lasting scars for future generations.
#DICTATOR #Communism #HumanRights