On April 11, 2025, Hindu families in Tumbajote, Matigara, West Bengal, faced a brutal, unprovoked attack. Eyewitnesses reported homes vandalized, businesses destroyed, and even attempts to behead Hindu youths. Shockingly, instead of arresting the attackers, local police detained Hindu residents who resisted the violence.
This incident is not isolated. It reflects a deepening security crisis in West Bengal, where illegal Rohingya settlements, radical networks, and state inaction have created a tinderbox. The state’s strategic Siliguri Corridor, a narrow strip connecting India’s northeast, has become a hotspot for trafficking, fake currency, and militancy, yet authorities have looked the other way.
Eyewitness Accounts: Anatomy of an Attack
Survivors described mobs chanting slogans as they targeted Hindu households. Women and children were assaulted, and local shops owned by Hindus were looted. “They came with rods and knives. We locked ourselves inside, but they broke the doors,” said one survivor, who asked to remain anonymous.
Police response worsened tensions. While the attackers fled, officers arrested Hindu youths who had tried to defend their families. This mirrored earlier incidents in Murshidabad, where 274 arrests only occurred after central intervention.
The Chicken Neck Crisis: A Border Security Failure
West Bengal’s Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the “Chicken Neck,” is crucial for India’s connectivity to the northeast. Yet, it has become a hub for illegal activities:
- Rohingya Influx: Over 100+ settlements have emerged, with reports linking them to drug trafficking and human smuggling.
- Cross-Border Threats: BSF has destroyed ISI-backed terror launch pads near the border, yet infiltration continues.
- Governor’s Warning: A report to the Home Ministry flagged the “twin spectre of radicalisation and militancy” in border districts.
Despite this, the state government has resisted central oversight, leaving the region vulnerable to further exploitation.
Pattern of Violence: Murshidabad to Matigara
The Matigara attack follows a disturbing trend:
- April 2025 Murshidabad Riots: Three killed, Hindu families displaced to Malda after Waqf Act protests turned violent.
- Gorkha Child Murder: A schoolgirl was sexually assaulted and murdered by a radical youth in the same locality, sparking unrest.
- Police Inaction: Over 60 FIRs were filed in past cases, yet no convictions followed.
Residents allege political patronage enables the violence. “When police arrest victims instead of attackers, it sends a clear message,” said a local activist.
Governance Collapse: Political Patronage & State Inaction
The state’s response has been criticized as deliberately weak:
- TMC’s Stance: CM Mamata Banerjee dismissed the Governor’s warnings as “BJP propaganda.”
- Police Complicity: In Siliguri, officers ignored warnings before the Charak Puja violence, which led to the deployment of the RAF.
- BJP’s Allegations: The party accuses the state of an “anti-Hindu bias,” citing delayed arrests in communal cases.
The Governor has urged the Home Ministry to intervene, but the state government refuses to cede control.
The Radicalization Nexus: From Settlements to Terror
Investigations reveal more serious threats:
- NIA Findings: Interstate radical networks were behind attacks on BJP leaders, with arrests in Bengaluru and West Bengal.
- Bangladesh Link: The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime has emboldened Islamist groups, with reports of Hindu temples being attacked in Bangladesh.
- Local Radicals: Groups like Noor-e-Mujassam have incited violence in Siliguri, with MP Raju Bista warning of external mobilizations.
Despite the evidence, the state has not banned these groups, raising questions about the potential for political motives.
Demands for Central Intervention
Victims and activists are calling for:
- NIA Probe: A central investigation into Matigara, similar to the Pahalgam terror case.
- BSF Expansion: Permanent outposts and fencing along the Bangladesh border.
- Governor’s Rule: If the state fails to act, constitutional measures may be needed.
BJP MP Raju Bista warned, “Hindus in Bengal will not stay silent. If the state won’t protect us, we will defend ourselves”.
Conclusion: A Ticking Time Bomb
West Bengal’s security vacuum threatens not just Hindus but national stability. With radical networks growing, Rohingya settlements expanding, and the state ignoring warnings, the Siliguri Corridor could become India’s next flashpoint.
The Home Ministry must act before another Matigara happens. As one victim asked, “How many more families must suffer before someone stops this?”.
