Communists Thugs Attack Anti-Islamist Activist in West Bengal

Thu, 2007-10-18 02:11

By Dr. Richard L. Benkin

On October 5, Indian communists attacked an anti-Islamist activist in West Bengal. According to witnesses, Bimal Sarkar "has been brutally attacked by CPIM [Communist Party of India Marxist] criminals at Dinhata in Cooch Bihar District." Sarkar is president of the Bharatiya Refugee Front, "and the major pillar of our [anti-Islamist] activities in North Bengal."

The attack is so significant, in fact Sarkar’s attackers ambushed him in broad daylight and in front of a government building. Yet, no member of West Bengal’s Communist government or police stopped the attack. Witnesses—who must remain anonymous for fear of reprisals—report that eleven party members beat Sarkar “with sticks and other lethal weapons,” breaking his nose and causing numerous lacerations. Sarkar’s wounds were treated at the Tufangang Sub-Divisional Hospital; and after several hours, he was released but ordered to consult a specialist to prevent permanent damage to his nose.

Over the past months, there has been growing evidence of an alliance between communists and Islamist in South Asia. In 2006, Nepalese Maoists helped shelter Al Qaeda forces on the run from United States and Pakistani troops loyal to strongman Pervez Musharraf that dislodged them from their sanctuaries in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Indian intelligence reported that the Pakistani embassy in Katmandu arranged (and probably funded) the action. Now, informants from West Bengal are reporting that the Communist government of that Indian state is supporting the ongoing persecution of Bangladeshi Hindus forced out of their country by Bangladesh’s Vested Property Act (VPA). The VPA is a re-drawn version of Pakistan’s Enemy Property Act, passed by that country as a punitive measure against Hindus after the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. It empowers the government to seize the land and possessions of non-Muslims and give it to the Muslims of its choosing. Thus, the Act has become an integral part of Bangladesh’s notorious system of corruption.

The acts have forced millions of Hindus out of East Bengal and destroyed many ancient Hindu communities in that country. Too often, the victims were also attacked. Murder, mutilation, and ritualized gang rape have been common. At first, these atrocities were carried out by private gangs, but victims report seeing government officials leading the attacks in recent years. West Bengal, where many of the Hindus fled, has refused to grant them refugee status or obtain the rights of citizens there. Often the

Bimal Sarkar is part of a growing resistance to the increasing power of radical Islamists in South Asia. Later that day, he filed a complaint with the Indian police in which he named the local Communist Party secretary and the head of the party’s “Youth Front” among his attackers. Asked if the government would likely bring the attackers to justice, most informants were skeptical. One said, “They are Pro-Chinese.”

- Asian Tribune -