Hindus in Panskura Forced to Perform Khunti Puja Under West Bengal Police Protection After Muslim Crowd Objects to Durga Puja Preparations

Fresh tensions have erupted in Purba Medinipur District after local Hindu residents began preparations for this year’s Durga Puja in Ward No. 10 of Panskura Municipality.

According to local residents, many of the Muslim residents had objected to the Puja preparations during the traditional Khuti Puja ritual, indicating the beginning of the Puja Mandap construction.

The situation escalated as Muslim residents gathered around to oppose the ceremony with Muslim women positioned at the front of the gathering. The ritual could only be performed several hours later under the protection of a Police Cordon. Videos from eyewitnesses circulating over social media show muslim men and women arguing with police personnel and threatening Hindus.

Durga Puja is one of Bengal’s defining cultural and religious traditions. The right of citizens to practise their faith peacefully must not depend on which community can exert greater pressure on the streets.