KARACHI: More details of the recent … communal disturbances in West Bengal [resulting] in the killings [and property destruction] of a large number of Muslims … and a new exodus of refugees into East Pakistan were made available … on Sunday [March 12] … from … well-informed sources. The violent and unchecked anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan propaganda … by militant Hindu organisations … were confirmed by these reports… .

In Calcutta on Feb 25 leaflets were distributed urging Hindus to observe hartal … to fo­­rce … Government [action] to avenge alle­ged atrocities [against] Hindus in East Pakis­tan. On Feb 26 a complete hartal was observed.

Trouble broke out the same day in Calcutta … . Muslims arriving by Assam Mail and Barisal Express were attacked and [some] killed. Frequent attacks took place on Mus­lim passengers at Sealdah station. By Feb 28 the situation … took a serious turn. Some mosques were burnt and … about 6 square miles in between Beliaghata and Bagmari was … gutted. [That] afternoon all incoming trains from Pakistan were diverted to How­rah station where large crowds … attacked the passengers. … [High] number of casualties … is expected… .

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025