First of all, 29 Hindus were killed in East Pakistan in protest against the Hazratbal incident. Its big response was also seen in Calcutta. In no time, the riot spread in the whole city. Hindus and Muslims became thirsty for each other’s blood.
200 people were killed in that riot in Calcutta.
Kolkata is called the City of Joy, but if we peep into the history of this capital of West Bengal, there are many dreadful chapters of riots here. These chapters of riots are written on page after page with bloody stories. The 1964 riots are in these chapters. This riot is written in black letters in history. A bloody story never to be forgotten.
It is believed that on December 27, 1963, the hair of Mohammad Saheb was stolen from Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, Kashmir. In this regard, there was a big public movement in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. The spark of this movement was seen till East Pakistan, which is now independent Bangladesh.
On the Hazratbal incident, members of the Advisory Committee of the Islamic Board in East Pakistan waged a jihad against Hindus and other non-Muslims. On January 13, a meeting was also held at Dhaka Stadium regarding the Hazratbal incident. Conspiracies hatched on the soil of Pakistan played a big role in provoking the whole situation.
Kolkata became the City of Riots
First of all, 29 Hindus were killed in East Pakistan in protest against the Hazratbal incident. Its big reaction was also seen in Kolkata. In no time, the riot spread in the whole city. Hindus and Muslims became thirsty for each other’s blood. The entire City of Joy became the City of Riots.
On January 13, 1964, about 200 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in horrific communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Kolkata. With this, the Kolkata riots got registered in the big riots in the country. The situation got so bad that the police and security forces were ordered to shoot at the sight of the rioters. Hindus and Muslims started setting fire to each other’s houses. Therefore, curfew was imposed in five police station areas of Kolkata.
Riot happened in Kolkata earlier also
This was not the first time such a riot took place on the land of Kolkata. Earlier in the year 1946 also the city had faced the terror of riots. Then within 72 hours more than 20 thousand people had died in Kolkata. But after independence, the Kolkata riot on January 13, 1964 was no less terrible.
About seven thousand people were detained during this riot to bring law and order back on track. Communal tension remained in Kolkata for almost the whole of January. After a lot of effort, the riots were brought under control, but till then every corner of Kolkata city was engulfed in the fire of riots.
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