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West Bengal: Isolated incidents of hate crimes against the Muslim community have been reported from parts of West Bengal since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the 2026 Assembly elections in the state, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year reign.

Almost all cases report vandalism, intimidation and destruction of property by Hindutva supporters.

Cooch Behar

In Chanderkuthi village, located in the Dinhata district of Cooch Behar, right-wing elements attacked Muslims and destroyed their belongings. One of them recorded the scene of destruction, heard whistling and called the saffron party’s win in the state an advantage.

“West Bengal zindabad, maaje hee maaje,” said the person.

Hindutva members set fire to the famous Taj Mahal selfie point in front of a Goddess Durga temple located in Dinhata town.

The selfie point, which featured a model of the Taj Mahal, was constructed with the message ‘I love Dinhata,’ as an attraction for devotees and tourists and to promote local tourism.

A video has surfaced on social media showing the model completely gutted by fire.

People shout, “Tel lagake Babur ka, naam mitado Babur ka,” which loosely translates to “Apply Dabur’s oil and erase Babur’s name”as the structure is reduced to ashes.

On information, the fire department rushed to the spot and attempted to douse the fire.

Darjeeling

In Darjeeling district, a Hindutva mob climbed atop a mosque and planted a saffron flag, chanting, “Jai Shri Ram.” The incident occurred in Jor Pokhari, which is home to the famous Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary.

North Dinajpur

Hindutva workers, including from the BJP, vandalised a Muslim-owned biryani shop in Dalkhola, North Dinajpur district. They ransacked the premises and threw all its items, including utensils and supplies, causing severe financial damage to the owner.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and likely chief minister candidate Suvendu Adhikari, known for his anti-Muslim stance, has promised to work “only for the Hindus” who voted for him.

“Nandigram ka Hindu janta phir mujhe jitaya. Waha musalmaan vote pura ka pura TMC ko mila. Yeh log bhot kattarvadi hai. Mai Nandigram ke Hindu ke liye kaam karunga (The Hindu people of Nandigram have elected me once again. There, the entire Muslim vote went to the TMC. They are highly radicalised, so I am fine with my mark. I will work for the Hindus of Nandigram),” Adhikari told reporters while celebrating the twin win.

For the first time since 1972, West Bengal is set to be governed by a party that is also in power at the Centre, a shift with far-reaching administrative and political implications.

Vote share data highlighted the depth of the shift. The BJP’s vote share rose to around 45 per cent, up from 38 per cent in 2021, while the TMC’s declined to nearly 40.94 per cent from 48 per cent.

In seat terms, the reversal was stark: the TMC’s tally falling from 215 to around 80, even as the BJP surged from 77 to 207 seats, converting organisational expansion into a decisive and historic mandate.

Bongaon, North 24 Parganas

BJP workers were seen confronting owners of a biryani hop located near a temple in Bongaon in North 24 Parganas, asking them to move the shop away. A video of the incident shows one of the saffron-clad workers telling a staff member, “If we did this outside a mosque, you would feel bad too.”

The Trinamool Congress shared the video on X, stating, “the nightmare has already begun.” The party said, “Give them another day and they will move to ban the sale and consumption of non-veg food altogether. They will stand at your doorstep and dictate what you can eat, what you can cook, what you can serve your children. They will impose their dietary diktat on a land whose identity, whose culture, whose very soul is inseparable from its food, its flavours, and its freedom of choice.”

“Bengal did not vote for this,” the post read. “Bengal will not stand for this.”

New Market area