kolkata

Updated: Jul 12, 2017 13:27 IST

The Muslim organisation that played a key role in coordinating with the police in pacifying agitating Muslim mobs at Baduria and Basirhat during the five days of communal flare up has planned to raise funds to compensate every victim of violence.

All India Sunnat Al Jamaat has also decided to repair all places of worship vandalised during clashes between Hindus and Muslims and has sought the administration’s permission for the work.

Read: Bengal violence: Basirhat’s Muslim leaders tried to pacify the rioting mob, but couldn’t

The outfit has also sought the administration’s permission to host a mega gathering at Basirhat where Hindus and Muslim will be served khichdi on the same table. “We are waiting for the administration’s permission,” Abdul Matin, secretary of the North 24-Parganas-based All India Sunnat Al Jamaat, told HT.

Compounder Debprasad Bairagi (left) and Dr Kaseed Ali, who have been working together in Basirhat for 35 years have been spreading the message for harmony to the patients coming for consultation. ( Samir Jana )

The outfit is a Muslim social welfare organisation that organises some of the biggest religious soirees in Basirhat and Baduria region.

“We have started drawing up a list of victims of the clashes. This include people who were beaten up, whose houses and shops were vandalised,” said Matin.

He told HT that the organisation will use its own funds to repair the damage done to the temples and mosque. The authorities will start a fund collection drive if the administration approves their plan of offering compensation to the victims.

Read: Basirhat impact: Tourists vanish from popular riverside destination of Taki

“We’ll sit with the administration with the list of victims and request a joint effort by people from both communities and the administration in properly compensating each of them. We have also told the local administration that we want to repair all temples and mosques vandalised during the clashes,” added Matin.

Though police and paramilitary forces continue to patrol Basirhat, the town resumed normal life on July 10 after being paralysed for a week. ( Samir Jana )

The office bearers of All India Sunnat Al Jamaat have spoken to local police and administrative officers, who have requested Matin to wait till the situation normalises.

Matin, who is in his forties, ran from one locality to another between July 2 and July 5 to persuade blockaders to clear the roadblocks and desist from vandalism. His appeal to refrain from protests on the day of ulta-rathajatra on July 3, however, could not stop attacks on rathajatra at two places.

“Muslims need to initiate any such effort because it was a section of people from our community who are to be blamed for creating the trouble,” he said.

Matin said that the ‘wounds in people’s heart’ needs to be healed and that both communities should work together in restoring trust in each other.