A Shiva Mandir in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, was vandalised by a mob on June 10 following protests by local Hindus against the encroachment of Mandir land. The conflict escalated as the mob attacked police officers with stones and bricks, damaging several vehicles and shops. Several people, including police personnel, were injured during the stone-pelting.
The incident occurred in Maheshtala near Rabindra Nagar Police Station in the Budge Budge area. Locals had recently noticed that a pond within the Mandir premises was being filled with soil, seemingly to encroach on temple property. Despite complaints filed with authorities, no action was taken.
On June 10, some Muslims attempted to set up fruit stalls on the encroached Mandir land. The Hindu community intervened to stop this, sparking a communal clash that quickly turned violent. The mob proceeded to vandalise the Mandir and hurled stones and bricks at it. When police arrived to control the situation, they were also attacked, causing further chaos. The area was left strewn with stones, bricks, and debris, resembling the aftermath of a disaster.
According to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the mob not only targeted the temple but also attacked the sacred Tulsi Manch, nearby Hindu-owned shops, and residential homes. Stones and bricks were hurled at the temple, causing significant damage to its structures and installations.
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The disgraceful incident of vandalism at the Shiva Temple in Ward No. 7, Maheshtala, under Metiabruz Assembly constituency, near Rabindra Nagar Police Station is simply unacceptable.
Miscreants had illegally encroached upon Temple Committee land, set up… pic.twitter.com/QUBSQxKYhK— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) June 11, 2025
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari stated that the violent incident occurred just steps away from the Rabindra Nagar Police Station, yet police failed to intervene. “The police simply couldn’t stop the vandals, and the entire episode unfolded in their presence,” he wrote on X.
Adhikari also shared a video showing a large crowd protesting, with the vandalised Shiva Mandir clearly visible and the police station situated directly across the road. In the video, a local Hindu claimed that the mob had even demanded the Mandir be shut down. He asserted, however, that the temple would remain open.
The mob also attacked police personnel, pelting them with stones and bricks, and vandalised several vehicles parked on the road. A two-wheeler belonging to a police officer was set ablaze, and multiple police vehicles were damaged. A policeman admitted they were vastly outnumbered by the mob in the initial phase and were unable to respond effectively. He confirmed that several officers, including a female constable, sustained injuries in the attack. Reports also indicate that stones and bricks were thrown at police from the rooftops of nearby buildings.
To control the escalating violence, police fired tear gas shells and called in additional reinforcements, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF). However, the aggressive mob continued attacking law enforcement personnel, forcing the police to temporarily retreat due to the severity of the situation.
Later, more police units arrived, and the situation was largely brought under control. Despite this, sporadic stone-pelting incidents persisted, with even police vehicles coming under attack as they reached the area. In response, a large number of police forces are being deployed from Kolkata to restore full order.
