13/06/2026
In Purulia district, the family of a Muslim hawker who was hacked to death with an axe has claimed that this killing is linked to the atmosphere of Muslim-hatred and fear that has recently spread across Bengal. The police have denied any role of religious hatred in this incident.
On June 9, Zulfikar, the 20-year-old son of 47-year-old hawker Akbar Mandal who was killed, said,
“This killing happened because of this atmosphere of fear.” On June 10, ‘The Wire’ spoke to Zulfikar while he was taking his father’s body to Punisol village in the neighboring Bankura district.
This area is generally known as ‘Junglemahal’ – that is, it is a forested region which was once the center of important political movements.
Due to poverty, Zulfikar had to drop out of studies and worked as a hawker like his father in the Bandwan area of Purulia district. He said this heinous crime has shaken both his family and the village.
Zulfikar said – Early on the morning of June 9, Akbar had gone out with his cart selling steel utensils when he was suddenly dragged inside a house in Supurdihi village. There, an unknown person attacked Akbar. Zulfikar said – The man first beat Akbar with a stick and then, when he tried to defend himself, struck him with an axe.
Zulfikar has come to know that Akbar was also stabbed with a dagger.
Zulfikar said, “Around noon, an officer from Bandwan police station called me and said, ‘Your father has been murdered. Come to Bandwan hospital immediately’.”
At that time, Zulfikar was selling household goods in another village. Zulfikar said – “When I reached the hospital, I saw my father’s body. His head was crushed. The sight was horrific. His entire body was soaked in blood. The doctors told me that Akbar Mandal had died long before he was brought to the hospital.”