West Bengal police bar Hindus from taking part in a decades-old religious tradition, force devotees to switch off microphones
Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India 
21 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Cooch Behar, West Bengal, organisers of a traditional kirtan event, Harinam Sankirtan program, accused local police of forcibly halting their gathering, which has been a local tradition for over seventy years. They allege that around 2 a.m., during the kirtan, two inebriated police officers arrived, ordered the microphones to be turned off, and attempted to intimidate the attendees, including women. The situation escalated when additional police forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), arrived and insisted on discontinuing the kirtan. The incident sparked outrage. Nikhil Ranjan Dey, the BJP MLA from Cooch Behar South, criticised the police's actions, highlighting the cultural significance of the kirtan. After the backlash, Superintendent of Police Dhrutiman Bhattacharya claimed that the directive was solely to reduce the microphone volume and that there was no intention to stop the kirtan.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of- Restriction/ban on Hindu practices and within this, the sub-category selected is- Administration restricting religious practice. In several cases, it is seen that the administration/state disallows a religious practice owing to prejudicial orders and concerns, targeted specifically against the Hindu community. Such restriction/prohibition would be considered documented as a hate crime because the orders are often a result of pressure by groups that harbour animosity towards Hinduism and Hindus. Often, the restriction by the authorities is driven by bias, hostility, or prejudice against the specific community being stopped from holding a religious practice, by pressure groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus, intrinsic to their faith. Since practices are intrinsic to the faith of the Hindus, such prejudicial restriction is considered a curtailing of the fundamental rights of the Hindu community. In several cases, for example, the authorities ban a Hindu religious practice due to pressure from groups opposed to the religion. In other instances the prohibition is selectively enforced against one religious group (Hindus) while others are allowed to proceed. There are still other cases where the authorities preemptively restrict a religious practice by Hindus because those who hold animosity towards Hindus may get “provoked” leading to them being violent, thereby assuaging the sentiments of those who hold animosity towards Hindus by curtailing the religious rights of Hindus. Such acts and orders are prejudiced, indicating discriminatory motives owing to the capitulation to groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus and therefore, would be categorized as a religiously motivated hate crime since the original pressure leading to the order itself is a result of hatred/bias/prejudice/religious hate against Hindus. The disruption of a long-standing kirtan event in Cooch Behar by the police represents an unjustified curtailment of religious freedom. Reports suggest that officers arrived at the site late at night, compelling devotees to switch off microphones and intimidating attendees, including women. The deployment of additional police forces, including the Rapid Action Force, despite the peaceful nature of the gathering, raises serious concerns about the excessive and unwarranted intervention in a religious practice. Such actions infringe upon constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of assembly and expression, which are integral to India's democratic framework. This incident is not an isolated one but aligns with a broader pattern of hostility displayed by the West Bengal government towards Hindu religious activities. From arrests over chanting "Jai Shri Ram" to repeatedly denying permissions for Hindu processions, and maintaining silence in the face of attacks on Hindus by Islamist elements, there is ample evidence of discriminatory policies that undermine Hindu religious rights while favouring the Muslim community. These repeated instances of targeted restrictions reflect deep-seated bias and an agenda to suppress Hindu religious practices. The arbitrary nature of such actions indicates an intent that goes beyond mere law enforcement, exposing a prejudicial stance against Hindu beliefs. It is this systemic discrimination that makes this case a clear example of religiously motivated hostility.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
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