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KOLKATA: Life in minority pockets across Kolkata has changed overnight after the election results. With bikeborne miscreants riding through Muslim neighbourhoods chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, a sense of fear and unease has gripped residents. In the south Tangra neighbourhood, the situation turned volatile on Tuesday night when a mob chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ attacked a TMC office and targeted bikes and houses of minority community members. As TMC workers converged in huge numbers, the situation threatened to spiral out of hand. MLA Javed Khan arrived in the nick of time and controlled the situation. A dhaba owner, whose outlet drew motorists at night for tea, dialled some Muslim customers and urged them to avoid coming for some time in view of the prevailing tension. An advisory circulated in WhatsApp groups cautioned members to avoid arguments and stay away from crowded gatherings. Shafkat Alam, who operates an NGO in the Topsia-Tiljala belt, said two Muslim toughs switched from TMC to BJP a day after the results and led bike gangs into minority-dominated localities shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In north Kolkata’s Belgachhia, Muslim youths, including delivery executives, have stopped venturing into Paikpara after dark following the thrashing of a person on the result day.
