VZCZCXRO2453
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0356 3251320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211320Z NOV 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1774
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1675
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 0757
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 0762
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0496
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0496
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0355
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0402
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2170

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000356 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC PHUM IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN ARMY DEPLOYS TO QUELL MUSLIM RIOTS IN KOLKATA 
 
REF: A) KOLKATA 0351  B) KOLKATA 0345  C) KOLKATA 0088 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  On November 21, central Kolkata was rocked by 
violence as Muslim supporters of the All India Minorities Forum 
(AIMF) and Furfurasharif Muzadeddia Anath Foundation (FMAF) 
enforced roadblocks in Kolkata to protest the recent Communist 
Party of India-Marxist (CPM) attacks in Nandigram and to demand 
the cancellation of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's Indian 
visa.  The violence started when protesters clashed with the 
police and set fire to passing vehicles in the Park Circus area. 
 One person was reportedly killed and six army companies were 
deployed to support the police.  Post Emergency Action Committee 
(EAC) authorized early release of non-essential consulate staff 
to allow personnel to get home safely and to avoid an 
anticipated military curfew.  Post also issued a 
Department-cleared Warden message, alerting American Citizens of 
the violence and recommending that they avoid the affected 
areas.  Post will be closed on November 22 for the Thanksgiving 
holiday.  The recent violence and agitation reflects a growing 
Muslim perception that CPM policies are anti-Muslim.  End 
Summary. 
¶2.  (U) Muslim supporters of the AIMF and FMAF began protests in 
the morning of November 21 in central Kolkata, bringing traffic 
to a halt on main arterial city roads -- including AJC Bose 
road, Park Circus, Moulali and CIT Road (approximately a half 
mile from the Consulate).  Demonstrators were demanding the 
revocation of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's Indian visa, 
claiming her novels were anti-Muslim.  Nasreen has been residing 
in Kolkata for several months.  In addition, Muslims were upset 
over the recent November 6-12 CPM attacks on villagers in the 
rural West Bengal area of Nandigram as the Muslims say that 70 
percent of the Nandigram victims were Muslim (Reftels). 
¶3.  (U) Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Jawed Shamim and 
several other policemen were injured when the police tried to 
lift the blockade on AJC Bose Road.  Police resorted to a 
baton-charge and used teargas to enforce order.  The situation 
spiraled out of control even as special police Rapid Action 
Force were deployed.  One protestor was reportedly killed and 22 
vehicles were damaged.  Around 1600 hours six army companies 
were deployed to the disturbed areas.  A curfew is to be imposed 
from 2200 hours today to 0600 hours on November 22 in the 
affected areas. 
¶4.  (SBU) Post EAC authorized non-essential consulate staff to 
leave early to avoid the violence and the anticipated curfew.  A 
warden message alerting American citizens of the violence was 
cleared by Embassy New Delhi and the Department, and was 
released through the Warden network.  Post will be closed on 
November 22 for the Federal Thanksgiving holiday.  Post will 
continue to monitor the situation to assess possible impacts on 
operations for Friday, November 23. 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment:  This violence reflects rising communal anger 
in West Bengal among the Muslim community.  Local Muslims, 
normally devoid of communal tensions, are growing upset with the 
CPM-run state government for several reasons.  In September, 
Muslims became enraged over the mysterious death of young Muslim 
Rizwanur Rehman, following his marriage to Hindu Priyanka Todi. 
Press reported extensively that Todi's father solicited the 
local police to threaten Rehman and many suspect that Rehman may 
have been murdered.  Also in recent weeks, CPM activists 
attacked villagers in Nandigram and killed, injured and 
displaced farmers, a large number of whom were Muslims.  In 
addition, the much-publicized Sachar Committee report, released 
earlier this year, indicated the GOWB has failed to address the 
Muslim community's economic and social backwardness in the 
state.  Finally, Taslima Nasreen, whose controversial writings 
against Islamic practices forced her to flee a fatwa of death in 
Bangladesh, has been residing in Kolkata. 
 
JARDINE