Guwahati, April 20: The United Kamatapur Students Organization (UKSO) has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, claiming targeted attacks on Hindus and accusing the state government of deliberate inaction.
In a statement released Sunday, UKSO president Naba Kumar Das, secretary general Ratan Roy, and chief advisor Nukhil Barman alleged that the violence, which includes arson, looting, sexual assault, mob lynchings, and killings, has forced Hindu families to flee their homes. They stated the unrest has now spread to Maldah and other parts of North Bengal, a region they identify as part of the historic Greater Kamatapur.
The student body accused the West Bengal government of hiding the true scale of casualties and failing to crack down on the culprits and alleged Jehadi groups responsible for inciting the violence. “The situation is being manipulated and downplayed,” the UKSO leaders said, adding that extremist elements are now targeting the strategic ‘chicken neck’ corridor—a narrow stretch linking mainland India to the Northeast—which they described as a major national security concern.
Drawing parallels with religious persecution in Bangladesh, the UKSO called on the Central government to immediately impose President’s Rule in West Bengal. They also renewed their long-standing demand for a separate Kamatapur state or Union Territory. The proposed region would include North Bengal, the undivided Goalpara district of Assam, and the Rangpur Division of Bangladesh—areas where, according to the UKSO, Koch Rajbongshi communities have faced violence, forced religious conversions, and systemic oppression.
“We stand ready to cooperate fully with the Centre,” the statement added. “We are not just demanding a state; we are seeking justice for our people and preservation of our culture and rights.”
The UKSO also reminded the Centre of the historical roots of their demand, referencing the former princely state of Cooch Behar, which merged with India after independence. They said the Indian government had initially recognized it as a “C” category state but later dismantled and divided its territory among multiple states, ignoring the region’s distinct identity and the promises made to its royal family and people.
“The betrayal of Cooch Behar and its annexation without consent must be corrected,” they asserted, framing the demand for Kamatapur statehood not just as a political issue, but as a historical rectification.
The UKSO urged immediate central intervention, warning that continued negligence could escalate tensions further and deepen the crisis in the region.
