West Bengal: Fear spurs mass exodus in Bogtui village

BOGTUI (BIRBHUM): As the sun disappeared below the horizon and silent darkness crept into Bogtui village, barely 2km from Rampurhat town, silhouettes of women and children cautiously loaded vehicles with bedding, clothes and utensils, ready to leave their home and hearth for good. The pungent smell of diesel fumes mixed with the putrid stench of charred flesh accentuated their fears 18 hours after eight persons were burnt alive inside a house.
"What will the police do now? Can they save us from more attacks? Cops themselves have asked us to vacate homes," said an elderly man, as he desperately tried to heave a bag of belongings. "Newly-weds who had come here for Shab-e-barat were not spared; will we be spared?" his questions were rhetorical.
Not many in Bogtui village were ready to speak about the carnage. "Please do not ask us anything. Neither have we seen anything, nor did anyone hear anything," said a woman as she hurried away from sight.
"We will leave the village tonight. Nearly 50 families have already vacated their homes. We are not safe," said Najir Sk, the brother-in-law of deceased panchayat leader Bhadu Sk. Bhadu's wife Shebi Bibi refused to bury him even as police quizzed his brother, Bikir Sk, and other relatives.
(With inputs from Raja Bhakat)