PATNA: “The killing in Bihar has been ten times more than the exaggerated report of Noakhali. It may be more, I cannot do anything to protect the life of Muslims; I can give you no help.” Thus spoke Dr. Syed Mahmud, Development Minister, Bihar, when Muslim League leaders approached him for help.

The Bihar Massacre started with the observance of Noakhali Day. …[Huge] processions of men with daggers, swords, kurki, lathi, hockey sticks and even firearms paraded the streets… . There were terrible and awful demonstrations — five miles long in Patna, three in Chapra and very big in other places. Before the processions started, local Congress leaders addressed the meetings and described Noakhali happenings as bloodcurdlingly as they could. They filled their audiences’ hearts with anger and prepared them for vengeance. The infuriated mobs attacked every Muslim house which lay in their way, brought out men, women and children and cut them to pieces and, after these orgies of murder, proceeded to the end of the city and dispersed to attack villages sparsely populated by Muslims. …Many cases of rape have been reported. Their campaign of conversion could not meet with any success, because Muslims preferred death.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2021