According to Lemkin, genocide is the destruction of the fundamental life and culture of a nation or an ethnic group, though not all at once, but slowly via destroying their important places of culture that sustains the culture. Here is a testimony of a young Hindu male. There is both intent to destroy as well as State involvement. We see both in this testimony.
Our house is in Hajipur village inside Begumgunj police station.
On October 15 Tuesday at night 9:00 PM evening a gang of Muslim hoodlums entered our house. They inflicted severe injury to my parents, younger brothers and younger sister with a butcher’s knife. My parents passed away from the wounds, and I have transferred my brother and sister to the hospital. The next day morning we tried to give our written statement/testimony in the police station. But they did not take our statement/testimony. Later we submitted a written testimony. But till now there has been no inquiry. When we inquired in the police-station they told us to bury the corpse of my parents. After four days we buried the corpse, what else to do?
The same day when they entered our house, the goons also entered the house of Ratul, who is a Vaishnava. His house is situated to the East of our house. These incidents prompted many Hindus to flee the village among who is Krishnasundar Majumdar. It was hard for me to be alone at my home, so I with relatives in Uttarpara. We are in very bad situation and homeless at present. My humble request to you is to look into this matter.
October 25, 1946 (English calendar).
Note: It should be revealed that the goons have left a butcher’s knife, a small knife, and 2 rolls.
Sincerely,
Anantkumar Nath
Sub division —Hajipur
(Police Station: Begumgunj)
