Marichjhapi Massacre: A Forgotten Tragedy
1/5
After decades of being refugees, the Bengali Hindu migrants from East Pakistan found their last refuge in Marichjhapi, a remote island in the Sundarbans. Before coming to power, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by Jyoti Basu, had assured these refugees that they would be welcomed back to West Bengal. In 1975, at a rally in Bhilai, Basu himself declared that if the Left Front came to power, they would rehabilitate the refugees in West Bengal. Encouraged by these promises, around 150,000 refugees left their government-designated camps in Dandakaranya and began their journey to West Bengal in 1978. However, after coming to power in 1977, the Left Front completely changed its stance. Instead of welcoming them, the government used force to drive them away. Many were arrested, beaten, and forced back. Yet, about 40,000 determined refugees refused to leave and settled in Marichjhapi, turning the desolate island into a thriving community.
@tathagata2 @Bjp_Debjit
1/5
After decades of being refugees, the Bengali Hindu migrants from East Pakistan found their last refuge in Marichjhapi, a remote island in the Sundarbans. Before coming to power, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by Jyoti Basu, had assured these refugees that they would be welcomed back to West Bengal. In 1975, at a rally in Bhilai, Basu himself declared that if the Left Front came to power, they would rehabilitate the refugees in West Bengal. Encouraged by these promises, around 150,000 refugees left their government-designated camps in Dandakaranya and began their journey to West Bengal in 1978. However, after coming to power in 1977, the Left Front completely changed its stance. Instead of welcoming them, the government used force to drive them away. Many were arrested, beaten, and forced back. Yet, about 40,000 determined refugees refused to leave and settled in Marichjhapi, turning the desolate island into a thriving community.
@tathagata2 @Bjp_Debjit
2/5
Despite initial assurances that they could stay without government aid, the refugees quickly transformed Marichjhapi into a self-sufficient settlement. They built roads, cultivated land, started fisheries, and even established schools. Their resilience and success, however, seemed to challenge the Left Front government’s ideology. Seeing that these marginalized, poor people could thrive independently, Jyoti Basu’s administration decided to evict them. The government falsely claimed that the refugees were destroying the environment and encroaching on a protected tiger reserve. In reality, Marichjhapi was not part of any reserved forest, and these claims were just an excuse to remove them. By July 1978, the Communist Party formally decided to use force to send all refugees back, marking the beginning of a horrific crackdown.
Despite initial assurances that they could stay without government aid, the refugees quickly transformed Marichjhapi into a self-sufficient settlement. They built roads, cultivated land, started fisheries, and even established schools. Their resilience and success, however, seemed to challenge the Left Front government’s ideology. Seeing that these marginalized, poor people could thrive independently, Jyoti Basu’s administration decided to evict them. The government falsely claimed that the refugees were destroying the environment and encroaching on a protected tiger reserve. In reality, Marichjhapi was not part of any reserved forest, and these claims were just an excuse to remove them. By July 1978, the Communist Party formally decided to use force to send all refugees back, marking the beginning of a horrific crackdown.
3/5
The first phase of the operation began in January 1979 with an economic blockade. The government deployed police and party cadres to surround Marichjhapi with 30 boats, cutting off food and water supplies. A strict media ban was imposed under Section 144, preventing any news coverage. The police poisoned their drinking water, leading to the deaths of many children. On January 31, a group of desperate refugees attempted to swim across to a nearby island to fetch food but were gunned down by the police, killing 36 of them. As starvation worsened, the refugees were forced to eat grass to survive. Even humanitarian efforts were blocked—Mother Teresa herself admitted that she could not help, though she did not explain why. The refugees were trapped with no escape.
The first phase of the operation began in January 1979 with an economic blockade. The government deployed police and party cadres to surround Marichjhapi with 30 boats, cutting off food and water supplies. A strict media ban was imposed under Section 144, preventing any news coverage. The police poisoned their drinking water, leading to the deaths of many children. On January 31, a group of desperate refugees attempted to swim across to a nearby island to fetch food but were gunned down by the police, killing 36 of them. As starvation worsened, the refugees were forced to eat grass to survive. Even humanitarian efforts were blocked—Mother Teresa herself admitted that she could not help, though she did not explain why. The refugees were trapped with no escape.
4/5
In early May, the government launched its final assault. On May 13, police forces, along with Communist Party cadres, stormed the island in a brutal attack. Houses were set on fire, and those who tried to escape by boat were deliberately rammed and drowned. Women were raped, children burned alive in their homes, and those who resisted were shot. The survivors were forcibly deported back to Dandakaranya, while many fled to Kolkata and took up street vending or other menial jobs. Government reports never revealed the actual death toll, but estimates suggest that hundreds or even thousands perished. Journalist Tushar Bhattacharya later documented that at least 94 children died of starvation, 177 more died due to a lack of medical care, 239 were killed, and 24 women were raped. The real numbers might be much higher, as many bodies were dumped in the river or fed to tigers.
In early May, the government launched its final assault. On May 13, police forces, along with Communist Party cadres, stormed the island in a brutal attack. Houses were set on fire, and those who tried to escape by boat were deliberately rammed and drowned. Women were raped, children burned alive in their homes, and those who resisted were shot. The survivors were forcibly deported back to Dandakaranya, while many fled to Kolkata and took up street vending or other menial jobs. Government reports never revealed the actual death toll, but estimates suggest that hundreds or even thousands perished. Journalist Tushar Bhattacharya later documented that at least 94 children died of starvation, 177 more died due to a lack of medical care, 239 were killed, and 24 women were raped. The real numbers might be much higher, as many bodies were dumped in the river or fed to tigers.
5/5
Marichjhapi remains one of the darkest episodes in Bengal’s history—a brutal betrayal of the very people the Communists once promised to protect. Jyoti Basu’s government justified the massacre by claiming that the refugees were part of a foreign conspiracy, but history exposes the truth: they were simply poor, displaced Bengalis who wanted a home. The Left Front’s hypocrisy, its betrayal, and its merciless violence against its own people continue to be a source of pain and shame. Even today, Marichjhapi is a symbol of broken promises, political cruelty, and the tragic fate of Bengal’s forgotten refugees
Marichjhapi remains one of the darkest episodes in Bengal’s history—a brutal betrayal of the very people the Communists once promised to protect. Jyoti Basu’s government justified the massacre by claiming that the refugees were part of a foreign conspiracy, but history exposes the truth: they were simply poor, displaced Bengalis who wanted a home. The Left Front’s hypocrisy, its betrayal, and its merciless violence against its own people continue to be a source of pain and shame. Even today, Marichjhapi is a symbol of broken promises, political cruelty, and the tragic fate of Bengal’s forgotten refugees
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