Today is the anniversary of the Marichjhaanpi massacre. This day in 1978 Jyoti Basu's policemen and goons together set upon 40,000 helpless and beleaguered Hindu refugees,all Dalits,in an island of that name in the Sundarban delta Media were totally blocked off.
Their history...

The poor creatures were victims of Islamic persecution in erstwhile East Pakistan. Mostly illiterate fishermen and peasants by profession,they nevertheless refused to convert and came to India in a horrible condition. Nehru's government first denied them rehabilitation,then

packed them off to inhospitable Dandakaranya. Communists,then in opposition,stoutly opposed this and insisted that they must be rehabilitated in West Bengal. So when the CPI(M) came to power in 1977 the refugees thought they would be allowed to live in West Bengal and

came back. But the CPI(M) had no more use of them. They ordered them to go back. Some of them did not listen and went and settled in the island. Then CPI(M) govt showed their true colours. They surrounded the island and denied food and even drinking water to

the refugees. Then they committed mass murder on them by letting loose their party goons and police. Many refugees tried to swim to safety and were eaten alive by crocodiles and sharks. The rest were forcibly sent back to Dandakaranya.