Kolkata: Eight days after a mob assault during Kolkata’s Gita Path event, 50-year-old patty seller Sheikh Riyajul remains jobless, traumatised, and unsure whether he can ever return to work in the city that sustained his family for two decades.
A resident of Aaram Baagh, Riyajul had been selling vegetable and chicken patties at Maidan Ground for nearly 20 years. On December 10, as he stood behind his cart like he had thousands of times before, a group gathered near his stall during the Gita Path programme.
The questions began casually—about the patties. When Riyajul mentioned that one item contained chicken, the tone changed. The crowd demanded his name. Upon learning that he was Muslim, the men allegedly assaulted him in full public view. His ₹3,000 worth of patties—his entire day’s earnings—were thrown onto the ground.
The attack was recorded on video and circulated widely, triggering public outrage. Police arrested three accused, all of whom were later released on bail.
Accused Walk Free, a Vendor Loses His Livelihood
For Riyajul, the consequences were immediate and devastating.
His wife saw the video and, fearing for his safety, asked him to return home at once. Leaving behind his cart, his utensils, and his only source of income, Riyajul fled Kolkata and returned to his village. He has not worked since.
While the accused were later garlanded by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, no political party or major social organisation came forward to support Riyajul—financially, legally, or emotionally.
‘I Have Fever, I Am Unwell’: Living in Shock After the Attack
When contacted by eNewsroom, the depth of Riyajul’s trauma was evident. In a four-minute phone call, he repeatedly said, “I have fever. I am unwell,” more than 50 times—an expression of shock rather than illness.
“I did nothing wrong,” Riyajul said. “I have sold patties for more than two decades. Never in my life have I faced such humiliation.”
He said the incident has left him physically weak and mentally disturbed. “Since that day, I haven’t been well. I am a daily wage earner. No work means no income. But fear forced me to leave the city.”
Asked whether he plans to return to Kolkata, Riyajul hesitated.
“I need courage even to think about it,” he said. “But my financial condition leaves me no choice. I will have to come back to earn for my family.”
Whether he will resume selling patties remains uncertain.
“There was an event when Messi was in Kolkata. The whole city celebrated. I couldn’t go anywhere near Maidan,” he said. “I didn’t have the courage to sell patties at any public gathering.”
With no compensation from administration or government, no support from society, and no assurance of safety, Riyajul knows survival will eventually outweigh fear. “If my health permits, I will return,” he said. “I have to work.”
Only one individual, reportedly helped Riyajul with Rs 3000.
Social activists say the incident reflects a broader and disturbing trend.
“With elections approaching, hate crimes are increasing,” said Kolkata-based activist Sumon Sengupta. “Such attacks are meant to polarise society and consolidate votes through fear.”
He added, “It appears that Bengal is gradually absorbing the ethos of ‘New Bharat’, forgetting the lessons of coexistence taught by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam.”
Eight days on, the accused walk free, celebrated in public.
Sheikh Riyajul, meanwhile, remains unprotected, unheard, and unemployed—counting his fever, his fear, and the cost of being visible in a city he once called home.
