West Bengal’s Muslims are facing one restriction after another under the state’s BJP-led government. After banning loudspeakers during the call to prayer, stopping Eid prayers on Red Road, and banning cow sacrifice, the BJP government has now issued a restriction on keeping beards. While Sikhs are allowed to keep beards while serving in the police and armed forces, Suvendu Adhikari’s government has issued a strict order targeting Muslims.
Several Muslim personnel of various ranks and home guards serving in the Kolkata police had applied for permission to keep beards while on duty. Lalbazar rejected those applications. A memo issued by the Kolkata police commissioner’s office made clear that every police officer must strictly comply with the existing rules on keeping beards.
The memo, signed by the joint commissioner of police (headquarters) for Kolkata police, said a total of 47 police personnel and home guards had submitted applications. The applicants served in various Kolkata police battalions, reserve forces, the special branch, the detective department and traffic police, among other units. A list of their names, ranks and current postings was attached to the memo, with 30 names in the first group and 17 in the second.
Many of the applicants cited religious observance as their reason for keeping a beard. Lalbazar, however, gave a clear message that regardless of personal preference or reason, there would be no compromise on departmental discipline policy. Relevant unit heads were instructed to clearly inform applicants of this decision and ensure Lalbazar’s rule is strictly followed. No objection had been raised over beards during Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool-led administration prior to the BJP coming to power.
The memo also cited in detail an incident from September 2002. Constable Muhammad Akram Ali Sheikh of Hariharpara police station in Murshidabad district was suspended for keeping a beard. He had kept a beard in accordance with Islamic practice since performing Hajj in 1996.
When then additional superintendent of police Shankar Singh told him to shave or trim his beard, he refused to comply, saying it was his religious right and obligation. He was then issued a show-cause notice and later suspended. This punitive action was taken under the rules of the 1943 “Police Regulation of Bengal.” K M Yusuf, the then chairman of the Minority Commission, had appealed for a quick decision on the matter at the time. The suspension order was later withdrawn following intervention by the Minority Commission.