Imam’s son beaten to death in West Bengal riots cracks 2018 Class 10 board exam

Kolkata, 09 Jun 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Sibgatulla Rashidi, the son of Imam who was beaten to death in Asansol riots, found his name in the list of successful candidates who cracked the West Bengal Class 10 Maghyamik exams held in March 2018 result of which was declared last Wednesday.

According to the result sheet released by the the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), Sibgatullah Rashidi scored 58% marks in the Class 10 board exam which started on March 12 and concluded on March 21, 2018.

Sibgatulla Rashidi, who appeared for his Class X board exams this year, went missing after the communal clashes in Rail Par area of Asansol on March 27. According to reports, he was picked up by a mob. His body was recovered after two days. He is suspected to have been beaten to death.

Sibgatullah Rashidi's father Imdadul Rashidi is an Imam of Noorani Mosque in Chetladanga Nadi Par in West Bengal. The Imam hit the media headlines after he in a rare example of sacrifice threatened to leave the mosque and the town if there was any retaliation for his son’s death.

“I want peace. My boy has been taken away. I don’t want any more families to lose their loved ones. I don’t want any more houses to burn. I have already told the gathering of my son that I will leave Asansol if there is any kind of retaliation. I told them that if you love me, you will not raise a finger,” Rashidi had said after the leading the funeral gathering of Sibgatullah Rashidi.

“I have been an Imam for the last 30 years. It is important that I give the right message to the people — a message of peace. I need to get over my personal loss. People of Asansol are not like this. This is a conspiracy,” he said.

The unprecedented gesture by the Imam made at the time of crisis and personal grief is being applauded and hailed from various sections. "The Imam was instrumental in calming the angry youth and cooperated with the administration. We are proud of him. Despite the pain he is suffering following the loss of a son, he appealed for peace,” said Jitendra Tiwari, Mayor of Asansol.

Imam Imdadul Rashidi was later chosed for the West Bengal's highest civilian award 'Banga Ratna Samman'.

Imam Imdadul Rashidi was in tears on Wednesday after he saw the Class 10 board exam result of his son Sibgatullah. "He wanted to become an engineer", the Imam could just say while holding back, though unsuccesfully, his tears.