3 killed in Waqf-related violence in Bengal’s Murshidabad; court orders deployment of Central forces

At least three persons, including a father-son duo, were killed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following violent clashes allegedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, a senior officer said on Saturday.

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In a bid to pacify the agitated protesters, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clarified that the law in question was legislated by the Centre and not by her government.

“Remember, we did not make the law over which many are agitated. The law was made by the central government. So the answer you want should be sought from the central government,” Banerjee said in a post on X.

“We have made our position clear on this matter — we do not support this law. This law will not be implemented in our state. So what is the riot about?” she asked.

In one of the most disturbing incidents reported so far, a father and son were found stabbed to death inside their home in Jafrabad, located in the violence-hit Samserganj area.

Family members alleged that miscreants looted their home and then fatally attacked the two before fleeing.

In a separate incident, a 21-year-old sustained bullet injuries during clashes at Sajur More in Suti on Friday and succumbed to his injuries at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital on Saturday evening, the officer said.

Violence continued to flare in some areas on Saturday as well.

Two bidi factory workers, including a minor boy, sustained bullet injuries while on their way to work in Dhulian in Samserganj.

Both are being treated at the Murshidabad Medical College and are reportedly stable.

Additional Director-General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim told reporters in Kolkata that a total of 118 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest so far.

Four rounds were fired by the police to control the violence in Murshidabad. Two persons sustained injuries and are under treatment. Young boys were made to understand all sorts of lies, Shamim said.

The violence, which erupted over the central government’s Waqf (Amendment) Act, led to massive disruptions. Protesters torched police vehicles, blocked roads and vandalised railway property.

Train services in the New Farakka-Azimganj section of Eastern Railway were disrupted for nearly six hours between Dhuliandanga and Nimtita stations on Friday.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in several parts of Murshidabad, and internet services have been suspended to prevent further escalation.

DGP Rajeev Kumar warned of stringent action against those involved in the violence.

“This is a fight between good and evil. Rumour mongering has to be stopped. We will request people not to take law and order into their hands. We assure them that the police will take the strongest measure against the culprits and protect the lives and properties of the common people,” he said.

Appealing for peace, CM Banerjee urged people across communities not to fall prey to provocation.

In a post on X, she wrote, “My sincere appeal to people of all religions, please remain calm, remain restrained. Do not engage in any irreligious behaviour in the name of religion. Every human life is precious; do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming society.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the vandalism of railway property during the protests.

“Let it be known that this was not an act of protest, rather a premeditated act of violence, an assault on Democracy and Governance by Jihadist forces who seek to spread chaos in order to assert their dominance and sow fear amongst other Communities of our Society,” Adhikari said in a post on X.

‘Cannot keep eyes closed’: Calcutta HC orders deployment of Central forces

Stating that it cannot keep its eyes closed when such situations come up, the Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

The court said citizens must be provided with adequate security and protection to ensure peace and order in the region.

A division bench, presided over by Justice Soumen Sen, ordered deployment of CAPF in the affected areas of Murshidabad to assist in restoring normalcy.

The Central forces will operate in coordination with the state administration.

The court also instructed both the state government and the Centre to submit detailed reports on the situation.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 17.

A Special Bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury was constituted by the Chief Justice to urgently hear a petition filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, seeking the deployment of central forces in the district.

Seven companies of BSF have been deployed in strife-hit Suti, Dhuliyan and Samserganj areas of Murshidabad, the state lawyer told the court.

Adhikari’s lawyer, however, alleged that the BSF personnel were not being deployed properly to control the situation.

The Bench heard the petition on a court holiday on Saturday considering the urgency of the situation.