On Sunday, paramilitary forces patrolled through abandoned streets in Bengal’s violence-plagued Murshidabad district, revealing scenes of destruction. After the Waqf Amendment Act sparked violent protests, the district is still unstable.
The Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of paramilitary personnel in the most vulnerable parts of the district in reaction to the growing agitation. The court stressed that it could not “turn a blind eye” to the scenario that was developing, even if it acknowledged reports of massive vandalism in multiple districts. After Friday prayers, the violence started and continued for a second day. At least three individuals have been killed in the fighting, according to police confirmation. After nighttime raids, authorities made another twelve arrests on Sunday, increasing the total to 150. Police stated that the situation had calmed in the Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur regions.
Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in Bengal, attacked the Mamata Banerjee-led administration, claiming that Hindus were “not safe” in the state. Banerjee, on the other hand, demanded peace and charged that “some political parties” were trying to use religious feelings as a political tool.
The Bengal Assembly’s leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, attacked Mamata Banerjee’s appeasement tactics, saying they had empowered “radical elements.” In addition, he said that the violence had forced over 400 Hindus from Murshidabad. Taking to X, Adhikari wrote, “More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad, driven by fear of religiously driven bigots were forced to flee across the river & take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda.”
According to the local police, internet access has been blocked in an effort to combat fake news, and prohibitory orders under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita are still in effect in the impacted districts three days after the violence started. On Saturday, Bengal top cop Rajeev Kumar warned people against spreading rumours, claiming that rumour-mongering was one of the major causes behind the violent protests.
As officials continue to look into violent episodes, the police said on Sunday that further arrests are anticipated. They are also monitoring critical regions and checking vehicles on major roads.
At the West Bengal government’s request, five additional companies have been deployed in addition to the almost 300 BSF soldiers who are already present locally in Murshidabad, which is racked by violence. Paramilitary soldiers have been stationed in extremely sensitive regions like Suti and Shamsherganj following an order from the Calcutta High Court. Personnel from the central forces carried out patrolling in affected areas throughout the night and also spoke with the families of victims.
For the next four days, a team of 23 special policemen from West Bengal has been sent to the violence-plagued parts of the district of Murshidabad, which borders Bangladesh, according to police sources. Among the 23 officers deployed, 10 hold the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), while the rest are of inspector and sub-inspector rank.
Along with senior police officers and a sizable police force, West Bengal’s top cop, Rajeev Kumar, approached the Shamsherganj neighbourhood on Saturday night, which was the scene of the most of the violence. Late at night, Kumar also led a route march across the impacted districts. The Calcutta High Court stated during its hearing on Saturday that the violence had not only spread to Murshidabad but also to neighbouring districts, including as North 24 Parganas and Champdani in Hooghly. Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP has demanded the deployment of central soldiers in Hooghly and North 24 Parganas.
Speaking, a number of residents said that the police were nowhere to be seen throughout Friday’s three hours of chaos, which left the entire district in ruins due to many complaints of looting and burning. A local, Sujit Ghoshal, told, “I was told by rioters that this is just a trailer. The real movie will start soon. We were here till 11 pm. But there weren’t any signs of anyone from the administration. Even now also, there is no one present.”
Another local, whose shop was vandalised in Dhulian, told, “My wife and my kids were in fear. They asked me not to step out. Dad, don’t go out,” he said. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari claimed that at least 35 Hindu shops were burnt in Dhulian during the Friday protests. Angered by the absence of police, the local further said, “There were no police officials. They were just scared. Sitting inside their houses like us.”
Among the dead, a father and son – Hargobind Das and Chandan Das – were hacked to death by a mob on Saturday, while another protester succumbed to bullet wounds. Izaz Ahmed Sheikh, 17, was hit by a bullet as police opened fire in Suti on Friday. He was declared dead on Saturday. At least 18 police officials have been injured as protests against the newly-enacted Waqf law turned violent, followed by a fresh round of violence that broke out on Saturday.
West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar praised the Calcutta High Court’s decision to use paramilitary force in some areas of Murshidabad, but he also blamed the state’s ongoing violence against the Waqf Act on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “incompetence” and appeasement tactics. “She is not eligible to rule the state… The police come under her control… Mamata Banerjee’s police are allowing free periods for Muslims. During that time, they can loot, misbehave with women, break the houses of Hindus and do whatever they want,” he was quoted as saying.
Images of citizens escaping Murshidabad by boat and trying to cross the river into adjacent Malda in search of safety surfaced following violent protests. According to Adhikari, more than 400 Hindus from Dhulian in Murshidabad were compelled to cross the river and seek refuge at a Malda school. “I urge the Central Paramilitary Forces deployed in the District, the State Police and the district administration to ensure the safe return of these displaced Hindus & protect their lives from this jihadist terror,” he said in a post on X.
