Violence in Murshidabad: Police successfully dispersed an unruly throng that had descended into violence during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act.
Following an alleged violent demonstration over the Waqf Amendment Act in Murshidabad, security forces maintain vigil.
On Saturday, April 12, the Calcutta High Court issued an order for the central forces to be deployed in the Murshidabad area, which is rife with violence. Police announced today that more than 110 persons have been arrested in relation to the violence that erupted during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in West Bengal’s Muslim-majority Murshidabad district. On Friday, April 11, unrest erupted in Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts over the new law, resulting in the burning of many vehicles, including police vans, the throwing of stones at security personnel, and the blocking of roadways. All of these districts were experiencing raids, and in Murshidabad, more than 110 people were taken into custody.
“About 70 people were arrested from Suti, and 41 people from Samserganj in connection with the violence,” according to a police officer.
Although there were still tight situations in these violent areas on Saturday morning, authorities reported no unfortunate incidents. According to them, internet services have been suspended in areas where there was violence and prohibitory orders have been put in place in the worst-hit Murshidabad district.
“There is ongoing patrolling in the Suti and Samserganj areas. No one is permitted to reassemble anyplace. An officer urged the public not to follow “rumours on social media” and declared, “We will not allow any attempt to disrupt the law and order situation.”
According to authorities, a teenage kid who was hurt by what they said was police gunfire during the Suti clashes was taken to a hospital in Kolkata. There are sizable Muslim communities in the violent districts. The BJP criticised the Mamata Banerjee administration, saying it should turn to the Centre for assistance if it was “incapable” of managing the crisis.
“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,” Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader, wrote in a message to X.
Under the false pretence of dissent, government officials felt threatened, public property was destroyed, and a climate of fear and intimidation was fostered.
“The Mamata Banerjee Government’s silence is deafening,” he remarked. According to Adhikari, those responsible for the assault must be found, detained, and charged under the most severe legal provisions.