A special bench of the Calcutta High Court on Saturday (April 12) ordered the deployment of central forces immediately in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal in the wake of widespread violence during the protests against the Waqf Amendment Act that resulted in three deaths so far. Advocate Anish Mukherjee, representing West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari, who has filed a PIL seeking deployment of central forces and an NIA probe, said, "For several days now, we have been witnessing widespread violence throughout the state of West Bengal, particularly in the Murshidabad district."
The high court also instructed both the Mamata Banerjee government and the Centre to submit detailed reports on the situation. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 17 (Thursday). "After hearing the matter, the court directed that deployment of central forces in Murshidabad district should be done immediately..., and the state administration will assist the central forces to ensure that there is no loss of life or obstruction or violation of law in any manner. Now, this PIL has been accepted by the High Court and this PIL will be returnable on April 17, where both the state and the Centre will file their respective affidavits stating their stand," he further said.
Over 110 people were arrested in connection with the violence that broke out in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, police said today. Several vehicles, including police vans, were set on fire, stones were hurled at security forces, and roads were blocked as violence rocked Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts over the new legislation on Friday (April 11). Raids were underway in all these districts, with over 110 arrested in Murshidabad.
"About 70 people were arrested from Suti, and 41 people from Samserganj in connection with the violence," a police officer said.
The situation in these violence-hit places remained tense on Saturday morning, but no untoward incident was reported, officials said. In the worst-hit Murshidabad district, prohibitory orders have been imposed and internet services suspended in places that saw violence, they said.
"Patrolling in Suti and Samserganj areas is going on. Nobody is allowed to regroup anywhere. We will not allow any attempt to disrupt the law and order situation," an officer said, appealing to the people to not pay heed to "rumours on social media".
Meanwhile, a teenage boy who was injured allegedly in police firing during the clashes in Suti was admitted to a hospital in Kolkata, police said. The districts that saw violence have significant Muslim populations. The BJP attacked the Mamata Banerjee government, stating that if it was "incapable" of handling the situation, it should seek help from the Centre.
"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," Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said in a post on X.
"Public property was destroyed, Government Officials felt threatened, and an atmosphere of fear and intimidation was created, all under the false guise of dissent.
The silence of the Mamata Banerjee Government is deafening," he said. Adhikari said that those behind the violence must be identified, arrested and prosecuted under the strictest sections of law.