Last Updated:
The death toll in the protests against the Waqf Bill in West Bengal’s Murshidabad rose to three. A youth and a father and son are among the dead.
Security personnel seen quelling a protest against the Waqf Bill that had turned violent in West Bengal’s Murshidabad. (IMAGE: IANS)
Three people were killed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following violent clashes allegedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
A father and son were allegedly murdered inside their home in Jafrabad which comes under the jurisdiction of Samsherganj police station. A young man who suffered a bullet wound succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
The family of the father and the son from Jafrabad said that miscreants suddenly surrounded their home on Saturday morning and entered their home to loot it. They then hacked Hargobinda Das, aged 60, and his son Chandan Das, aged 45 due to which they suffered grievous injuries. They succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital.
ALSO READ | ‘Waqf Act Won’t Be Implemented In Bengal’: Mamata Reiterates Stance Amid Violent Protests Across State
Officials told News18 that 138 people have been arrested so far.
Tensions continue to prevail in Nimtita, Shamsherganj, Jangipur, Suti and Jafrabad but Railway Police Force (RPF) and Border Security Forces (BSF) remain stationed in those places and told news agency IANS that the situation is under control.
Amid the unrest in West Bengal, the police have assured strict action against those involved in “hooliganism”.
Speaking about the law and order situation in the state West Bengal, DGP Rajeev Kumar said, “An atmosphere of unrest has been seen in Jangipur since yesterday and communal disturbance has also been observed. Any kind of hooliganism will not be tolerated. We are dealing with the situation very strongly. It is our responsibility to protect human life.
DGP Rajeev Kumar is likely to visit Shamsherganj on Saturday evening, the state government told the Calcutta High Court. A special hearing is underway in the Calcutta High Court on leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s plea seeking deployment of Central forces.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday doubled down on her opposition to the Waqf Bill, declaring that her government will not implement the law in the state.
In a post on X, Banerjee urged people of all faiths to stay calm and exercise restraint.
“Every human life is precious, do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming the society. Remember, we did not make the law that many are agitated against. The law was made by the central government. So the answer you want should be sought from the central government,” said CM Banerjee.
She further added that TMC has made its stand clear on the Waqf Amendment Bill. It will not be implemented in West Bengal.
Union Minister and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led government over the unrest in parts of Murshidabad district and accused it of turning a blind eye while “Hindus are being attacked” in Shamsherganj, Suti and Jangipur.
Majumdar said the BJP would put an end to what he called “vandalism and goondaism by a section of minorities” within five minutes if voted to power in the state. He claimed 10 police personnel were injured and the local BDO office was vandalised by a mob because the administration, driven by appeasement politics, did not act in time.
Alleging that the violence may have been triggered to divert attention from protests over the cancellation of 26,000 school teaching jobs, Majumdar, who is also MoS for Education, said Hindus of Bengal are peaceful but will rise to defend their dignity and identity if targeted in Muslim-majority pockets of Murshidabad.
“Hindus believe in the true concept of secularism, pluralism as they are peace-loving and non-violent. But if efforts are made to drive out the Hindus from certain pockets in Murshidabad where Muslims are the majority, ordinary people of Bengal, Hindus of Bengal will turn around to save their dignity, honour and identity,” he said.
(with inputs from Kamalika and Dhrubajyoti Pramanik)
- Location :
Murshidabad, India, India