Smoke and flames billow out from a vehicle after it was set ablaze during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Violence erupted at Jangipur in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Tuesday when a section of protesters agitating against the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, allegedly clashed with the police.
The rally turned violent when the protesters, raising slogans against the Act, reached the area adjoining the Umarpur crossing along National Highway 12 under the Raghunathganj police station, said a police officer.
Nearly 100 protesters got into physical altercations with the police and allegedly pelted stones, the officer said, adding that several police personnel were injured in the melee.
Several police vehicles were also set on fire, and the police resorted to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells. Extra force was called from other police stations.
The West Bengal police took to social media and said that the situation in Jangipur was completely under control. “The unruly mob has been dispersed. Traffic has returned to normalcy on the National Highway. Strict action will be taken against those who have resorted to violence,” the police said on X.
“Legal action will also be initiated against rumour-mongers trying to spread misinformation. We request all not to heed rumours and keep calm,” the police added.
President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Act last Saturday. The Act aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties – assets permanently donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes – with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare.
Law and order
Earlier in the day, Minister for Library and Information Services Siddiqullah Chowdhury said that protesters against the Waqf Act are being “lathi-charged”, a phenomenon that was “not even evident during the Left regime”.
Several leaders of the Opposition BJP, including party State president Sukanta Majumdar, shared videos of the protest on social media. Mr. Majumdar blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the violence and said that the police were “looking helpless”..
Published – April 09, 2025 01:48 am IST