A BJP leader said that a father and son duo, Hargobind Das and Chandan Das, were hacked to death in Dhulian, Shamsher Ganj, Jafrabad.
KOLKATA: In an emergency session in the evening today, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of Central forces to contain communal violence in Bengal’s Murshidabad district following protests by the majority Muslim community against the Waqf Amendment Act.
In the afternoon, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari appealed to Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam for immediate deployment of Central forces following the incidents of arson and violence in which at least three lives have been lost. The Chief Justice nominated the Bench of Justice Soumen Sen to hear the plea even though it was a holiday today.
After an hour-long hearing, Justice Soumen Sen overrode the objections of the West Bengal Government’s senior counsel and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Baneree, and said: “Nothing is more important than the lives of the people.” He said that while the initial deployment would be in Murshidabad district, it would be extended to any additional area if the State administration desired.
Kalyan Banerjee pleaded against the deployment of Central forces saying that it was a ploy by the Opposition BJP to plead for the implementation of Article 355. He also said that the deployment of the Central forces would lead to “unnecessary expenditure”.
Meanwhile, violence continued unabated in several areas of Murshidabad district in protest against the Waqf Amendment Act. Several vehicles, including ambulances, police vans, and Government buses and shops were set on fire and stones were hurled at security forces. Reports said that mobs had torched shops and eateries belonging to Hindus. About 70 per cent of the population in Murshidabad are Muslims. Internet services have been suspended in Murshidabad.
Agitated villagers refused to let the police take away the bodies of the father-son duo who were killed
After the police remained largely inactive since violence began on Wednesday, the BSF stepped in on Friday evening to clear the blocked highways and train lines. Reports of sporadic violence also came in from Malda, South 24-Parganas and Hooghly districts.
“BSF has mobilised troops to help the administration in restoring normalcy,” said Nilotpal Kumar Pandey, DIG of BSF South Bengal Frontier.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared videos of the arson and unrest and blamed Banerjee’s “politics of Muslim appeasement” for the situation. “The West Bengal Police is struggling to rein in the violent Islamist mob… possibly under instructions from Home Minister Mamata Banerjee herself,” he claimed in a post on X.
He further alleged that the protesters raised slogans rejecting the Constitution and demanded Banerjee’s resignation. “Her inflammatory speeches have directly contributed to the current unrest,” Malviya added.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said that he had spoken to Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded the implementation of Article 355. The BJP’s Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said he had appealed to Calcutta High Court for an urgent hearing demanding Army deployment.
BJP leader Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, popularly called Nirbhoy Didi, said that she had appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah for deployment of Central forces. “Large parts of Dhuliyan, Suti, Jangipur and Samsherganj in Murshidabad are in flames. Muslim mobs are vandalising and setting fire to Hindu shops and hotels. The police are standing idle,” she said.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation in the wake of the continuing violence in Murshidabad holding her responsible for it.
“If you have any shame left, you must resign. You are trying to reap political benefits while the State is burning. You gave the provocation. Now that the situation has gone out of your control you are calling for peace,” Adhikari wrote on his X handle. “They have clearly stated you depend on them and not vice versa. Your MPs and MLAs have lost all control. Murshidabad, Malda are now run by PFI, SIMI and other terrorist organisations,” he posted.
The BJP leader claimed that a father and son duo, Hargobind Das and Chandan Das, were hacked to death in Dhulian, Shamsher Ganj, Jafrabad.
“Mamata Banerjee has the blood of these innocent Hindus and several others who have lost their lives and livelihood on her hand. She must be tried for these criminal acts of commission and omission,” Sukanta Majumdar said.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim said the details of the incidents were not available yet. He said the local police may not have been involved in the incident of firing that left a teenager injured, and said that “this could probably be from the BSF end”.
Shamim said 118 people have so far been arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in the incidents of violence. The number would go up as raids are continuing, he said.
He urged people not to pay heed to rumours on social media and stay calm.
Speaking at the same press conference, Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar said strong action would be taken against those indulging in violence, and the men in uniform will do everything in their power to protect the lives and properties of innocent citizens.
“The unfortunate incident that happened this morning may have been triggered by unsubstantiated rumours being spread from various quarters. I urge the people not to pay heed to such provocations, which are clearly the handiwork of miscreants,” he said.
“This is a fight between good and evil. Rumour mongering has to be stopped. We will request people not to take the law and order into their own hands. We assure them that the police will take the strongest measure against the culprits and protect the lives and properties of the common people,” he said.