Calcutta HC Orders CAPF Deployment In Murshidabad After 3 Died In Clashes Over Waqf Act; Union Home Secy Steps In

Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district after three persons, including a father-son duo, were killed in clashes allegedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a video conference with Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal on Murshidabad violence, asks them to put in place adequate steps to ensure normalcy at the earliest.

Additional Director General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim told PTI that 18 policemen were injured during clashes in various parts of Murshidabad district on Friday.

"So far, police have arrested 118 people in connection with the violence that erupted during the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act," Shamim said, adding that the number is expected to rise.

Also Read | Waqf Protests In Bengal: 'Act Will Not Be Implemented','Don't Incite Riots' Says CM Mamata Amid Escalating Tension

Calcutta HC Order To Restore Normalcy

A division bench, presided over by Justice Soumen Sen, ordered deployment of CAPF in the affected areas of Murshidabad to assist in restoring normalcy.

The central forces will operate in coordination with the state administration.

The court said citizens must be provided with adequate security and protection to ensure peace and order in the region. The bench stated, "stating that it cannot keep its eyes closed when such situations come up."

The court also instructed both the state government and the Centre to submit detailed reports on the situation.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 17.

A special bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury was constituted by the Chief Justice to urgently hear a petition filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, seeking the deployment of central forces in the district.

Seven companies of BSF have been deployed in strife-hit Suti, Dhuliyan and Samserganj areas of Murshidabad, the state lawyer told the court.

Adhikari's lawyer, however, alleged that the BSF personnel were not being deployed properly to control the situation.

Three Deaths Linked To Clashes Over Waqf Amendment Act

The father-son duo identified as Harogobindo Das and Chandan, were found with multiple stab wounds inside their home in Jafrabad, located in the violence-hit Samserganj area, he said.

The third victim, identified as 21-year-old Ijaz Momin, sustained bullet wounds during clashes at Sajur More in Suti on Friday.

"He succumbed to his injuries at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital on Saturday evening," a police officer told PTI.

The officer confirmed that post-mortem examinations had been conducted on the father and son.

"Both victims were discovered lying inside their home and were declared brought dead at a nearby hospital," he said.

Family members alleged that miscreants looted the house and fatally stabbed the two before fleeing.

"A probe is on, and we are trying to identify those involved in the killings. We have spoken to other members of the family and local residents," the officer added.

In a separate incident, two workers of a local bidi factory sustained bullet injuries earlier in the day at Dhulian in Samserganj block.

PTI reported that the victims — Gholam Moinuddin Sheikh and another boy sustained gunshot wounds while on their way to work.

Both are reportedly stable and are being treated at Murshidabad Medical College.

Also Read | Waqf (Amendment) Act: 2 Killed, Over 110 Arrested In Murshidabad Amid Violent Protests Against Bill

Police reportedly fired four rounds to bring the mob under control.

Large-scale violence was reported from Suti and Samserganj areas during demonstrations over the controversial Act.

DGP Rajeev Kumar reached Murshidabad in the evening and held meetings with senior police officers at Samserganj police station to take stock of the situation, reported PTI.

In view of the escalating protests in the state over the implementation of Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday asserted that it would not be implemented in the state.

"My sincere appeal to people of all religions, please remain calm, remain restrained. Do not engage in any irreligious behaviour in the name of religion. Every human life is precious; do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming society," she said in a post on X.