Murshidabad riot: 3 dead amid violence over Waqf Act; Calcutta HC orders deployment of central forces | 10 Points

Murshidabad Violence: Two people were hacked to death by a mob, while another person succumbed to injuries in West Bengal's Murshidabad amid fresh violence on Saturday, a day after widespread unrest during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. The Calcutta High Court has ordered deployment of central forces in violence-hit Murshidabad, after BJP them. 

118 people have been arrested in connection with the Murshidabad riot, with police raids continuing across multiple locations.

Murshidabad Violence: Here are Top Developments

Suvendu Adhikari Moves Calcutta High Court

West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has moved Calcutta High Court, seeking deployment of central forces in West Bengal.

"In view of the large-scale communal riots spreading like wildfire across West Bengal, I had sought immediate intervention from the state government for the requisition of central paramilitary forces. The state government did not accept it. With no other option, I approached the High Court for an urgent hearing... My prayer has been accepted and a division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chaudhary will hear the PIL filed by me," said Suvendu Adhikari.

2. CM Mamata Banerjee Urges Peace

“Remember, we did not make the law over which many are agitated. The law was made by the central government. So the answer you want should be sought from the central government,” CM Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X, urging peace among rioters in Murshidabad.

"We have made our position clear on this matter -- we do not support this law. This law will not be implemented in our state. So what is the riot about," she asked.

MP Abhishek Banerjee also said, 'Appeal to everyone today to maintain peace and preserve Bengal's legacy of harmony".

3. Father Son Hacked to Death

Two people were killed in West Bengal's Murshidabad district amid violent clashes linked to protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The victims, a father and son, were found with multiple stab wounds at their home in Jafrabad, located in the violence-hit Samserganj area.

4. Bullet Injured Person Succumbs to Death

In a separate incident, one person who sustained bullet injuries in the Samserganj area, succumbed to injuries. Police officials said their personnel were unlikely to be involved in the firing, suggesting that it “could possibly have come from the BSF,” as central forces had been deployed in the area to control the unrest.

5. Suvendu Adhikari Writes to Ashwini Vaishnaw

Suvendu Adhikari, meanwhile, wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the vandalism of railway property in the district.

"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," he said in a post on X.

6. Murshidabad Violence

On Friday, widespread violence erupted across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts during protests against the new legislation. Several vehicles, including police vans, were set ablaze, stones were hurled at security forces, and roads were blocked.

Security has been tightened in Murshidabad's Jangipur after protests over Waqf Act turned violent in Dhuliyan-Ratanpur area.

7. BJP Flags ‘Jihadist Forces’

The BJP slammed TMC government, urging it to seek assistance from the Centre if it was "incapable" of handling the law and order situation. Suvendu Adhikari described the unrest as a “premeditated act of violence, an assault on democracy and governance by Jihadist forces,” rather than a protest.

8. BJP chief accuses Mamata govt of 'inaction'

Union minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Saturday called upon Mamata Banerjee to strictly enforce the rule of law in trouble-torn pockets of Murshidabad district accusing her administration of choosing to look the other way as "Hindus are coming under attack" in Samserganj, Suti and Jangipur.

Majumdar told reporters that 10 police personnel were injured and the BDO office was vandalised by a mob, as the “appeasement-driven state administration did not take appropriate steps.”

9. BJP stoking communal tension, says TMC

TMC Leader Derek O'Brien Saturday accused the BJP of stoking communal tension across the country after the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and termed it a "classic playbook of the BJP-RSS".

TMC National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee also joined the chorus and said, "Some people want to set Bengal on fire. We should maintain peace and not fall prey to rumours... Many people are trying to create unrest in Bengal by sowing seeds of division in the name of religion.

10. Situation Under Control say Cops

Authorities said the situation is now under control, with the Border Security Force (BSF) assisting state police in maintaining order. A large contingent of security personnel has been deployed in sensitive areas, particularly around Jangipur, which the centre of violence.