In the aftermath of violent demonstrations two days prior concerning the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad district, which resulted in three fatalities, the West Bengal government has moved to deploy 17 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to restore order. The disturbances, which erupted on April 12th, also led to over 150 arrests, injuries to 18 police officers, and the hospitalization of one civilian with a gunshot wound.

Police Assure Control, Appeal for Calm

West Bengal’s Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar, after reviewing the law enforcement situation with senior officials on Sunday, affirmed that the situation was now “largely under control.” Jangipur’s Superintendent of Police, Ananda Roy, appealed for peace, urging residents to avoid succumbing to rumours and inaccurate information.

Security Boosted with Senior Officers and Border Force

Security has been significantly bolstered with the dispatch of 23 senior officers from the State police and various central agencies to Murshidabad, which remains on high alert. Nine companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been positioned in the affected areas, with BSF Inspector General Karni Singh Shekhawat personally supervising operations. The Inspector General of the CRPF is also expected to visit the region for a first-hand assessment of the circumstances.

Indo-Bangladesh Border Security Intensified

Amidst the tense atmosphere, security measures have also been intensified along the Indo-Bangladesh border to deter any cross-border disruptions or the escalation of tensions.

Political Fallout: All-Party Meet and BJP Protests

The political repercussions have been immediate and pronounced. Congress MP Isha Khan Chowdhury, representing Malda Dakshin where the affected areas are located, announced an all-party meeting with senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to deliberate on the situation. Simultaneously, the BJP initiated statewide protests, with the party’s top leaders taking to the streets in Kolkata. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar accused “extremist organizations such as the Population Front of India (PFI) and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)” of orchestrating the violence.

BJP Demands “Disturbed Area” Status, Claims of Hindu DisplacementBJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to declare specific border districts in West Bengal as “disturbed areas.” Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that numerous Hindus from Dhulian had crossed the river to seek refuge in Baishnabnagar, a neighbouring area in Malda district. “The safety and return of these displaced families must be ensured without delay,” he stated in a social media communication.

TMC Accuses BJP of Spreading Misinformation

Conversely, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) retaliated, accusing the BJP of disseminating fabricated images to incite communal tensions. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh provided specific instances, claiming that BJP leaders had shared photographs from the anti-CAA protests in Lucknow and a fire incident in Jalandhar, falsely presenting them as events from Murshidabad.

“The BJP is intentionally spreading false information to disrupt communal harmony,” Ghosh asserted. He further claimed that BJP leaders like Sukanta Majumdar and Arjun Singh were employing inflammatory language.

Government Vows Strict Action Against Perpetrators

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose reiterated the state government’s firm position: “No individual will be permitted to take the law into their own hands. The government will act decisively against all perpetrators of violence, irrespective of their religious or political affiliation.”

Murshidabad Under Tight Security Amidst Ongoing Tensions

As tensions persist, both on the ground and within the political sphere, Murshidabad remains under a strong security presence, with authorities closely monitoring both internal unrest and potential threats along the international boundary