West Bengal police arrested two masterminds behind the Murshidabad Anti-Waqf Violence as reported by India Today. The arrest comes nearly two months after communal violence erupted in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. The protests were against the newly passed Waqf (Amendment) Act. The police on Tuesday arrested two men alleged to be the chief instigators behind the April unrest.
Accused residents of Samsherganj
The accused, identified as Kausar Sheikh and Mursalim Sheikh, both residents of Samsherganj. Both were reportedly responsible for mobilising a large crowd at the Dakbungalow intersection in Samsherganj on April 7. According to police sources, the duo, believed to be associated with a local NGO. They ran a campaign to gather people for an anti-Waqf demonstration that eventually spiraled into violent clashes with law enforcement.
The protest, initially intended as a public show of dissent against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, turned chaotic. The protests resulted in widespread arson, looting, and attacks on shops, particularly those owned by Hindus.
The massive violence claimed three lives and caused significant property damage in Murshidabad. Police believe the arrested men played a key role in inciting the crowd. The two suspects were produced before the Jangipur sub-divisional court on Tuesday, where police requested their custody for further interrogation.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which received Presidential assent on April 5 following parliamentary approval. The act aims to modernise and regulate the management of waqf properties across India.
It introduces provisions for better record-keeping, faster dispute resolution, and tighter oversight changes that have triggered widespread protests in several parts of the country.
Murshidabad violence
According to reports, in West Bengal, the unrest spread beyond Murshidabad. In Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district, supporters of the India Secular Front clashed with police. This came when they were stopped from marching toward Kolkata. Protesters set vehicles ablaze, prompting the deployment of paramilitary forces. The forces include the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), to maintain law and order in the region.
Meanwhile, the authorities continue to investigate the broader network behind the violence, while maintaining a heightened security presence in sensitive areas.
