Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 12: Three persons were killed in violent protests against the Waqf amendment act in Murshidabad district in West Bengal on Saturday even as the chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her government would not implement in the state the act which govern how Muslim charitable properties are to be administered in the country.
As violence continued in Murshidabad for the second consecutive day, police said two of the three killed were a father and his son duo with their bodies found riddled with multiple stab wounds, at their home in Jafrabad in Samserganj area of the district. The third death was a person who sustained a bullet wound in Dhulian in Samserganj.
Several injuries have also been reported, including to an unspecified number of security personnel ‘attacked’ by protesters, which prompted the cops to use tear gas and conduct a lathi charge. Large-scale violence – including setting fire to police vehicles, blocking railway tracks and damaging public property were reported from Suti and Samserganj in the Muslim-majority district.
Teams from the Railway Police Force and the Border Security Force were deployed. Violence was also reported from Malda, South 24 Paraganas, and Hooghly districts.
The violence also triggered a predictable political slugfest, with the BJP rejecting her appeal and attributing the disturbances to her “appeasement politics.” The BJP’s Amit Malviya labelled the Chief Minister – who has appealed for peace – a “liar” and claimed, “… she was the first to stoke widespread discontent against the Waqf amendments… she actively instigated and sponsored violence, particularly after Friday prayers.”
Ms Banerjee in a long post on X, asked people of all religions to “stay calm” and “remain restrained.” “Every human life is precious, do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming the society. Remember, we did not make the law that many are agitated against. The law was made by the central government. So the answer you want should be sought from the central government,” said CM Banerjee.
She further added that TMC has made its stand clear on the Waqf Amendment Bill. It will not be implemented in West Bengal. “Also, remember, we will take legal action against those who incite riots. We do not condone any violent activity. Some political parties are trying to misuse religion for political gain. Do not give in to their persuasion. I think religion means humanity, goodwill, civilization and harmony. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and harmony,” she said.
BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar hit out at CM Mamata and said that she “has completely failed to maintain law and order in West Bengal.” “Violent anti-Waqf protests have brought the state to a standstill. In Murshidabad, several express trains are being blocked, passengers are stranded, terrified, and rail premises have turned into war zones,” he wrote on X.
Amid the unrest in West Bengal, the police have assured strict action against those involved in “hooliganism.” Speaking about the law and order situation in the state, DGP Rajeev Kumar said, “An atmosphere of unrest has been seen in Jangipur since yesterday and communal disturbance has also been observed. Any kind of hooliganism will not be tolerated. We are dealing with the situation very strongly. It is our responsibility to protect human life.
“Strict action will be taken against those who indulge in hooliganism. No one should spread rumours, do not pay attention to rumours. Police will take strict action, do not take the law into your own hands. Section 163 is applicable in violence-affected areas. Strict action will be taken if government property is set on fire. We request for cooperation from the public, we will not tolerate any kind of violence.”
The leader of the opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari also wrote a letter to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, appealing to hand over the investigation of the multiple incidents of vandalism at the Railway Stations situated in Murshidabad district to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“The recent incidents of vandalism at several Railway Stations situated in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, perpetrated by the so-called ‘protesters’ opposing the passage of the Waqf Act are deliberate acts of destruction, targeting critical Public Infrastructure like Railway Stations which not only disrupt essential services but also pose a serious threat to public safety and national security,” he wrote on X.
” I have written a letter to Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji; the Hon’ble Minister of Railways, requesting him to hand over the investigation of the multiple incidents of vandalism at the Railway Stations situated in the Murshidabad District of West Bengal, to the National Investigation Agency,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), said the cops were not involved in the firing. He said speculation that the BSF had opened fire would be investigated. “We are not trigger-happy,” he said in response to claims of police firing, stressing that “minimum force” had been used to disperse protesters and that 118 had been arrested so far.
“We will take strong action against people indulging in hooliganism and rumour-mongering. People have to realise reality (and to) those spreading misinformation about the Waqf Bill… our force is on the ground (already). This rumour-mongering has to stop,” he told reporters. “Things are getting under control but we have to be very alert… and we need the media’s cooperation. The public, the media, and the police need to work together,” he said.
He also said orders banning large gatherings had been imposed in some areas, and called for cooperation from all sections of society. “The situation is under control… everything was normal even last night but today morning there was an unfortunate incident (the gunshot injury) …”
Protests against changes to the Waqf laws have been gathering steam for days now, ever since they were approved by Parliament. Last week there were demonstrations in Kolkata. Visuals from the Bengal capital then showed a large crowd waving the national flag and carrying posters proclaiming ‘we reject Waqf amendment’ and ‘Reject Waqf Bill’ gathering at public meeting sites. Many protests were organised by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection. There were also protests in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, and Lucknow.
