Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Even as an uneasy calm prevailed in the violence-torn Murshidabad district in West Bengal, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has constituted an inquiry committee to investigate alleged molestation and displacement of women during the communal disturbances, an official statement on Wednesday said.
It said NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and would visit the affected areas to assess the situation and meet victims. Violence erupted on April 11 and 12 in pockets of Murshidabad, including Suti, Dhulian and Jangipur, during protests against the amended Waqf Act. At least three people were killed and several injured in the violence.
In the Mandirpara area of Dhulian, numerous women were allegedly molested during the violence. The violence forced hundreds of women to flee their homes, with many crossing the Bhagirathi river to seek shelter in neighbouring Malda district, the commission said.
The commission is deeply disturbed by the reports emerging from Murshidabad. Women have not only suffered violence but have also been forced to leave behind their homes and dignity,” the statement quoted Ms Rahatkar as saying. The committee will ensure a thorough probe and recommend steps to prevent such atrocities in the future, she said.
The commission said the inquiry committee has the authority to regulate its own procedures, hold meetings at appropriate locations and engage with stakeholders, including survivors, families and officials. Ms Rahatkar, who will be accompanied by NCW member Archana Majumdar and Deputy Secretary Shivani Dey, is expected to reach Kolkata on the evening of April 17, the statement said.
The committee will then travel to Malda on April 18 to interact with the displaced women and their families, and hold discussions with senior district officials, including the district magistrate and the superintendent of police. On April 19, the statement said, the NCW team would visit the worst-hit areas in Murshidabad, such as Shamsherganj and Jaffarabad, to meet victims and local residents. Meetings with the Murshidabad district administration are also scheduled to understand the law enforcement response and relief efforts, it said.
Even as the BJP lambasted the chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the riots claiming that her days of administration was “numbered,” Ms Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP government at the Centre. Describing the violence in Murshidabad a “pre-planned communal riots, she said if elements from Bangladesh were involved in the riots then the Union Government should be held responsible.
“I saw a tweet yesterday quoting Home Ministry sources that Bangladesh is involved in this. If that is the case, the Central government is responsible since BSF guards the borders, not us. State government doesn’t have the responsibility to guard the borders,” Ms Banerjee said addressing a gathering of Imams and Muezzins in Kolkata.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson urged members of Muslim community not to fall into the trap of the BJP and indulge in violence on the streets. “The BJP wants to polarise so that my government is removed from power. Once they come to power, they won’t even allow you to eat,” the Chief Minister said addressing the members of the community. Ms Banerjee said that Imams and Muezzins have a responsibility to ensure that “no one gets enraged by what the BJP says.”
Pointing out that the TMC MPs had opposed the Waqf amendment bill, she urged the opposition INDIA bloc parties to fight against the Act together. She said that protests should be held in Delhi and added that her party MPs will join the protests. Raising questions on why the allies of the BJP particularly Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party supported the passage of the Act, the Chief Minister said that the Waqf (Amendment) Act should have been passed like a Constitutional amendment with two-third majority.
“I will appeal to INDIA team: let us be united and let us fight together boldly. This is not an individual matter; it will affect each and everybody. Today, they are doing against one group. Tomorrow, they will target another. They are talking about Uniform Civil Code after this…,” Ms Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister announced ₹10 lakh compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased, who were killed in violence. Three persons had lost their lives in the violence and several houses were attacked, Ms Banerjee said the State government would construct new houses under Banglar Bari scheme and shopkeepers who have suffered losses would be compensated.
Violence had erupted over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Dhulian and Shamsherganj areas of Murshidabad on April 11 and 12. Hundreds of people have taken refuge in adjoining Malda district to escape violence. More than 230 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the violence.
Ms Banerjee said the region where violence occurred is represented by Congress MP. Dhulian and Shamsherganj fall under Malda Dakshin Lok Sabha seat represented by Congress MP Isha Khan Chowdhury. “Had Trinamool Congress been involved, houses of three MLAs would not have been targeted… our party office would not have been attacked,” she said.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also highlighted that the area where violence occurred is close to the international border with Bangladesh and asked why the Union government was in a hurry in implementing the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
“Why is the Government of India in a hurry about Waqf (Amendment) Act? Are you not aware of the situation in Bangladesh? Have secret meetings with Mohammad Yunus (Chief Advisor to interim government of Bangladesh) if it helps our country…But what are your plans,” Ms Banerjee said accusing the BJP is dividing creating polarisation.
The Chief Minister also launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “control him.” Ms Banerjee said the “Home Minister will never become the Prime Minister” and asked why he was in a hurry. “I will request Modi ji (PM Narendra Modi) to control him. The powers of all the central agencies wrests with him,” she said.
The Chief Minister further urged the Muslims not to take the law into their own hands. “We have high respect for Imam and Purohit. Don’t get excited by the BJP‘s words, don’t take the law into your hands, and please control. I do Durga Pujo, they say we don’t do. We have respect for all religions,” she said.
She asked the Muslims to protest in the national capital and seek an appointment from the President and the Prime Minister over the Waqf issue. “Go to Delhi and do movement. Seek appointment from the President and PM. Do programmes in Delhi, stay there. Do your movement there. I assure you TMC MPs will be there,” she said.
The BJP slammed Mamata for meeting Imams and said that Hindus were the victims of violence and the Chief Minister was meeting the Muslim clerics.
“Abusing the BSF, Central forces, uniformed forces, armed forces has become part and parcel of TMC’s culture. They abuse Army, CAPF, CRPF, NSG, NSA, NIA and all of the agencies and this has become their handbook. The Court has said the central force should be deployed in Murshidabad because they have no faith in the Bengal Police, that it has become institutional for political violence since Mamata Banerjee has come into power…This is only being done to protect and defend the rioters because we know that this is state-sponsored violence, state-sponsored targeted attacks on Hindus are taking place,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said.
Responding strongly to the Chief Minister’s accusations, BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar slammed Banerjee in a lengthy post on X and accused her of launching a deliberate campaign to discredit the BSF, saying that her remarks were a cover-up for her government’s failure to maintain law and order.
