Kolkata, 14 April (H.S.): The death toll in the ongoing violence targeting the Hindu community in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has risen to four, following continued unrest sparked by protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The violence, which erupted after Friday prayers, extended through the weekend and remained tense on Monday morning as well.
In response to the escalating situation, West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose has sent a detailed communique to the Ministry of Home Affairs, providing updates on the ground situation in Murshidabad. The report includes incidents of stone-pelting and arson carried out under the guise of anti-Waqf Bill protests.
According to sources in Raj Bhavan, the report outlines the timeline of events over recent days and highlights the most sensitive areas within the district. The information was compiled by the Governor’s core team, supplemented by inputs received from the state secretariat.
The communique also reportedly includes details of confidential exchanges between the Governor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the current law and order situation.
Meanwhile, the state government has deployed 23 specially skilled police officers, drawn from various districts of West Bengal, to Murshidabad. These officers, with proven experience in handling critical law and order situations, will remain stationed in the district until the situation stabilizes.
Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar has already reached Murshidabad and is coordinating operations with the district administration and personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Inspector General K.S. Shekhawat of the South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) also arrived in the district on Sunday.
CAPF personnel conducted extensive flag marches throughout the district’s most sensitive areas on Sunday, with focused deployment in nine particularly vulnerable zones. This action follows an order issued on Saturday evening by a special division bench of the Calcutta High Court.
As of Sunday night, 150 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
