Kolkata: In response to the escalating violence in Murshidabad over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, the Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered the deployment of central paramilitary forces in the affected areas to restore law and order.
The decision came from a special bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury, following a petition filed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.
Violence Escalates: Three Dead, 138 Arrested
Clashes in parts of Suti and Samserganj have turned deadly, with three fatalities confirmed and two others hospitalized with gunshot injuries. The situation in the region remains tense, with charred vehicles and damaged property reported after Friday’s demonstrations.
According to Additional Director General (Law & Order) Jawed Shamim, 15 police personnel were injured, and 138 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the unrest. The number of arrests is expected to rise as investigations continue.
State vs Court: Debate on Deployment
During Saturday’s hearing, the High Court gave the West Bengal government 30 minutes to respond to the proposal of deploying central forces. The state argued against it, stating that the situation was under control and that Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar would soon visit Murshidabad.
However, the bench overruled the state’s stance and directed that central forces be deployed immediately in sensitive zones to ensure peace.
Security Measures in Place
Following the court’s directive, seven companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed in Suti and Samserganj. Authorities are also considering increasing force presence if the situation does not improve.
Political Tensions Rise
While addressing the media and posting on social platform X (formerly Twitter), Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the law and order breakdown is being politically manipulated. He blamed the state’s ruling party for failing to control the violence and accused the administration of being soft on violent elements.
The state government has not issued an official response to Adhikari’s remarks.
Background: Waqf (Amendment) Act Protests
The recent protests stem from widespread dissatisfaction over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which has sparked demonstrations in several parts of Murshidabad over the past week. Friday’s events saw police reportedly firing rounds to disperse crowds and restore control.
