Kolkata: West Bengal was rocked by fresh violence on Monday as protests against the Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Act intensified, triggering unrest in South 24 Parganas and fueling communal tensions in Murshidabad.
In South 24 Parganas, a rally organized by the Indian Secular Front (ISF) spiraled into chaos after police reportedly denied permission for the march towards Kolkata’s Ramlila Maidan. Disturbing visuals circulated on social media showed police motorcycles being torched, a police bus overturned, and protestors forcefully breaching security barricades.
To bring the situation under control, police resorted to a lathi-charge. The clashes left several people injured, including multiple police personnel and at least one protester.
ISF MLA Naushad Siddique, who was scheduled to address the rally, strongly criticized the Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it “an attack on Muslims and a blow to constitutional values.” He also targeted the state government, questioning Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s earlier assurance that the amended law would not be enforced in Bengal.
Tensions ran even higher in Murshidabad, a district known for its communal sensitivity. Violence there reportedly claimed three lives, alongside widespread arson, vandalism, and the disruption of railway services. Authorities have arrested over 200 individuals in connection with the unrest.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has demanded an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), describing the Murshidabad violence as a case of “Islamic extremism.”
In response to the escalating violence, West Bengal Police have imposed prohibitory orders in several areas and ramped up security across the affected regions. Officials have claimed that the situation is under control, though tensions remain high.
