A Rumour Led To Violence In Bengal’s Murshidabad During Anti-Waqf Stir

Violence broke out in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on Tuesday during a protest against the Waqf Act. The violence happened after a rumour spread that a protester had been injured or died during clashes with the police. Because of this, the authorities have imposed restrictions in the affected areas.

The protest against the Waqf Act took place in Jangipur, where several groups organized a rally. Many people from different areas of Murshidabad joined the protest. At the same time, there was also a Ram Navami procession in the area, which meant fewer police officers were available to manage the protest since many were busy ensuring security for the procession.

When the protesters blocked a national highway, the police tried to remove the blockade by using force. During this, one protester fell down, and rumours quickly spread that he was seriously hurt or had died. This led to the crowd becoming angry and violent. They started throwing stones at the police, damaging two police vehicles, and setting them on fire. Many parked vehicles along the road were also damaged.

Because there weren’t enough police officers to control the situation, additional forces were called in from other areas. The police used tear gas and lathicharge to control the crowd. After several hours, the situation was finally brought under control, but the national highway stayed blocked for a long time.

As a result of the violence, internet services were cut off in Murshidabad district, and strict orders were imposed in the Raghunathganj and Suti areas to maintain peace. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was recently passed in Parliament and became law after the President’s approval. Several people have filed petitions in the Supreme Court against the law, and a hearing will take place on April 15. The Governor of West Bengal, CV Ananda Bose, condemned the violence and said that efforts to disturb peace in the state should be dealt strictly. He also told the state government to take strong action and report back.

After the violence, a senior police officer said that the situation in Murshidabad, an area with a large Muslim population, was calm and peaceful. No other incidents were reported, but restrictions on movement were put in place in certain areas. A large number of police officers are stationed in sensitive areas, especially in Jangipur town where the violence happened. The officer also mentioned that the situation remains peaceful, and prohibitory orders will stay in place until April 10. The internet shutdown will continue until April 11.