The West Bengal Police has arrested a total of 150 persons in connection with the recent violence in Murshidabad district, who was angry with protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
According to a police statement, adequate police forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhulian and other affected areas to maintain the system.
On Saturday, a special bench of the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of central forces in view of widespread violence in Murshidabad during the protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, in which three people have died so far.
Advocate Aneesh Mukherjee has filed a public interest litigation on behalf of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari demanding the deployment of central forces and an NIA inquiry. He said, “For the past several days, we have been watching widespread violence in all West Bengal, especially in Murshidabad district.”
The High Court has directed both the Mamta government and the Center to present a detailed report on the situation. The next hearing of the case will be on 17 April. Security was also increased in Jangipur after violent protests, which damaged public property.
According to a police officer, the demonstration was against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, but now the situation has stabilized.
On Friday, West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose directed the Mamata Banerjee -led state government to take strict action against the miscreants responsible for unrest in many areas of the state, including Amatla, Sati, Dhulian and other places of Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas.
Similarly, a Muslim organization in Siliguri staged a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. A protestor urged the Central Government to cancel the Act. Earlier, students of Alia University staged a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Kolkata on Friday.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 2 and 3 April respectively. It was passed in both houses and later received the President’s approval, after which it became a law. On 5 April, President Draupadi Murmu approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
While the opposition is opposing the Waqf Act, the BJP has started the ‘Waqf Reform Awareness Campaign’, which will run from April 20 to May 5. Under this initiative, the Muslim community will be told the benefits of the Waqf Act.