3 killed in Waqf-related violence in Bengal's Murshidabad district

Kolkata: A father-son duo was hacked to death amid violent protests in West Bengal against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, while one of the three men, who suffered bullet wounds, succumbed to injuries, even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sought to placate the agitators, saying that the new law would not be implemented in the state. 

The Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad, where the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, turned violent over the past few days, with roads being blocked, government offices being ransacked, and vehicles, including the ones used by police, being set ablaze. The authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and suspended internet services in some of the areas where large-scale violence was witnessed during protests against the new law.

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan had a video conference with West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar. In addition to nearly 300 Border Security Force personnel locally available in Murshidabad, the Centre deployed five more companies of central armed police force personnel at the request of the state government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s state heavyweight and Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had moved the court seeking the deployment of the central security forces to deal with unrest and bring the situation under control. He also wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into vandalism by the protesters at several rail stations in Murshidabad on Friday, leading to disruption in train services.

The BJP, the principal opposition party in the state, accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of instigating the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and establishing a reign of anarchy. The TMC, on the other hand, alleged that it was the BJP which was trying to incite violence and communal clashes in the state for its vested political interests.  

“Some political parties are trying to misuse religion to gain political advantage. Don’t get carried away by their provocation,” Banerjee urged people on X, taking a tacit jibe at the BJP.

The state government informed the Calcutta High Court in the evening that the West Bengal Police had arrested altogether 138 people in connection with the violence during the protests on Friday and Saturday.

“Remember, we did not make the law that many are agitating against. The law was made by the central government. Therefore, the answer should be sought from the central government,” Banerjee posted on X on Saturday. “We have clearly stated our position on this matter – we do not support this law. This law will not be implemented in our state. Then, what is the pretext for rioting?”

The TMC opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, when the BJP-led government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Centre got it passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha early this month.

“My sincere appeal to all people of all religions, please remain calm, remain restrained. Do not engage in any irreligious behaviour in the name of religion. Every human life is precious; do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming society,” the chief minister and the TMC supremo added.

The bodies of two persons – a senior citizen and his young son – were found on Saturday at the family’s home at Jafrabad in Samsherganj, which was among the areas worst hit by the violence in Murshidabad. The members of the family of the deceased alleged that a gang of miscreants had stormed into the house during the violent clashes between protesters and police on Friday and killed the duo. The police launched an investigation into the case. 

At least 15 police personnel were injured during clashes with protesters in Murshidabad on Friday and Saturday. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from the Malda, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts of the state. 

A man sustained a bullet injury at Dhulian in Samserganj on Saturday. He was rushed to a hospital and was reported to be out of danger, Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), told journalists in Kolkata. He, however, did not confirm who fired the bullet that injured the man. 

Shamim, however, confirmed that police had fired four rounds to disperse unruly mobs in Murshidabad on Friday, injuring two men. One of them succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

"We will request people not to take the law and order into their own hands. We assure them that the police will take the strongest measures against the culprits and protect the lives and properties of the common people,” Rajeev Kumar, Director General of Police (DGP), said.