Hundreds flee violence-hit Murshidabad, cross river to take shelter in Malda

Kolkata: Hundreds of people affected by communal violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad district have crossed the Bhagirathi River and taken shelter in adjoining Malda, officials said.

The local administration has arranged for accommodation and food for the fleeing riot-hit families and sheltered them in schools, while deploying volunteers at the river bank to assist those arriving in boats.

Several areas in Muslim-majority Murshidabad, including Suti, Dhulian, Jangipur and Shamsherganj, have witnessed violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act that spiralled into communal violence, sparking the exodus.

Visuals on the media showed burnt shops, hotels and houses in these parts of Murshidabad.

"We escaped from Mandirpara area of Dhulian as our houses were set on fire and women and girls molested by a gang of outsiders and some locals," a young woman, who fled the area along with four other family members, told reporters.

"They hurled bombs, blamed us for the Waqf (Amendment) Act and asked us to immediately leave our homes. They beat up the men of our houses. We were afraid for our lives and escaped our homes with the help of central forces," the woman added.

Another elderly woman said, "We folded hands before the marauders seeking their forgiveness even though we did not commit any wrongdoing. Brandishing arms, the attackers committed so much of atrocities. I, my son, daughter-in-law and grandson fled with some of our belongings. Otherwise, we would have been killed."

Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed that 400 people have fled Dhulian following the violence.

"More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad driven by fear of religiously driven bigots were forced to flee across the river & take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda. Religious persecution in Bengal is real.

"Appeasement politics of TMC has emboldened radical elements. Hindus are being hunted, our people are running for their lives in their own land! Shame on the state govt for allowing this breakdown of law & order. I urge the central paramilitary forces deployed in the district, the state police and the district administration to ensure the safe return of these displaced Hindus & protect their lives from this jihadist terror. Bengal is burning. The social fabric is torn. Enough is enough," he said in a post on X.

Deonapur-Sovapur gram panchayat pradhan Sulekha Choudhury said that initially a few people were coming in boats, but the numbers increased since Friday afternoon.

"The number of people who have arrived till Saturday night crossed 500, with most of them being women," she said.

Choudhury said they have been sheltered in schools in the area and food has been arranged for them.

Kaliachak 3 Block Development Officer (BDO) Sukanta Sikdar said there was sporadic arrival of affected people till Saturday afternoon but the numbers might have gone up afterwards.

Trinamool Congress' Baisnabnagar MLA Chandana Sarkar said 20 youths have been deployed at the river bank to assist those coming in boats from Murshidabad.

They have been sheltered in schools and arrangements have been made for them, she said.

A representative of a voluntary organisation in Malda said that so far, around 40-50 boats carrying riot-hit people from areas such as Dhulian, Suti and Jangipur have arrived since Saturday and necessary arrangements have been made in Pallarpur village in Kaliachak 3 block.

"They are safe here," he asserted.