3 killed, 150 arrested in Bengal Waqf protests, BJP says Hindus not safe

Scenes of destruction were visible in several parts of Bengal’s violence-hit Murshidabad district on Sunday, as paramilitary forces patrolled the deserted streets.

Ordering the deployment of paramilitary forces in highly sensitive areas, the Calcutta High Court on Saturday said it “cannot turn a blind eye to reports of vandalism in a few districts of West Bengal.”

As the violence that erupted after Friday prayers continued into a second day, police on Saturday said at least three people had been killed. Twelve more people were arrested on Sunday in connection with the violence after overnight raids, police said, taking the total number of arrests to 150. Police also stated that the situation in Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur areas is peaceful.

While Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Hindus were “not safe” in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace and blamed “some political parties” for “trying to misuse religion for political gain.”

Apart from nearly 300 BSF personnel locally available in violence-hit Murshidabad, 5 more companies have been deployed at the West Bengal government’s request. After the Calcutta High Court’s order, paramilitary forces have been deployed in highly sensitive areas like Suti and Shamsherganj. Personnel from the central forces carried out patrolling in affected areas throughout the night and also spoke with the families of victims.

West Bengal’s top cop Rajeev Kumar entered the Shamsherganj area – which bore the brunt of the violence – along with senior police officials and a heavy police force. Kumar also conducted a route march across the affected areas late at night.

During Saturday’s hearing, the Calcutta High Court noted that the violence was not limited to Murshidabad but had also spread to other districts, including North 24 Parganas and Hooghly’s Champdani. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari has called for central forces to be deployed in both North 24 Parganas and Hooghly.

A local, Sujit Ghoshal, told India Today TV, “I was told by rioters that this is just a trailer. The real movie will start soon. We were here till 11 pm. But there weren’t any signs of anyone from the administration. Even now also, there is no one present.”

Another local, whose shop was vandalised in Dhulian, told India Today TV, “My wife and my kids were in fear. They asked me not to step out. Dad, don’t go out,” he said. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari claimed that at least 35 Hindu shops were burnt in Dhulian during the Friday protests.

Angered by the absence of police, the local further said, “There were no police officials. They were just scared. Sitting inside their houses like us.”

Among the dead, a father and son – Hargobind Das and Chandan Das – were hacked to death by a mob on Saturday, while another protester succumbed to bullet wounds. Izaz Ahmed Sheikh, 17, was hit by a bullet as police opened fire in Suti on Friday. He was declared dead on Saturday. At least 18 police officials have been injured as protests against the newly-enacted Waqf law turned violent, followed by a fresh round of violence that broke out on Saturday.

Welcoming the Calcutta High Court verdict to deploy paramilitary force in parts of Murshidabad, West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “incompetence” and her appeasement politics behind the ongoing violence against Waqf Act in the state.

“She is not eligible to rule the state… The police come under her control… Mamata Banerjee’s police are allowing free periods for Muslims. During that time, they can loot, misbehave with women, break the houses of Hindus and do whatever they want,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.