Kolkata: The situation in West Bengal’s Murshidabad remained tense a day after three people were killed amid violent protests against the new Waqf law.
After horrific scenes of violence showed vehicles being touched, shops vandalised, policemen attacked and public property burnt, around 300 BSF personnel available locally and 5 additional companies were deployed in the most affected areas of Murshidabad.
On Sunday, West Bengal’s leader of Opposition, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari claimed that more than 400 Hindus have been “forced to flee” their homes in Dhulian, in Murshidabad district, and seek refuge in neighbouring Malda, 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,” Adhikari wrote on X.
Claiming that “Bengal is burning” for Mamata Banerjee-helmed Trinamool Congress government’s “appeasement politics”, Adhikari shared pictures and videos of allegedly affected people.
Living in fear and anxiety
Roads wore a deserted look on Sunday, shops were closed and people remained indoors as police and Central armed forces patrolled sensitive areas in Dhulian, Shamsherganj and Suti areas of Murshidabad.
People, mostly from Hindu community, were in fear as revealed by some locals.
“We were caught unawares as suddenly, an armed gang of hundreds of people emerged from nowhere. They were baying for blood shouting that no member of our community will be allowed to live in the area as we are collaborating with a ploy to take away Waqf land through the Act,” one person told a media team in Dhulian, reported PTI.
“As we pleaded with them, they did not harm us but exploded a number of bombs and vandalised the property before leaving the spot. The police arrived much later,” he narrated, showing around scars of the damage.
A pharmacy owner said he had never seen such carnage in his 50 years there.
“A frenzied mob suddenly turned towards my shop and before I and my employees could react, they entered the premises, thrashed us and started looting the shop. As the rampage continued, we fled from the spot,” he recalled.
There were similar scenes of devastation in Suti and Shamsherganj as well, resembling a war zone.
