Murshidabad: Cops in Bengal arrested more than 110 people in connection with the violence that broke out in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
According to the report quoting police sources, protests swept across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts. The protests reportedly turned violent, leading to arson, stone-pelting and road blockades.
Police conducted raids across various districts and arrested over 100 in Murshidabad alone, police said, reported India Today.
“About 70 people were arrested from Suti, and 41 people from Samserganj in connection with the violence,” a police officer told PTI.
Reports claimed the situation in the violence-hit areas remained tense on Saturday morning. But no fresh incidents were reported.
Prohibitory orders were imposed and internet services suspended in the worst-hit Murshidabad district. “Patrolling in Suti and Samserganj areas is going on. Nobody is allowed to regroup anywhere. We will not allow any attempt to disrupt the law and order situation,” an officer told India Today.
A teenage boy was reportedly injured in alleged police firing during clashes in Suti. He was admitted to a Kolkata hospital, reports quoting police sources stated.
Following such developments, the BJP criticised the Mamata Banerjee government and raised questions if it was “incapable” of managing the situation. The BJP further told the Bengal government to seek assistance from the Centre.
“Let it be known that this was not an act of protest, rather a premeditated act of violence, an assault on Democracy and Governance by Jihadist forces who seek to spread chaos in order to assert their dominance and sow fear amongst other Communities of our Society,” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X.
“Public property was destroyed, Government Officials felt threatened, and an atmosphere of fear and intimidation was created, all under the false guise of dissent. The silence of the Mamata Banerjee Government is deafening,” he added.
