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Kolkata: Even as the situation in the violence-hit Murshidabad district of West Bengal continues to remain tense, Bapi Halder, Trinamool Congress MP from Mathurapur in the South 24-Parganas district of the state, has sparked fresh controversy by threatening to ‘gouge out eyes and break limbs’ of people trying to capture Waqf property.
State BJP chief and union minister Sukanta Majumdar has shared a purported video of Halder during a public event, in which he issues the threat. Majumdar slammed the police for taking no action against Halder.
Armed mobs went on a rampage across Murshidabad on Friday and Saturday, during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Hindu residents of the district and their properties were targeted. The violence resulted in at least three deaths. Several others, including 18 policemen, were injured. The BJP has claimed that hundreds of people fled their homes and sought shelter in neighbouring Malda.
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel have been deployed in Murshidabad as per orders of the Calcutta High Court. Ravi Gandhi, additional director general, BSF, Eastern Command, Border Security Force (BSF), is likely to visit Murshidabad and Malda on Monday to take stock of the situation there.
Majumdar called the rioters members of “fanatical, fundamentalist jihadi groups” in his ‘X’ post. He accused them of “even throwing petrol bombs at the @BSF_India jawans – who is directly supporting them? This @AITCofficial MP is making it absolutely clear!”
In the video shared by Majumdar, Halder is heard saying: “Till the time CM Mamata Banerjee is there, the responsibility of your ancestral assets is as much ours as it is yours… it is not anyone’s father’s property …. If someone dares to eye Waqf properties, gouge out their eyes, and break their hands”.
Majumdar wrote: “Bapi Halder, the Trinamool MP from Mathurapur Constituency, has issued a terrifying threat — to gouge out eyes and break limbs! What action has the crippled, cowardly @WBPolice taken against this individual for directly inciting brutal torture and violence against the helpless, innocent Hindus of Murshidabad by these fundamentalists?”
“The innocent Hindus of Bengal know the entire truth. Stop throwing stones in secret and openly admit, Honorable failed Chief Minister @MamataOfficial, that the full responsibility for this barbarism lies with you and your incompetent administration!” the minister added.
The police say that 180 people have been arrested for the violence so far.
