The Wakf Amendment Bill, recently signed into law by Indian President Droupadi Murmu after being passed in Parliament, has sparked widespread protests across several Indian states. Members of the Muslim community have taken to the streets demanding its repeal, with West Bengal witnessing particularly intense unrest, some of which has turned violent.
For the past three days, areas like Shamsherganj, Suti, and Dhulian in Murshidabad have been volatile. In Shamsherganj, a father and son were allegedly beaten and hacked to death. In Jafrabadh, Ranipur, several homes were set on fire. A student in grade seven, Ijaz Ahmed, died after being shot during a clash between police and protesters in Suti. Another person was also injured and is currently hospitalized.
According to West Bengal’s Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Javed Shamim, the police acted with restraint at Sazu More, but the situation escalated, resulting in three hours of attacks on the police and vandalism. The police were eventually forced to fire four rounds. Even Trinamool Congress MP Khalilur Rahman faced public anger and was harassed at a protest site.
Due to the rising violence, the Kolkata High Court on Saturday ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad. The court instructed that central and local forces work together to maintain law and order. State Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar visited the district and emphasized that while police have shown restraint, strict actions will be taken if necessary.
Central forces have been deployed in parts of the district, conducting joint patrols with the local police. A total of 138 individuals have been arrested, and joint route marches were held on Sunday to prevent further unrest.
Residents, fearing further violence, have started fleeing their homes. Many crossed the Ganges to Malda’s Baishnabnagar, while others moved to neighboring Jharkhand. Public and private properties, including railway stations and offices, have been damaged or set ablaze during the protests.
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has written to the Railway Minister and demanded a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incidents. Trinamool leader KunalL Ghosh has claimed that some of the images circulating online are from other states, possibly part of a larger conspiracy involving the BJP.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace, urging people not to fall into the trap of political parties misusing religion. Governor C.V. Ananda Bose also released a video message warning that while protest is a democratic right, chaos and violence will not be tolerated.
Opposition parties have blamed the police and administration for failing to control the situation. Former police officer Nazrul Islam stated that firmer action at the beginning could have prevented the escalation. Political analysts believe this unrest is not purely religious but politically motivated, possibly to polarize votes.
West Bengal has 80,480 Wakf properties covering over 82,000 acres. Allegations have been made against some Trinamool leaders for illegally occupying Wakf land, though they have denied the charges. The amended Wakf Act has raised concerns among Muslims, particularly due to the potential increased influence of non-Muslims in the formation of Wakf Boards.