New Delhi [India], April 15 (ANI): Initial findings from an ongoing probe into the recent violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district point to the involvement of alleged Bangladeshi miscreants, government sources said on Tuesday. These individuals reportedly received initial support from local leaders before becoming uncontrollable.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is closely monitoring developments in Murshidabad and other sensitive districts. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has been in continuous communication with West Bengal’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP), offering full central assistance. He also advised the state to maintain vigilance and restore normalcy swiftly.
To bolster security, the MHA has deployed nine companies of the Border Security Force (BSF), amounting to around 900 personnel, in Murshidabad. About 300 of them were already stationed locally, with additional forces deployed following a state request.
According to state DGP reports, the situation in Murshidabad remains tense but under control. Over 150 arrests have been made. The BSF is assisting local police to stabilize the area.
The unrest began last week in Muslim-majority Murshidabad during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protests, which also spread to Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts, involved arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades.
In the aftermath, prohibitory orders were issued and internet services suspended in the worst-affected areas. The violence has led to the displacement of Hindu families, many of whom fled to Malda amid fears of renewed communal tension and cross-border infiltration.
The MHA has expressed concern over the state’s inability to control the violence in its early stages. It has asked for explanations regarding damage to public property, including railway infrastructure, and alleged police inaction.
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