New Delhi, April 14, 2025 — A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the violence that erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
The petition, filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, calls for the court to direct the West Bengal government and Union Home Ministry to explain the failure of law-and-order machinery in handling the protests. It also urges the court to direct compensation and rehabilitation for the victims and ensure the protection of life and liberty for those affected by the violence.
The petition highlights that the violence, particularly targeting the Hindu community, raises serious constitutional concerns related to right to life and religious freedom. It also suggests that the protests were swiftly turned violent by a planned conspiracy, particularly in a state that has witnessed multiple instances of political and communal violence in the past.
Jha pointed to a pattern of lawlessness and communal targeting in the state, referencing similar incidents of violence, including those that occurred after the 2021 Legislative Assembly election results.
The petition calls for a mechanism to safeguard democratic values and protect the rights and interests of the public. At least three people have died in the violence in Murshidabad. In response to the unrest, central forces have been deployed across the district following an order by the Calcutta High Court.
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