Murshidabad — Widespread violence erupted across parts of West Bengal on Friday and Saturday during protests against the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act, leaving two people dead and over 110 arrested in the state’s Murshidabad district.
The unrest reached a peak in the Samserganj block where a father and son were brutally killed inside their home in Jafrabad on Saturday. Both were found with multiple stab wounds and declared dead at the hospital. Family members alleged that unknown assailants stormed into their home, looted valuables, and carried out the fatal attack.
In another disturbing incident in Dhulian, also in the Samserganj block, one individual sustained a gunshot injury amid continued violence.
According to Murshidabad police, 70 people were arrested from Suti and 41 from Samserganj in connection with Friday’s violence. A total of over 110 people have been detained so far, and raids are underway to arrest others allegedly involved.
Protesters, primarily from the Muslim community, had taken to the streets in large numbers, accusing the central government of undermining the autonomy of Waqf properties. Demonstrators hurled stones at security forces, set several vehicles including police vans ablaze, and blocked roads across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts.
In Suti and Samserganj, the situation remained tense but under control as of Saturday morning, with police asserting that traffic had resumed on the national highway. A heavy contingent of police along with BSF personnel has been deployed across the affected areas to maintain order.
The violence also led to the ransacking of the local office of TMC MP Khalilur Rehman and the Jalangi BDO Office. According to Eastern Railway, nearly 5,000 protesters had blocked railway tracks between Dhulianganga and Nimtita stations, disrupting train movement.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace and emphasized that the state government had no role in the controversial amendment. “We did not make the law. The central government did. We have already declared that this law will not be implemented in Bengal. Then why this violence?” she asked in a social media post.
Banerjee urged people of all religions to remain calm and warned of strict legal action against those inciting unrest. “Some political parties are misusing religion for political gain. Religion should mean humanity, harmony, and civilization,” she said.
Earlier this week, Banerjee had assured minority communities that their rights and properties would be protected and that Bengal would not be subjected to a divisive agenda.
Meanwhile, Governor CV Ananda Bose issued firm instructions to the state government to act against those responsible for the violence in Suti, Dhulian, Amtala, and other areas. He also held discussions with the Chief Minister regarding the situation.
Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking urgent deployment of central forces, citing fears of “communal unrest spreading like wildfire.” The court has agreed to hear his plea.
State DGP Rajeev Kumar stated that Section 163 had been invoked in violence-affected zones and warned that any acts of arson, vigilantism, or rumor-mongering would be met with strict action.
The protests and clashes reflect growing tensions among minority communities over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, with fears that the changes threaten long-standing protections for Waqf properties. The unrest marks one of the most serious public backlashes against the law since its passage.
