Communal violence recently rocked West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, and it slowly appears to be returning to normal, as no new incidents of unrest have been reported in the last couple of days. On Monday officials confirmed that displaced residents were returning to their homes and peace is being restored to the situation.
The situation is now well under control, a senior Indian Police Service officer said. However, adequate deployment of security forces, including state police and central paramilitary units, has brought stability to the area. And, as far as they know, no fresh violence has occurred; people who had fled are coming gradually back.”
Jangipur had erupted in such violence on Tuesday when there were protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The situation was brought under control for a few moments Friday, but there was a renewed clash after which police fired four rounds to disperse the mobs. Unfortunately, three lives were lost — a place at which a mob hacked a man and his son to death and another who was killed during police action.
The Bhagirathi River was crossed by hundreds of people from violence-affected areas such as Samserganj just to arrive at safety in Malda district. Authorities provided food, clothing, baby supplies, and medical relief to around 170 of them who lived in a relief camp at Parlalpur Higher Secondary School in Baishnabnagar. Two other schools were prepared for accommodation, but the largest left surrounding because 42 displaced people have returned to Murshidabad, with even more to go.
In response, West Bengal Police Chief Rajeev Kumar said that the police initially used minimal intervention but were prepared to undertake all measures needed to rein in lawlessness. A full battalion of state police and around 17 companies of central forces were deployed after a Calcutta High Court directive. This includes serving in the DGP, who has been in the district to supervise operations and ensure a peaceful environment.
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