West Bengal Police have arrested 150 individuals in connection with the recent violence in Murshidabad, which erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. To restore normalcy, heavy police deployment has been carried out in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and other affected areas.
The crackdown follows a directive from a special bench of the Calcutta High Court, which ordered the immediate deployment of central forces in Murshidabad after widespread unrest led to three fatalities and significant property damage.
Advocate Anish Mukherjee, representing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, filed a PIL seeking central force deployment and an NIA probe. “For several days now, we have been witnessing widespread violence throughout the state of West Bengal, particularly in the Murshidabad district,” Mukherjee said.
The High Court also directed both the Mamata Banerjee-led state government and the Central Government to submit detailed reports on the situation. The next hearing is scheduled for April 17.
Security has also been heightened in Jangipur, where violent demonstrations damaged public property. According to police officials, the protests were in response to the Waqf Amendment, but the situation has since stabilised.
On Friday, Governor CV Ananda Bose instructed the state government to take strict action against miscreants involved in the disturbances across Amtala, Suti, Dhuliyan, and parts of North 24 Parganas.
Meanwhile, protests continue in other parts of West Bengal, with a Muslim organisation in Siliguri demanding the repeal of the Act. Students from Aliah University also staged a protest in Kolkata on Friday.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament on April 2 and 3, passed in both Houses, and received Presidential assent on April 5, officially making it law.
While the Opposition continues to protest the legislation, the BJP has launched a ‘Waqf Reforms Awareness Campaign’, which will run from April 20 to May 5, aiming to highlight the benefits of the Act to the Muslim community.
