West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday strongly condemned the recent spate of violence in Murshidabad and Malda, describing the incidents as a “dance of death” and calling for an end to what he termed a dangerous “cult of violence” in the state.
Speaking to ANI en route to visit victims in the violence-hit regions, Governor Bose expressed grave concern over the recurring unrest in various parts of Bengal. “Violence is showing its ugly head on and off in Bengal in various places. We have to coffin the cult of violence and drive the last nail in the coffin. That is essential to ensure peace and tranquillity in Bengal,” he said.
Referring to the violent outbreaks in Murshidabad and Malda, he added, “What has happened there is something that should never have happened… The dance of death, if I may say so, is going on in the streets of Bengal in many places. This kind of cult of violence can never be tolerated.”
He emphasized the need for collective action to restore peace. “All stakeholders must come together. After visiting the field and sharing the sentiments of the people there, I will certainly prepare a plan of action to address this in mission mode — to fight against violence at any cost,” Bose stated.
The Governor’s visit follows the violence that broke out on April 11 during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which resulted in at least three fatalities, numerous injuries, and significant damage to public and private property. The unrest forced many families to flee, with several seeking refuge in relief camps in Malda and others migrating to Jharkhand’s Pakur district.
After arriving in Malda, Bose is scheduled to visit affected areas and later proceed to Murshidabad to assess the ground situation firsthand.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has taken note of the situation, directing central forces to remain deployed in Murshidabad to maintain law and order. The court also announced that it will monitor the rehabilitation of victims and warned political leaders — including those from the BJP and TMC — to refrain from making provocative remarks that could inflame tensions.