Following a violent protest against the Waqf Amendment Act in West Bengal’s Murshidabad, where three were killed and large amounts of property were destroyed, victims are now focused on rebuilding their lives. In accordance with an order passed by the Calcutta High Court, central forces have been sent to restore order, and the violence-hit districts are slowly getting back to normal. But the shock of recent events still lingers, with residents calling for permanent central force camps to protect them.
Khushbu Das, a resident of the riot-torn Dhuliyan locality, narrated the experience to news agency ANI. “The rioters set our grocery shop on fire and even inside our home. We tried calling the police and the fire department repeatedly, but nobody answered our calls. Our homes were looted, and women were disrespected. We want a permanent BSF camp here so that it does not occur again. We want to live in peace,” she explained.
Another resident, Prajakta Das, concurring with those views, has ongoing fear there. “The situation is still alarming. We want peace, security, and a permanent solution. The central forces’ presence has been a good thing, and we would like them to establish a permanent camp here,” she said.
CRPF Inspector General, West Bengal, Birendra Kumar Sharma conceded that a tense but low-key environment pervaded in the district. “Eight CRPF companies and four RAF companies have been deployed. People can notice confidence building in the area. They want camps to be established and we are trying to get them installed,” he averred.
Sharma made sure that areas not under permanent camps would also be kept under surveillance with round-the-clock patrolling, along with the BSF and state police.
Murshidabad violence has ignited a larger political controversy in the state, especially with Assembly elections around April-May next year. The ruling Trinamool Congress accused the opposition BJP of stoking the trouble, and the opposition BJP returned the salvo to claim that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s posturing of “appeasement politics” had emboldened extremist groups.
As the probes continue, 210 individuals involved with the violence have been detained by police, with no new incidents reported in the past 48 hours as central forces and local police remain on tight vigil in Jangipur, Dhuliyan, Suti, and Shamsherganj.
