Police vehicles were torched and stones pelted as a group of protesters clashed with the police in Jangipur, Murshidabad, on Tuesday. The incident took place during protests against Waqf (Amendment ) law. A large police contingent has been posted in the area and the situation is now under control, officers said.
“Some organisations had called for protest rallies and blocked a national highway. When police tried to lift the blockade the incident took place. However, now police are patrolling the area and the situation is under control,” said Rajarshi Mitra, district magistrate, Murshidabad.
According to police sources, protest rallies of several organisations were held in Jangipur and other areas of Murshidabad. A large number of people hit the streets in different areas. A section of the protesters blocked Umarpur crossing in Jangipur around noon, thus blocking National Highway 12.
Initially, the police requested the protesters to lift the blockade but they did not budge. Later, when the police tried to forcibly lift the blockade, protesters clashed with police and pelted stones at them. Protestors also torched two police jeeps.
A large police contingent, including Rapid Action Force personnel, soon reached the spot. Police resorted to lathi-charge and used teargas shells to disperse the mob.
“I have given a message of peace. As you understand, people are disturbed by the issue and are protesting. We are with the people. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is with the people. But we want peace to prevail. Some hooligans took law into their hands today on which the administration will take action. I myself had done a Shanti Michil (peace rally)in the area on April 4 where thousands of people had gathered. We will maintain peace,” Zakir Hussain, TMC MLA from Jangipur.
BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar wrote in a post on X, “The failed Chief Minister of West Bengal keeps reminding us of turbulent Bangladesh. Just look at how far the anti-Waqf movement has escalated with open state-sponsored support! West Bengal is burning under@MamataOfficial’s watch! Violent Islamist mobs are running rampant in Murshidabad while the police stand helpless — possibly acting under her very own orders. Her inflammatory speeches and cowardly Muslim appeasement have fueled this chaos. Internet services throttled, truth suppressed, and Hindu communities repeatedly attacked — especially during Kartik Puja. Trains halted, streets on fire, and the state reduced to a lawless nightmare… Mamata is dragging Bengal down the dangerous path of becoming another Bangladesh. How long will the people stay silent?”
The West Bengal Police said in a post on X, “The situation in Jangipur is completely under control. The unruly mob has been dispersed. Traffic has returned to normalcy on the national highway. Strict action will be taken against those who have resorted to violence. Legal action will also be initiated against rumour-mongers trying to spread misinformation. We request all not to heed rumours and keep calm.”
Adhir Chowdhury, senior Congress leader and former MP from Berhampore in Murshidabad said, “Protests against the Waqf amendment law are going on in the entire country. We are continuously protesting in Bengal and in Murshidabad. Some organisations called for Tuesday’s rally in Jangipur. By far, it was a peaceful rally. But it was police highhandedness which caused the incident. People got angry. Police should have understood the feelings of the people and handled it in the right manner. In this district, over 70 percent of the population are Muslims. Police needed to show maturity. Mamata Banerjee is bringing in communal polarisation here and the BJP is getting the advantage of this.”