Violence erupted in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district Friday again during a protest against the amended Waqf law as people torched a police jeep and ransacked several vehicles in Jangipur. The office of local TMC MP Khalilur Rehman was also ransacked. Train services were also hit as protesters squatted on the rail tracks.
Besides a huge contingent of police force, BSF has also been deployed in Jangipur.
On April 8, protesters had blocked NH-12 at Umarpur in Jangipur and torched police jeeps.
While the prohibitory orders were in force, Internet services were also suspended.
“We are ascertaining the damages,” Murshidabad District Magistrate Rajarshi Mitra told The Indian Express.
DIG PRO (South Bengal Frontier) Nilotpal Kumar Pandey said: “There was a request from Murshidabad administration, and BSF…has mobilized troops to help the administration…”
Police said several people blocked National Highway 12 at Shajurmore crossing near Dhulian in Jangipur Friday afternoon, protesting against the Waqf (Amendment ) law.
“As policemen tried to lift the blockade, stones were pelted at them. The protesters set fire to a police jeep and a motorbike in the area,” a police officer said.
“There is a deep conspiracy to defame the state government. My own office in Dhulian was ransacked… I was travelling through Shajurmore crossing when the protesters stopped me… Police escorted me out… The protesters had no flag, no leaders,” TMC MP Rehman told The Indian Express.
The Eastern Railway, in a statement, said train services were hit due to obstructions by protesters between Dhulianganga and Nimtita railway stations. Four express trains were diverted, and two other passenger trains were cancelled, it said.
“About 5,000 people sat on the railway tracks” at a level crossing gate, while another level crossing gate was damaged by the agitators between Dhulianganga and Nimtita stations, PTI quoted an Eastern Railway official as saying.
Meanwhile, Governor CV Ananda Bose issued “strict directions” to the TMC government to take action against those responsible for disturbances in areas, including Amtala, Suti, Dhuliyan, and other places in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas.
The Governor also held discussions with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the situation, a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said, “Hooligans in the name of agitation are doing this in various parts of the state, including Murshidabad. The CM (Mamata Banerjee), who is also the home minister, is responsible. Police are acting like bystanders,” Adhikari said.