Shamsherganj (Murshidabad): Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said on Sunday that the situation in Jangipur was "under control".
On Sunday, 17 companies of CAPF joined 1,000 personnel from the state armed police on area-domination route marches. Bengal govt has also sent 23 officers, including IPS officers who previously worked in the district, to handle the situation.
DGP Kumar went to Murshidabad on Saturday night and met BSF IGP (South Bengal Frontier) Karni Singh Shekhawat on Sunday.
"The condition is a lot better and things are improving," Jangipur police superintendent Ananda Roy said. "There are many rumours floating, and I request all not to pay any heed to those. We arrested a lot of people yesterday, and will arrest the rest soon."
The total number of arrests has gone up to 150, with 12 more held on Sunday. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS have been imposed on violence-hit areas, and internet services suspended.
BSF said "no untoward incident" was reported on Sunday, repeating what Bengal's top cop had said: that the situation was "under control", though still tense. IGP Shekhawat, who met DGP Kumar after Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of CAPF in Suti and Shamsherganj, said: "We have to work along with the police in this situation. We held discussions about this. We have sent five companies (later increased to nine) to help cops. We are here to help the police, not for independent action. We will act according to the demands of the state police. We hope peace will be restored here soon. If police need more companies, we will provide them. BSF is ready."
The cops are also urging community elders to reach out to localities and speak to residents. According to All Bengal Imam-Muazzin Association general secretary Nizamuddin Biswas, a Murshidabad resident, around 300 people had been tasked with going from house to house, asking residents to avoid stepping out and to promote peace and unity. "These people are going from house to house along with police officers to talk to residents. We are in touch with the cops," he said.
Police and CAPF conducted joint marches in Suti and Shamsherganj. DIG and BSF spokesperson Nilotpal Pandey said their personnel received some distress calls, which were attended to immediately, and that the issues were brought under control.