West Bengal Waqf protests: 16 cops injured in Bhangar violence; Basanti Highway blocked for hours
Times of India | 15 April 2025
KOLKATA: Violent protests broke out in Bhangar on Monday as demonstrators and police clashed over the Waqf Amendment Act despite appeals for peaceful protests.
At least 16 police officers were injured—eight of them required hospitalisation—as bricks were hurled at them. The protesters went on the rampage and torched five police motorcycles and damaged two vehicles, one of them a Kolkata Police prison van.
Later, 2,000-odd protesters blocked Ghatakpukur crossing, which led to the shutting down of Basanti Highway for four hours. RAF was deployed and joint CP (crime & traffic) Rupesh Kumar led a team there.
Muslim community protests against the Waqf Amendment Act in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas
He later said in the evening, "The situation in Bhangar is now under control. Cases have been registered against people involved in damaging public property, and raids are on to apprehend them. The public is advised not to heed rumours. Action will be taken against those spreading misinformation."
The conflict began when police stopped ISF supporters from heading to Ramlila ground in Moulali via Basanti Highway for a rally. Lalbazar cited intelligence on ISF mobilising large crowds as the reason for restricting gatherings in the city centre.
As ISF supporters from Bhangar, Minakhan and Sandeshkhali headed out, police first stopped them near Bairampur on Basanti Highway. The stand-off escalated into violence as police allegedly used batons against them.
A similar attempt by cops from Bhangar division and KP reserved battalions at Shonpur in Bhangar turned uglier. In response, protesters blocked the highway with tree trunks and burned tyres. Several injuries were reported as cop vehicles were targeted.
"They were angry as police had in the morning barricaded a three-way junction at Bhojerhat in Bhangar with guard rails, frustrating their plan to join the rally in Sealdah. A scuffle broke out between cops and ISF workers, who tried to break the guard rails. They later blocked Basanti Highway, which connects Kolkata with South 24 Parganas. Though police urged protesters to clear the way, they refused to budge. The scene turned violent," said an officer.
This translated into reduced attendance at the Sealdah rally, leading ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui to question police intervention. "The CM said the new Waqf law will not be implemented in Bengal. We don't want it to be implemented, so we organised the rally in Sealdah. Why did the police obstruct our workers from going there?" he said.
Mayor Firhad Hakim advised protesters to direct their actions towards Delhi. "Why are they staging a drama here and inconveniencing people? When we take to the streets and block roads, it causes trouble. If you want to protest, the best thing to do is to organise a collective call to go to Delhi. Protests should be held where Waqf Bill has been or will be implemented," he said.
Police probe said CCTV cameras in Sonpur Bazaar had been manipulated before the unrest began. Officers reported some cameras were turned to face upwards prior to the disturbances.