Police claimed on Monday that the violence that erupted in Murshidabad, West Bengal, over protests against India’s amended Waqf Act had been largely brought under control. However, tensions flared again in the Jaffrabad area on Monday after the police claim.
Protesters clashed with police in Bhangarh, South 24 Parganas district, over the Waqf Act. Police vehicles were also set on fire there, and police also used batons in retaliation.
However, the question of how the Murshidabad incident turned into a communal conflict is looming large.
The first wave of violence occurred last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the second wave occurred on Friday and Saturday in the Suti and Shamsherganj areas bordering Bangladesh.
On Saturday, the violence took a clear turn for the worse, with three people killed that day — two Hindus and one Muslim, state police confirmed.
Since that night, central forces and state police have been jointly patrolling the Suti and Shamsherganj police stations.
State Police Additional Director General (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar told reporters on Monday that the situation in the two police stations is normal. Various shops have started opening since Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the eastern region chief of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), Ravi Gandhi, also visited the affected area. He said that the border guards are also patrolling jointly with the state police.
More than 200 people have been arrested on charges of inciting violence. In addition, around 400 people have fled from Murshidabad to Malda. Police also said that most of them are Hindus.
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