Murshidabad, April 12: Two people, a father and son, were killed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following violent clashes linked to protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, a senior IPS officer confirmed on Saturday.
The victims were found inside their home in Jafrabad, part of the troubled Samserganj block, with multiple stab wounds. “Both were declared brought dead at a nearby hospital,” the officer said. Post-mortem examinations have been completed.
Relatives accused armed miscreants of storming the house, looting valuables and stabbing the two before fleeing. “A probe is underway. We have spoken to family members and local residents, and efforts are on to identify those involved,” the officer added.
In a separate incident earlier in the day, a bidi factory worker sustained a gunshot injury while heading to work in Dhulian, another area in Samserganj block. “He was first taken to Jangipur Hospital and later shifted to Murshidabad Medical College. His condition is stable,” the officer noted.
Police have intensified patrolling and conducted route marches in affected regions to restore order.
Friday saw violent demonstrations across multiple parts of the district, with 15 policemen injured during clashes. “So far, 118 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest,” Additional Director-General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim said. “The number is likely to increase.”
To disperse the mob, police reportedly fired four rounds. Major incidents of violence were reported from Suti and Samserganj areas during the protests over the controversial amendment.
Amid the unrest, the Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the district, saying it could not remain a silent observer.
“The court cannot keep its eyes closed when such situations arise. Citizens must be provided with adequate security,” said a division bench led by Justice Soumen Sen. CAPF personnel are to be deployed in coordination with the state administration to restore normalcy.
The court also directed both the state and central governments to submit detailed reports on the situation. The matter will be heard again on April 17.
The order followed a petition from Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, who sought central force deployment in the violence-hit district. In response, a Special Bench comprising Justices Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury was constituted by the Chief Justice for an urgent hearing held on a court holiday.
Seven companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) have since been deployed in Suti, Dhulian and Samserganj, the state’s counsel informed the court. Adhikari’s lawyer, however, alleged that the BSF deployment had not been carried out effectively.
