Calcutta HC orders CAPF to be deployed in Murshidabad after anti-Waqf Act protests leave 3 dead

The Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered Central Armed Police Forces to be deployed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district after three persons died in violence that broke out during protests against Waqf Amendment Act, Bar and Bench reported.

Murshidabad has been roiled by protests over the past few days against the Act, which have turned violent.

The bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party Suvendu Adhikari and lawyer Tarun Jyoti seeking the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces, The Hindu reported.

Measures taken by the state government to curb the violence were not adequate and action had to be taken on a war footing to arrest the rioters, the bench said.

“Constitutional courts cannot be a mute spectator and embroil itself in technical defences when the safety and security of the people are at danger,” Bar and Bench quoted the court as saying.

The bench said that deploying the Central Armed Police Forces earlier could have de-escalated the situation and added that it appeared that adequate measures had not been taken in time.

“Accordingly, we direct, the deployment of Central Armed Forces in district Murshidabad who shall operate in the District in co-operation with the civil administration so that the situation which has necessitated the...

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