After Murshidabad, another West Bengal district sees violence over Waqf law

Violence erupted in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Monday, days after Murshidabad district witnessed large-scale clashes and arson, over the amended Waqf Act.

 

Supporters of the Indian Secular Front clashed with the police at Bhangar, leading to injuries to several people and torching of multiple police vehicles.

 

According to reports, the clashes broke out after police stopped ISF workers who were moving towards the Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf law rally.

 

Police said they had not given permission for the rally. The cops held a lathi-charge to disperse protesters when they tried to break through barricades.

 

The rally was, however, held and addressing the gathering, IFS MLA Naushad Siddique called the new law "an attack on Muslims and assault on the Constitution".

 

The Murshidabad district has witnessed large-scale violence since Friday, resulting in the death of three people and leaving many others injured.

 

Several vehicles were set on fire, shops and houses were vandalised and stones were pelted at security forces. A total of 210 people have been arrested so far.

 

Mamata’s fresh appeal for peace

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a fresh appeal for peace on Monday, asking people not to take the law into their own hands. 

 

“Everybody has the democratic right to stage a peaceful protest with permission. I will request people not to take the law into their own hands. To protect the law, we have custodians and do not need any demon,” Banerjee said.

 

She was speaking after inaugurating a skywalk close to the famed Kali temple at Kalighat in south Kolkata.

 

The chief minister asked people not to fall prey to any provocation and urged them to desist from doing non-religious activities in the name of religion.

India