Bengal violence: Mamata Banerjee cannot evade responsibility

On April 11 and April 12, protests against the Modi government’s Waqf Amendment Act descended into violence in parts of Murshidabad district in West Bengal. Apart from injuries and arson, the violence led to three deaths. Chandan Das and his father Hargobind Das were murdered by a mob in Shamsherganj, while Ijaz Momin was shot dead as the police opened fire in Suti.

The rioting also led hundreds of Hindus, who are a minority in Murshidabad district, to flee to neighbouring Malda.

The violence raises serious questions about the state of preparedness of the West Bengal Police. How were mobs allowed to riot for two days? And why did the police not have enough presence on the ground even after rioting to prevent an exodus from places hit by violence?

Statements by the chief minister after the violence have served to make things worse. Mamata Banerjee has squarely blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party, Amit Shah and even alleged that the Border Security Force was colluding with rioters.

Whatever be the communal role of the BJP in Bengal, at the end of the day, the responsibility for law and order rests with Banerjee. It is her government that controls the police. It is improbable that rioting of this magnitude could take place without the...

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