Kolkata (West Bengal) [India]: The West Bengal Police has formed a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the recent violent clashes in Murshidabad district that erupted during protests against the new Waqf Amendment Act, officials said on Wednesday.
The SIT comprises an Additional Superintendent of Police from the Intelligence Branch, two Deputy Superintendents — one from the Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) and the other from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) — five inspectors (four from the CID and one from the Traffic Police), and the in-charge of the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sundarban Police District.
The violence, which broke out on April 11 during a protest by members of the Muslim community, has so far claimed the lives of three people, including a father and son. Another person died in police firing, and several others were injured amidst widespread property damage.
Condemning the violence, Ahmed Hassan Imran, Chairman of the West Bengal Minorities Commission, echoed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s call for peaceful demonstrations.
“Mamata Banerjee said a very good thing that we should go to Delhi and hold a protest there (against the Waqf Amendment Act). She also said that the TMC MPs will join us in the protest. This Act is unnecessarily imposed on us. Violent protests against the Act are not good. Even Mamata Banerjee said that this should not have been done. An investigation is going on regarding this. We condemn it. We all believe that protests should be done peacefully.”
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with Muslim clerics in Kolkata and announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the violence. She also directed the Chief Secretary to file a detailed report on the incident.
In response to the unrest, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs deployed approximately nine companies — about 900 personnel — of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Murshidabad. Among them, 300 personnel were already stationed locally, while additional reinforcements were requested by the state government.
So far, 150 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence, and police forces remain heavily deployed in affected areas like Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and surrounding regions.
Providing an update, Additional Director General of Police, South Bengal, Supratim Sarkar confirmed the situation had stabilized.
“The situation is normal now. Everyone is safe,” he said.
“The CRPF, state police, and joint forces are deployed. The DGP of West Bengal police himself was present at the Samserganj police station. We request everyone not to go through rumours. We opened a control room. Anyone facing any issue can contact us at any time.”