Clashes, Chaos & Political Crossfire: Waqf Act Protests Shake Parts of Bengal
Violent protests erupt in Bhangar and Murshidabad over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, prompting police action, political blame games, and mass displacements.
What began as a protest against the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act turned into scenes of violence and high drama in West Bengal on Sunday, as supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) clashed with police in Bhangar and fresh unrest resurfaced in Murshidabad’s Jafrabad, a region still reeling from earlier bloodshed.
In Bhangar — a typically quiet suburb on Kolkata’s eastern edge — tempers flared as ISF supporters marching towards a planned rally were stopped by police near Bhojerhat on the Basanti Highway. The rally, meant to be held at Ramlila Maidan and addressed by ISF leader and local MLA Naushad Siddique, reportedly lacked proper police permission. The situation spiraled fast.
Eyewitnesses described a charged crowd pushing through police barricades. Within minutes, five police motorbikes and a van were up in flames, forcing law enforcement to respond with lathi charges. Several officers were injured, and at least one ISF worker sustained a head wound. Protesters then staged a sit-in on the highway, choking traffic along the busy stretch for hours.
The tension wasn’t confined to Bhangar.
In Murshidabad’s Jafrabad, a region still under the shadow of recent communal violence, unrest flared again. A few miscreants pelted stones, reigniting fears in a district where three people — including a father and son — had been killed days earlier. Shops had reopened and villagers had started returning home, but the uneasy calm was once again shattered.
State authorities deployed a heavy police presence, including senior officers and central forces, in both districts. Drones hovered above riot-prone zones. Route marches and public confidence-building measures were rolled out. Yet, fear lingered — hundreds fled the violence-hit villages, some even crossing the Bhagirathi River by boat to find shelter in nearby Malda district. Relief camps were set up, offering food, medicine, and temporary refuge.
Back in Kolkata, Naushad Siddique, speaking at the ISF rally, lashed out at the Waqf Act:
“This isn’t just a law targeting Muslims — it’s an attack on the Constitution. We will not bow to this injustice.”
The political battle lines were quickly drawn. Canning Purba MLA Showkat Mollah from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) dismissed Siddique’s protest as “provocative,” calling the ISF a “party of no consequence.” Meanwhile, BJP leaders slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led government for failing to maintain order.
As tension escalated, political mudslinging took center stage.
TMC accused the BJP of orchestrating unrest through doctored images and social media manipulation, claiming the pattern of riots hinted at a “pre-planned conspiracy.”
“Goons from across borders and other states were let in to create chaos,” alleged TMC’s social media chief Debangshu Bhattacharya.
The BJP hit back, accusing the TMC of minority appeasement and lawlessness.
“If necessary, the Army should be deployed,” said BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya. “The state is being overrun by infiltrators.”
Meanwhile, police continued investigations and arrests. Over 200 people have been detained so far. Internet services remain suspended in parts of Murshidabad, Malda, and Birbhum to curb rumors and misinformation.
The situation is now “under control,” according to ADG Jawed Shamim, but concerns over further unrest remain.
“We suspect outside elements are involved. No one who incited or participated in the violence will be spared,” he said.
