NEW DELHI: Survivors of the violent clashes in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district have recounted harrowing tales of destruction and fear following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act that spiralled out of control on April 11-12.
Displaced families now sheltering in relief camps in neighbouring Malda say they were forced to flee after mobs attacked homes and businesses, leaving at least three dead and hundreds homeless.
“We came here on Saturday. Everything in our house was set on fire,” Lalchand Mandal told ANI, speaking from a camp in Par Lalpur. “We came here for shelter. If this violence happens again, how will we be able to go back to our homes? We want peace, we request the government to bring back peace there…”
‘They attacked us while we were having lunch’
His sentiments were echoed by Rupa Mandal, who described the moment chaos erupted during a family meal. “Our entire house was set on fire. We were having lunch and suddenly, some people entered inside and started looting and attacking us. BSF personnel took us here to the relief camp. We want compensation for our house” she said.
Shopkeepers have also suffered enormous losses. One trader revealed how his entire building was destroyed and his shop looted. “They broke through that and entered inside. They caused complete destruction and even looted some of our belongings. Opposite my building, I have a shop. They broke the shutter of that shop too. Monday was a bank holiday, so I received all the payments on Tuesday. I had around Rs13.5 lakh in cash with me. The cash was meant to be deposited at the bank, but it was all stolen. Apart from that, my shop had furniture and equipment worth Rs7-8 lakh, including chairs, tables, CPUs, computers, and laptops. Altogether, I had nearly Rs20-25 lakh in losses.”
Adhir Ravi Das, another shopkeeper, said nothing remained of his business. “My shop has been completely damaged. Materials worth Rs 6-7 lakhs were in the shop; everything has been burnt. We want peace. Since BSF is here, the situation is normal. We want a BSF camp here.”
‘There is a group which is inciting youths here’
Hyder Ali, whose nephew Izaz Ahmed was killed in the violence, had earlier told TOI that the threat of clashes still remain in the region: “There is a group which is inciting youths here. They will try to do it again. For them, it’s political gains, but we will have to pay with the blood of our kin. Today it was Izaz; I do not know whom death will claim next.”
The deployment of BSF and CRPF has brought some measure of calm to affected areas such as Samserganj, Dhulian, Suti and Jangipur. Shopkeeper Habib-ur-Rehman confirmed, “The situation in Samserganj is normal now. The administration is asking us to open our shops and stay disciplined. The situation has changed after BSF and CRPF have been deployed.”
In response to the unrest, the Calcutta high court has ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad. The BSF’s Additional Director General (East), Ravi Gandhi, toured the worst-hit areas, assuring residents that restoring peace was the top priority. “We spoke to people and assured them of their safety. The situation is slowly returning to normal,” he said.
So far, around 210 people have been arrested. Meanwhile, two petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a judicial investigation into the violence and demanding better protection for affected citizens.
