In a recent hearing at the Calcutta High Court, the West Bengal government assured that the situation in the violence-stricken district of Murshidabad is now under control. This submission came in response to a petition by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, concerning the recent communal riots and bomb blasts in the district.
The petition, which highlighted the disturbances during the anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests, has spurred calls for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the probe to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation.
During the session, a division bench consisting of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury reviewed reports detailing the steps taken by local law enforcement and administrative bodies to manage and mitigate the unrest. The state’s report emphasized that significant measures have been put in place to quell the violence and restore order.
In addition to the state’s efforts, a legal representative for the Central government recommended that the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) be extended given the ongoing sensitivity of the situation. Currently, 17 companies of central forces are stationed in the most affected areas of Suti and Samserganj-Dhulian.
Furthermore, the court heard a separate plea demanding that the state government facilitate the safe return of displaced residents. According to the government’s report, many families have begun to return to their homes, and efforts are continuing to ensure the safety and security of all returning citizens.
The hearing also addressed the plight of several individuals who have sought refuge in a makeshift relief camp set up in a school in the neighboring Malda district, as the violence disrupted their lives and forced them to flee their homes.
