Widespread tension gripped multiple areas of West Bengal on Friday after protests erupted against the Waqf Amendment Act, triggering violent clashes and disruption of public life.
In Murshidabad district’s Nimtita and Suti areas, demonstrators—mainly from minority communities—clashed with security forces. At Nimtita railway station, protestors blocked railway tracks for hours and vandalised public property. The situation worsened when the crowd hurled stones at Railway Police Force (RPF) personnel, injuring several officers. The RPF resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob, and Border Security Force (BSF) units were later deployed to maintain order.
Simultaneously, violent scenes unfolded near Sajur Crossing in Suti, where protestors reportedly threw stones and crude bombs at state police. Several officers and pedestrians sustained injuries, prompting police to baton-charge the crowd. Despite additional deployment, tension persisted in the area into the evening.
Similar unrest was reported from Amtala in South 24 Parganas, where protestors clashed with police, disrupting traffic on National Highway 117. Violence also spread to Champdani in Hooghly district.
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Amid the escalating situation, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari blamed the chaos on “a certain group of radicals.” He said, “These people, who have clearly stated that they are against the Constitution of India and would oppose the law of the land, have taken over the streets. Public and private properties are being vandalised at will. Public safety has been compromised as general people are at the mercy of these ruthless mobs of radicals.”
Governor CV Ananda Bose’s office contacted Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, urging strict police action. Later, the Governor addressed the public through a video message: “Even today, when some of the disturbances broke out, discussions were held with the government authorities. The Chief Secretary has assured that the government is taking very stern action against the miscreants and will not allow disturbances to escalate.”
He added that the administration had already taken preemptive measures based on intelligence inputs and that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.