Scenes of destruction continued to haunt West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Sunday, as paramilitary personnel patrolled deserted streets in the aftermath of two days of violent clashes. The violence, which erupted on Friday following prayers, has left at least three people dead and sparked concerns over law and order in the region.
On Saturday, the Calcutta High Court stepped in, ordering the deployment of paramilitary forces in sensitive pockets of the state, noting that it “cannot turn a blind eye to reports of vandalism from several districts.”
Following the court’s directive, security forces intensified their presence across violence-hit zones, particularly in the Murshidabad’s Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur areas.
Police confirmed on Sunday that 12 more individuals were arrested in overnight raids, pushing the total number of arrests to 150 since the unrest began. Authorities also claimed the situation in several affected areas had stabilized, although a heavy security presence remained in place.
The violence has sparked a political war of words. Bengal’s Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikar, accused the state government of failing to protect its Hindu population, alleging they were unsafe under the current administration.
In contrast, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged for calm and unity, blaming certain political factions for “misusing religion for political advantage.
To contain the unrest, the administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the worst-affected areas. Authorities have also suspended internet services to curb the spread of misinformation and fake news, which police said played a major role in escalating tensions.
State police chief Rajeev Kumar issued a stern warning against rumor-mongering, which he identified as a key trigger behind the violent demonstrations. Vehicle checks and intensive patrolling were also underway across sensitive routes and neighborhoods.
Responding to the gravity of the situation, nearly 300 BSF personnel stationed locally were joined by five additional companies of central forces, deployed upon the state’s request. The paramilitary forces carried out flag marches in high-risk zones, such as Suti and Shamshergan, and were seen interacting with families of the victims throughout the night.
A team of 23 specially selected officers from across West Bengal has also been dispatched to Murshidabad for a four-day deployment to strengthen local policing, especially in border areas adjoining Bangladesh.
Top police officials, including DGP Rajeev Kumar, personally visited Shamsherganj — the area worst hit by the violence — on Sunday. He conducted route marches alongside senior officers and a substantial police contingent in a show of force aimed at restoring public confidence.
The Calcutta High Court also highlighted that the violence was not limited to Murshidabad alone, reporting that clashes had spilled over into North 24 Parganas and Champdani in the Hooghly district. Suvendu Adhikari, echoing the BJP’s growing demands, called for central forces to be deployed in those districts as well.
Meanwhile, residents have raised serious concerns about the alleged absence of police during the peak of the violence. Speaking to India Today TV, several locals recounted the chaos and fear as mobs unleashed violence unchecked for hours on Friday.
One resident, Sujit Ghoshal, shared, “The rioters told me this was just the trailer, and the real show was yet to come. There was no sign of the administration, not that night and not even now.”
Another shopkeeper from Dhulian described how his family urged him not to step out during the attacks. “My children and wife were terrified,” he said, adding that the police presence was negligible even as mobs targeted Hindu-owned shops. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari later claimed that at least 35 Hindu shops were torched in Dhulian alone.
The violence has left a tragic human cost. Among the dead are Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das, who were allegedly hacked to death by a mob on Saturday. Another victim, Izaz Ahmed Sheikh, 17, succumbed to bullet injuries after police opened fire in Suti on Friday. In total, 18 police personnel have been injured while trying to control the unrest.
The clashes, originally linked to protests against the newly enacted Waqf Act, have since snowballed into wider communal and political tensions.
Welcoming the High Court’s decision to deploy paramilitary forces, West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar directly blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the violence, accusing her of encouraging “appeasement politics” and claiming her administration had failed to act decisively.
“Mamata Banerjee is unfit to govern. Under her rule, the police have allowed mobs a free hand — enabling looting, attacks on women, and the destruction of Hindu homes,” Majumdar alleged.
As authorities continue their investigation and prepare for more arrests, the atmosphere across Murshidabad and neighboring districts remains tense, with the administration on high alert to prevent further violence.