Murshidabad Unrest: Law and Order Under Scrutiny

West Bengal Protests and Riots

On April 11 and 12, protests against the Modi government’s Waqf Amendment Act turned violent in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. The chaos resulted in injuries, arson, and tragically, three deaths. Chandan Das and his father Hargobind Das were killed by a mob in Shamsherganj, while Ijaz Momin was shot during police firing in Suti.

Displacement of Hundreds

The rioting led to hundreds of Hindus, who are a minority in Murshidabad, fleeing to neighboring Malda.

Law and Order Issues

The violence raises serious concerns about the West Bengal Police’s preparedness. How were mobs allowed to riot for two days? And why didn’t the police have sufficient presence to prevent an exodus from violence-hit areas?

Chief Minister’s Remarks

Post-violence statements by the chief minister have worsened the situation. Mamata Banerjee blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party and Amit Shah, alleging that the Border Security Force colluded with rioters.

State Government’s Responsibility

Regardless of the BJP’s communal role in Bengal, law and order responsibility lies with Banerjee. Her government controls the police. It’s unlikely that such large-scale rioting occurred without police knowledge. If it did, it indicates serious incompetence. Either way, the West Bengal state government led by Banerjee must take responsibility.

Communalism’s Rise in West Bengal

Murshidabad reflects a pattern: the rise of communalism in West Bengal is attributed to the BJP. This is true, but only partially. The Trinamool also shares significant responsibility. Since the Left’s decline, Banerjee has benefited from polarization in Bengali society. Scared of BJP’s rise, Muslims have voted for the Trinamool en masse, allowing the party to secure a nearly 30% vote share.

Political Violence in West Bengal

West Bengal’s politics has always been violent. From the 1970s, the Congress used force against the rising Left. Once in power, the Left attacked the Congress. In 1990, a young Mamata Banerjee was injured by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadre. Later, the Left targeted the Trinamool, and once in power, the Trinamool attacked the Left.

Communal Undertones

Over the past decade, political violence has taken a darker turn, acquiring communal overtones.

Week’s Top Stories Summary

• Waqf Amendment Act challenges. The Union government informed the Supreme Court it won’t implement key provisions of the amended Waqf law until the court rehears the matter. These include denotifying existing waqf properties and appointing non-Muslims to waqf boards.

• National Herald case. The Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, and Suman Dubey in the National Herald money-laundering case.

• Indians abroad. Half of around 327 student visa revocations in the United States by the Trump administration involved Indians, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.