Nearly 120 Arrested, 3 Killed in Anti-Waqf Act Protests in Bengal’s Murshidabad

Three individuals were killed during protests against the newly enacted Waqf Amendment Act in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on Saturday, Clarion reported.

The unrest escalated at Sajur Crossing, where two minors were trapped and shot; one later succumbed to injuries in a local hospital. In response to the violence, West Bengal’s Additional Director General of Police, Javed Shamim, announced the arrest of 118 individuals linked to the unrest and warned against attempts to incite further violence through rumors.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the Waqf Amendment Act would not be implemented in West Bengal, asserting that there was no justification for the violent protests. She emphasized the need to prevent the situation from escalating into riots, urging calm among the populace.

It should be mentioned that Muslim communities and organizations have organized massive protests against the bill, stressing it undermines their rights and translates into governmental overreach affecting Muslim properties.