Kumar Bahukhandi
The Bangladeshi radicals, allegedly aided by local leaders of a political party, were “involved” in the recent violence triggered by anti-Waqf law agitations in riot-hit areas, they said, quoting the intelligence report.(Image credit:X)
The Bangladeshi radicals, allegedly aided by local leaders of a political party, were “involved” in the recent violence triggered by anti-Waqf law agitations in riot-hit areas, they said, quoting the intelligence report.
New Delhi: As the arc of violence spread from Murshidabad district to South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal following protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act and intelligence inputs indicating the role of suspected Bangladeshi miscreants in the riots, the Union home ministry has swung into action by coordinating with the state authorities to restore normalcy in the region.
The Centre’s move comes as reports indicated an exodus of several families hit by communal violence from Murshidabad district to neighbouring districts and an influx of large numbers of Bangladeshis indulging in the riots, which also led to injuries to several police personnel.
The sources, quoting an intelligence report, said that members of two Bangladesh-based radical outfits — Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) — were allegedly involved in the violence in Murshidabad.
The Bangladeshi radicals, allegedly aided by local leaders of a political party, were “involved” in the recent violence triggered by anti-Waqf law agitations in riot-hit areas, they said, quoting the intelligence report.
“An initial probe into the Murshidabad violence in West Bengal indicates the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants. The Union home ministry is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the state authorities to ensure peace and stability in the region,” an official said, adding that the terror angle is also being looked into.
Following the arson in Murshidabad, Union home secretary Govind Mohan had on Saturday held a videoconference with the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police of West Bengal to assess the situation.
During the virtual meeting, the West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar briefed that the situation was tense but under control and was being monitored closely. He stated that he was taking the assistance of BSF posted locally, and over 200 persons involved in the arson have been arrested. Apart from nearly 300 BSF personnel available in Murshidabad, an additional five companies have been deployed at the request of the state government, Mohan said.
The Union home secretary also advised the state administration to keep a close watch on other sensitive districts and to put in place adequate security measures to ensure that normalcy is restored at the earliest.
The Union home secretary also said that the Centre has been closely monitoring the situation and assured the state government of all possible assistance, including deployment of additional manpower, if necessary.
Meanwhile, two separate PILs have been moved in the Supreme Court seeking the setting up of a special investigation team and a court-monitored probe, besides the constitution of a five-member judicial commission to probe the violence in Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.
Reports said fresh incidents of Waqf law-related violence rocked the Bhangar area in the South 24 Parganas district on Monday, even as police claimed the law and order situation in the previous riot epicentre of Murshidabad remained largely under control.
In the apex court, one public interest litigation filed by lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha sought directions from the apex court to set up an SIT to probe the cases of violence in the state.
Another plea was moved by advocate Vishal Tiwari seeking the constitution of a five-member judicial enquiry commission headed by a former apex court judge to investigate the cases of violence in the state.
One of the pleas sought a direction to the state government to file a report in the top court on the violence, besides directions for protecting people’s lives and properties.
The Calcutta High Court recently ordered the deployment of Central forces in violence-hit Murshidabad district, saying it cannot remain a mute spectator.
At least three people were killed and hundreds were rendered homeless in communal violence in parts of Murshidabad district, mainly Suti, Samserganj, Dhulian and Jangipur, on April 11 and 12 during protests against the Waqf law.
In another development, taking cognisance of the violence in Murshidabad, the National Human Rights Commission said it will send a team from its investigation division to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry, given the “seriousness” of the matter.
The inquiry report should be submitted within a period of three weeks, it said.
“Given the seriousness of the matter, the director-general (investigation), NHRC, is directed to assign a team of officers/officials from the investigation division of the Commission to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry at Murshidabad, West Bengal,” according to the proceedings.
Amid the violence in Murshidabad in West Bengal over the Waqf Bill, an extremist group in Bangladesh called the Khilafat Majlis has now announced it will hold a “mass march” towards the Indian embassy in Dhaka on April 22 to protest against the Waqf law, as per media reports.
The radical group is protesting against the passage of the law in the Parliament and is alleging that it infringes on the rights of Indian Muslims, the reports said. The move comes amid the deteriorating ties between the two nations. New Delhi has been angered over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and also the anti-India policies and utterances of Dhaka’s interim government that assumed office in August last year after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister.
