Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Bhangar/Kolkata, Apr 14: Violent clashes broke out on Monday in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district as supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) confronted police while attempting to reach a rally in Kolkata protesting the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The confrontation left several injured and saw multiple police vehicles set ablaze.
The unrest began near Bhojerhat along the Basanti Highway when ISF members from Bhangar, Minakhan, and Sandeshkhali were stopped by police while en route to Ramlila Maidan, where ISF leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddique was scheduled to address a public meeting.
As tensions escalated, demonstrators reportedly tried to push through police barricades, triggering a violent clash. Protesters allegedly set several police vehicles on fire and attacked personnel, leaving some officers injured. Police responded with lathi-charges to disperse the crowd. One ISF worker reportedly suffered a serious head injury.
The protest quickly disrupted traffic, with demonstrators staging a blockade on the highway, resulting in significant congestion. Authorities deployed additional police forces and senior officials to manage the situation and restore order. A high alert was issued in the surrounding areas.
At the rally in Kolkata, Siddique condemned the Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it unconstitutional and demanding its immediate rollback.
“This law is a direct violation of the rights guaranteed under the Constitution. It targets minorities and suppresses dissent. A government that backs such laws has no place in a democratic society,” Siddique declared.
He also accused the BJP of stoking communal divisions and slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress for allegedly using the police to obstruct opposition protests.
“The Chief Minister has publicly said the Act will not be implemented in Bengal. If that’s the case, why stop us from protesting peacefully? Is the right to protest now exclusive to the Trinamool Congress?” he questioned.
Trinamool MLA Showkat Mollah dismissed the ISF's influence, calling them “a fringe group trying to spark trouble without public support.”
Meanwhile, tensions remain high across parts of Bengal. Communal violence linked to anti-Waqf Act protests flared up in Murshidabad’s Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur over the weekend, resulting in at least three deaths and several injuries. Visuals from the scene showed smouldering remains of shops, homes, and hotels.
In a bid to defuse the unrest, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reiterated on Saturday that her administration would not enforce the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the state.
Following a petition by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the Calcutta High Court ordered the immediate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the violence-hit areas to maintain peace and public safety.