Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, April 16, 2025: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to send a team to Murshidabad following widespread unrest and allegations of human rights violations linked to violent protests against the Waqf Act. The move comes after a series of violent incidents, including the tragic deaths of four individuals, including a father and son, in Shamsherganj. The NHRC team is expected to conduct an on-site investigation and submit a report within three weeks.
The unrest, which has rocked several areas of Murshidabad, including Suti, Dhulian, Shamsherganj, and Jangipur, has caused significant distress to the local population. Many residents have been displaced, with numerous families seeking refuge in camps in the neighbouring Malda district. In its statement, the NHRC expressed grave concern over the murders of the father and son in Shamsherganj and the alleged lack of police action in response to these incidents.
The NHRC has instructed its Investigation Division to form a special team to visit Murshidabad and examine the situation firsthand. “Amidst the protests against the Waqf Act, news reports on social media have alleged that a father and son were murdered. It is also claimed that the police failed to take appropriate action,” the NHRC stated in its official letter to the DG of the Investigation Division. The team will be tasked with investigating the violence and providing a comprehensive report within the next three weeks.
In addition to the deaths, the violence surrounding the Waqf Act protests has resulted in widespread human rights violations, particularly against Hindus, according to local sources. The NHRC team is expected to visit several affected areas to take stock of the situation and assess the scale of the alleged violations.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who visited the local hospital to meet injured victims, condemned the state’s handling of the situation. Speaking to the media, Chowdhury claimed that the actual scale of the violence was far worse than what was being reported by the administration. He revealed that he had met with several victims, including three people who had suffered gunshot wounds during the clashes in Samserganj.
One of the victims, a young boy of around 11 or 12 years, had sustained severe injuries to his right kidney and was in critical condition, according to Chowdhury. “I met one boy who was hit by a bullet while he went out to buy medicine for his mother. The bullet is still lodged in his body,” Chowdhury said, adding that the government was not revealing the true number of injured victims.
Chowdhury also lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, criticizing her for not visiting the affected areas in Murshidabad. “Why is the CM not visiting Jangipur? Her teams can travel to Hathras and Manipur, but why not to Murshidabad? Is it because it’s not a priority?” he asked.
In a more alarming development, preliminary reports from the Union Home Ministry have suggested the possible involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants in fueling the violence in Murshidabad. While the Centre has yet to release an official statement, sources indicate that the violence was exacerbated by external elements. The report also criticizes the West Bengal Police for failing to control the situation effectively.
The violence erupted during protests demanding the repeal of the Waqf Act and quickly escalated into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. At least three people have been confirmed dead, and several others have been injured, with multiple areas in Murshidabad resembling conflict zones.
In response to the growing unrest, the authorities have deployed Border Security Force (BSF) personnel starting Friday night, followed by paramilitary forces on Saturday night, as per a Calcutta High Court directive. Despite these measures, the situation remains tense, with ongoing violence and frequent skirmishes between police and protesters.
The ongoing conflict has forced many residents, especially women and children, to flee their homes. A large number of displaced people have taken shelter in schools across the Malda district, particularly in the Vaishnavnagar area. Local authorities are scrambling to provide relief and ensure the safety of those who have been affected by the violence.
The NHRC’s decision to send a team to Murshidabad is seen as an urgent response to the growing human rights concerns in the region. With the situation continuing to evolve, all eyes are on the commission’s investigation and the measures the state government will take to restore order and protect the rights of the affected communities.
