Chaos in Murshidabad: Mob of 10,000 Clashes With Police Over Waqf Law, Three Dead
Tensions flared into deadly violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district last week, as protests against the amended Waqf law spiraled out of control, leaving three people dead and several injured. According to a report submitted to the High Court and accessed by NDTV, the situation turned dire as nearly 10,000 people gathered, some armed with deadly weapons, and clashed with police in the Jangipur area.
The report reveals that a large crowd began assembling at the PWD ground, swelling to nearly 10,000 people. A portion of this gathering, around 5,000 strong, broke away and blocked the National Highway near Umarpur, turning aggressive and confrontational. The protest, initially vocal, escalated as bricks and stones were hurled at police officers.
In the chaos that followed, a mob reportedly attacked the police with sticks, sickles (hasuas), and iron rods. The situation became so intense that officers had to be rescued, and the service pistol of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer — a Glock loaded with ten bullets — was snatched during the assault.
As violence erupted, police were forced to respond with tear gas and urgent reinforcements were called in. The 34-page official report details how law enforcement struggled to control the spiraling crowd and rescue trapped officers.
Authorities continue to investigate how the protest turned violent so quickly, as tensions surrounding the amended Waqf legislation remain high. For now, the district mourns the loss of three lives, while security has been tightened to prevent further unrest.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
