Waqf Act Protest Turns Violent in West Bengal's Murshidabad: Law and Order Crumbles, Is This Another Shaheen Bagh in the Making?

Violence Erupts After Friday Prayers in Murshidabad Over Waqf Amendment Act

Kolkata Tensions soared in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Friday, April 11, 2025, as violent protests erupted following Friday prayers against the newly proposed Waqf Amendment Act. Protesters, angered by the legislation, clashed with police and disrupted public services, leading to chaos in several parts of the region.

According to reports, a group of agitators began throwing stones at a train at Nimtita Railway Station, halting train operations and severely impacting regional rail connectivity. The protests intensified in Suti town where National Highway 12 was blocked. Police intervention to clear the route was met with fierce resistance, including stone-pelting on law enforcement personnel.

Police Respond with Lathicharge and Tear Gas as Situation Escalates

To control the unruly crowd and restore order, the police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells. National Highway 12 remained blocked for several hours, causing massive inconvenience to travelers and raising concerns over public safety.

DIG PRO of BSF’s South Bengal Frontier, Niloptal Kumar Pandey, stated, “A large crowd gathered in Jangipur, Murshidabad to protest the Waqf Amendment Act. The situation quickly escalated and became a law-and-order challenge. In response, BSF troops were deployed to assist the local administration in restoring normalcy.”

Governor, Rail Authorities, and Political Voices React Strongly

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose condemned the violence, emphasizing that while protest is a right in democracy, it cannot be an excuse for lawlessness. “No one has the right to endanger public safety. Strict action will be taken against those who instigate or participate in violence,” he said.

Eastern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Deeptimay Dutta, confirmed the disruption in services. “Train operations in the Azimganj–New Farakka section were impacted due to groups sitting on the tracks between Dhuliyan Ganga and Nimtita stations. Railway gate number 43 was also damaged,” he informed.

As a result, two trains were cancelled, two were halted mid-route, and five others were diverted.

Political Turmoil: BJP Slams Mamata Banerjee’s Administration

The political fallout was immediate. The West Bengal BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee-led state government of failing to control the deteriorating law and order. The party alleged that violent mobs, post-Friday prayers, were targeting temples and setting homes ablaze in Dhuliyan, Malda, and Farakka.

“The state is on the brink of a crisis. This chaos is a direct result of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which most protesters haven’t even read. The government has lost control,” a BJP spokesperson said.

The situation remains tense, with heavy police and paramilitary deployment in sensitive areas. The incident has revived fears of another large-scale protest movement, reminiscent of the 2019–2020 Shaheen Bagh demonstrations.