Anti-Waqf protests in Bengal: Plea in SC seeks SIT probe into Murshidabad violence | India News

NEW DELHI: A petition was filed on Monday in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the Murshidabad violence that broke out during the anti-Waqf law protests, reported LiveLaw.
The plea, filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, also sought the top court’s directions to protect the lives and properties vulnerable to the riots.
Tension flared up in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Saturday morning after fresh protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent in Jangipur, with demonstrators torching multiple vehicles.
Visuals from the area showed flames and smoke billowing from burning vehicles as security forces were deployed to restore order.
Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General (Law and Order), said on Monday that both the Malda and Murshidabad administrations are working in coordination to ensure peace and facilitate the safe return of those who had fled their homes.
“So far, 19 families have returned. Shops are opening and people are slowly resuming their normal routine,” Shamim said, adding that law enforcement agencies are focused on restoring calm in the affected regions.
Emphasising the need to curb misinformation, Shamim warned residents against spreading or acting on unverified news. “We’ve arrested 210 individuals so far. Rumours can reignite tensions — I urge everyone to stay calm and check facts before reacting,” he said.
Referring to the brutal killing of a father and son, Shamim said a separate case would be filed and all persons involved – both perpetrators and bystanders – would be held accountable.
“It will take time to identify them precisely, but no one will be spared,” he asserted. Police made loudspeaker announcements across the district on Monday morning, appealing to shopkeepers to reopen and urging people to return to their regular lives.
“Our top priority is restoring complete normalcy, and we are confident that Murshidabad will soon be back to peace,” Shamim added.
On Saturday, the Calcutta high court ordered the immediate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the Murshidabad district, following deadly violence allegedly linked to protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. At least three people died and over 100 were arrested in the escalating clashes that rocked the region.
“The court cannot keep its eyes closed when such situations come up,” a division bench led by Justice Soumen Sen observed, emphasizing the constitutional responsibility to ensure peace and protection for all citizens. The court was hearing an urgent petition on a court holiday, underscoring the gravity of the situation.