Synopsis
The Murshidabad region of West Bengal is experiencing a return to normalcy as Internet services are restored after violent protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill. Prohibitory orders remain in effect as authorities manage the aftermath of the unrest.Key Takeaways
- Internet services have been restored in most areas of Murshidabad.
- Prohibitory orders are still in place in certain regions.
- Approximately 500 families were displaced due to violence.
- CAPF deployment has contributed to the stabilization of the situation.
- Local residents dispute the reported number of displaced families.
Kolkata, April 16 (NationPress) The scenario in the minority-dominated Murshidabad region of West Bengal has shown signs of improvement after a week of unrest triggered by protests against the newly-enacted Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which escalated into violence. The restoration of Internet services in most areas of the district marks a step towards normalcy.
Earlier this week, Internet access was suspended. However, restrictions on Internet services remain in place in Samserganj, the most affected area, where a father and son, Hargobindo Das and Chandan Das, were brutally attacked by violent demonstrators last week.
Simultaneously, prohibitory orders enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, will remain in effect in the troubled regions of the district for the foreseeable future. However, local administrative sources indicated that if the situation continues to improve, these restrictions may be lifted later today or by Thursday.
According to district administration records, approximately 500 families were displaced in Murshidabad due to the violent incidents last week, with the administration managing to facilitate the return of 200 families to their homes in recent days.
Local residents, however, allege that the district administration has minimized the number of displaced families, asserting that the real figure is closer to 1,000.
The majority of the displaced families sought refuge in nearby Malda district, with some reportedly finding shelter in Jharkhand.
Residents acknowledged that the situation is gradually returning to normal, thanks to the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) on April 12, following a directive from a special division bench of the Calcutta High Court.
In its ruling, the division bench noted that had the CAPF been deployed sooner, the situation would not have escalated to such a “grave” and “volatile” state. The court also remarked that the initial measures implemented by the West Bengal government to manage the communal unrest in Murshidabad were insufficient.
