After Murshidabad, fresh violence hits Bengal's South 24 Parganas over Waqf law

Viral videos on social media showed police motorbikes were torched, and a police bus was overturned with its windshield ripped out.

A large contingent of police marched on the streets of Bhangar to contain violence.

The cops had to resort to lathi-charging to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was also injured.

The Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters, moving towards the Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf law rally to be addressed by party leader Naushad Siddique, resorted to violence after the cops denied permission.

According to reports, the protesters clashed with the police, leading to injuries and the arson of police vehicles.

Siddique has, meanwhile, called the new law "an attack on Muslims and assault on the Constitution".

Tension escalated when the crowd attempted to break through the barricades.

A senior cop told the media that some police personnel were injured in the clashes, and eyewitnesses said the cops held a lathi-charge to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was also injured.

The ISF leader also pointed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that her government would not implement the new Waqf laws and asked why then its protest had been halted.

Supporters of the ISF (The Indian Secular Front) staged a massive protest rally against the Waqf Amendment Bill in Kolkata on Monday (April 14, 2025). Photos by Rupak De Chowdhuri.

Anti-Waqf violence in Murshidabad

The fresh tension comes after massive violence in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district, in which three people were killed, railway tracks were blocked, and there was arson and vandalism.

Over 200 people have been arrested in connection with that violence so far.

Attacked by marauding mobs, Hindus from villages fled in boats and via roads to the adjacent district of Malda as Islamic violence claimed three lives and destroyed properties.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday demanded a probe into the Islamic violence and riots that hit the Murshidabad district, causing three deaths, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

West Bengal Police have now said that the situation is under control, and prohibitory orders are in place to prevent large gatherings.

Videos from ferry ghats showed hordes of Hindu families, including women, children and elderly, fleeing to the safety of the Malda district.