THE Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been apprised of an initial probe into West Bengal’s Murshidabad violence, which indicates the involvement of alleged Bangladeshi miscreants, Government sources said on Tuesday. The preliminary findings also suggest that the miscreants may have initially received assistance from local leaders but eventually became uncontrollable. The West Bengal Police on Tuesday arrested two brothers for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of a father-son duo during communal violence in Murshidabad district, a senior officer said. With the fresh arrests, a total of 221 people have been apprehended so far in connection with the recent violence in the Muslim-majority district during anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests.

 

The two accused, identified as Kalu Nadar and Dildar Nadar, were residents of the same Jafrabad area where the father-son duo used to live, he said, adding that a special investigation team has been formed to probe into the murders. Kalu Nadar was arrested from Murarai in Birbhum district, while his brother Dildar was nabbed from near the India-Bangladesh border in Suti in Murshidabad district, the IPS officer said. “We have collected the CCTV footage from the area and identified several people involved in the incident. Among them, we have arrested two persons,” he said. So far, a total of 221 people have been arrested in connection with communal violence in the district, he said. The bodies of the father-son duo, identified as Harogobindo Das and Chandan Das, were found in their house in Jafrabad locality in violence-hit Samserganj with multiple stab wounds. Apart from these two deaths, 21-year-old Ijaz Momin, who sustained bullet wounds during clashes at Sajur More in Suti on Friday, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital the next day. Around 18 police personnel were injured in the clashes that broke out in several areas of Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

 

Following the clashes, prohibitory orders were imposed and internet services were suspended, while police promised strictest action against those behind the riots. Meanwhile, the MHA closely monitors activities in Murshidabad and other sensitive districts in West Bengal. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Saturday spoke with the State’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, assuring all possible help. He advised the State administration to keep a close watch on other sensitive districts and to put in place adequate steps to ensure normalcy as soon as possible. The Union Home Secretary is in constant touch with the West Bengal Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police. The MHA has also deployed nearly nine companies, at least 900 personnel, of the Border Security Force in Murshidabad. Of these nine companies, 300 BSF personnel are locally available with other additional companies at the request of the State Government. Earlier, the West Bengal DGP briefed that the situation was tense in Murshidabad but under control and was being monitored closely.

 

The DGP further stated that he was taking the assistance of BSF posted locally and that more than 150 persons had been arrested. The violence broke out last week in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protests swept across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts, leading to arson, stone-pelting and road blockades. Officials said the situation in the violence-hit areas remained tense, though no fresh incidents were reported. Prohibitory orders have been imposed and internet services suspended in the worst-hit Murshidabad district, where violence took place. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has expressed concern over recent violence in three border areas of Murshidabad, West Bengal, and has deployed additional paramilitary forces as a precaution.

 

Preliminary reports suggest the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants, allegedly aided by local TMC leaders, who later lost control over these elements. The violence displaced Hindu families, forcing many to flee to Malda, raising fears of renewed infiltration and communal unrest. The Centre has sought clarification from the State Government regarding its failure to protect lives and property, the attack on railway assets, and police inaction during the initial stages of the violence.