Murshidabad Violence Probe Report | A Calcutta High Court-appointed investigation committee has found that a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader orchestrated violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, during the passage of the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill last month. The shocking revelations were submitted before a division bench of the court on Monday and have sparked intense political outrage.
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The probe report directly named TMC councillor Mehboob Alam as the person who led the mob that carried out targeted attacks on Hindu families, including widespread arson, looting, and destruction of property. The violence unfolded in Samserganj, Betbona, Hizaltala, Shiulitala, and Digri villages on April 11, with authorities accused of complete inaction despite urgent calls for help from residents.
According to the report, “The attacks were directed by the local councillor Mehboob Alam… the local police were completely inactive and absent.” The fact-finding panel noted that attackers arrived masked and armed, cutting off water supplies to intensify damage by fire. The local MLA was reportedly present but “saw the vandalism and went away,” the report added.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the State Legal Services Authority, and members from the Judicial Services were part of the multi-member panel that investigated the violence.
“Amirul Islam came, saw which houses were not attacked, and then the attackers set them ablaze… The villagers of Betbona telephoned, but the West Bengal Police did not respond,” the panel’s report stated.
113 Homes Destroyed, Women Forced to Flee
The damage in Betbona village was particularly severe, with 113 houses destroyed, many of which were declared “uninhabitable without complete reconstruction.” The panel observed that women and children were traumatized and many had sought refuge with relatives.
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The violence also led to the vandalism of temples and the destruction of local markets and shops, many of them within 300 meters of the local police station. A total of 29 shops were reportedly damaged or looted in Ghoshpara, including grocery stores, hardware shops, and textile outlets. A shopping complex was looted and forced to shut down entirely.
On April 12, the day after the initial attack, a Hindu father and son were allegedly murdered by their Muslim neighbors, escalating the communal unrest. The report noted that no substantial police presence was deployed even after this fatal incident.
Political Fallout Expected
The findings are expected to intensify political tensions in Bengal, with opposition parties likely to demand accountability and question Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government for failing to control communal violence and protect citizens. Human rights groups are also expected to raise the issue at the national level.
The Calcutta High Court is now expected to deliberate on the report’s findings, potentially leading to further legal and administrative action. The court had earlier stepped in after several petitions highlighted the state’s failure to respond to targeted violence and protect vulnerable communities.
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