Violence has rocked several regions of Murshidabad in North Bengal following public outrage against the Waqf Amendment Act passed in Parliament. As of now, three people have died and more than 150 individuals have been detained in connection with the unrest.

The protests, which began earlier this week, spread to areas including Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur. While local police claim the situation is now stable, prohibitory orders have been enforced to prevent further escalation.

Responding to the growing unrest, the Calcutta High Court has instructed the deployment of central security personnel, calling the scenario “serious and unstable.” In a strong statement, the court emphasized that constitutional bodies cannot remain passive in the face of threats to public safety.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the public to maintain peace, distancing her administration from the contentious legislation. She made it clear that the Waqf Amendment Act was introduced by the central government and not supported by her party.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari, the Opposition leader in the Bengal Assembly, has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of appeasement politics. He claimed that over 400 Hindu families have fled their homes amid rising religious tensions, alleging targeted violence against the community.

Governor CV Ananda Bose also weighed in on the matter, endorsing the High Court’s intervention and stressing the importance of upholding law and order in the state.

The unrest first erupted on April 8, when stone-pelting mobs clashed with police forces and torched police vehicles. These demonstrations followed earlier large-scale protests across West Bengal, including in Kolkata, against the amended Waqf law.

State police chief Rajeev Kumar said that what began as peaceful demonstrations soon spiraled into chaos, resulting in public property damage and inflamed communal sentiments. He added that the state administration had directed law enforcement to take a strict stance against any disruptive behavior.

The turmoil presents a major political hurdle for Chief Minister Banerjee, who is preparing for the upcoming state elections where she aims to secure a fourth consecutive term. It also coincides with separate protests by over 26,000 teachers whose appointments were recently invalidated by the Supreme Court due to significant hiring irregularities.