The West Bengal police have been proactive in arresting those involved in recent violent protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 in West Bengal. As part of the operation, nine people were arrested in the South 24 Parganas district, along with two suspects on Monday night linked to the murder of a father and son in Murshidabad.
On Monday, a protest was held at Kolkata’s Ramlila Maidan opposing the amended Waqf Act. Hundreds of protesters, mainly workers of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), were allegedly stopped by the police along the Basanti Highway near Bairampur in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas, when they were on their way to Kolkata.
#WATCH | West Bengal: A relief camp has been set up in Malda's Par Lalpur for the people who left Samserganj-Dhuliyan in Murshidabad after violence broke out there during a protest against the Waqf Amendment Act on April 11. pic.twitter.com/Bqe7pMY4HT
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2025
This led to a flare-up, with enraged protesters blocking the highway, setting at least five police motorcycles on fire, pelting stones at officers, smashing a Kolkata Police vehicle’s windows, and vandalising a prison van before overturning it.
In response, police quickly launched search operations throughout the region to locate those responsible. Nine people have been arrested so far, and the search for additional suspects is ongoing. Authorities have, reportedly, registered five separate cases connected to the Bhangar violence.
Meanwhile, in the case related to the murder of Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das, the police have arrested one person from Murshidabad and another from Birbhum district. The father and son were, reportedly, stabbed to death in Jafrabad, under Samserganj CD Block in Jangipur, Murshidabad.
Supratim Sarkar, Additional Director General (South Bengal), told the media on Tuesday, “All available CCTV footages from the area were reviewed, and several miscreants were identified. During an overnight raid last night, two individuals were arrested.” He informed that the arrested suspects were brothers.
To investigate the murder of the father-son duo, the police have formed a special investigation team (SIT) with members from local police stations and experienced officers from the state police’s STF, CID, and IB.
So far, 221 people have been arrested in Murshidabad in connection with the Waqf protest-related violence.
