During West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose’s visit to the Parlalpur High School relief camp in Baishnabnagar, Malda district, on Friday, large-scale protests broke out outside the premises. The Governor was meeting people displaced by the recent communal violence in Murshidabad.
Protesters, primarily local residents and relatives of camp inmates, accused the police of excessive force and misconduct. Parlalpur High School had been reportedly under heavy security since Friday morning. Entry and exit were strictly restricted, with even family members of the displaced being denied access.
Tensions began escalating shortly after the departure of teams from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW). By the time Governor Bose arrived in the evening, the situation had deteriorated significantly, reported Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika.
The protesters voiced frustration over allegedly being denied access to their displaced relatives inside the camp and said they were still too fearful to return to their homes. They insisted that Governor Bose’s conversation with the displaced people be made public through the media.
Several protesters attempted to breach the police barricades, expressing a strong desire to speak with the Governor directly.
A significant number of the demonstrators were women, prompting the deployment of female police personnel to manage the crowd. Some camp residents accused the police of treating them like criminals and described the camp’s atmosphere as resembling a detention centre.
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Though authorities initially resisted the protesters’ demands, they eventually gave in. The temporary barricades set up for the Governor’s security were removed.
Meanwhile, Governor Bose is expected to visit Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on Thursday, a region badly hit by the violence that erupted during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. He is also likely to visit other affected areas including Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur town later in the day.
Following several days of unrest last week, the law and order situation in Murshidabad has now been brought under control. Many displaced families who had fled to Malda or crossed into neighbouring Jharkhand have started returning, with the administration facilitating the safe return of others still away.
On Friday, Murshidabad District Magistrate Rajarshi Mitra, accompanied by Jangipur Police District Superintendent Ananda Roy, toured multiple areas under the jurisdiction of the Shamsherganj police station. They appealed to the displaced residents to come back home, assuring them that the administration is committed to providing all necessary support to help them resume normal life in a safe and peaceful environment.
