Protesters allegedly hurled stones at the police, leading to clashes and several police vehicles being set on fire. To contain the situation, police reportedly resorted to lathi charge and tear gas shelling, according to a senior district police officer.
The West Bengal Police later stated on X that the situation was under control and traffic had resumed on the highway. A few police personnel sustained injuries during the stone pelting, and some individuals have been detained in connection with the violence.
Authorities warned of strict legal action against those involved in the unrest and cautioned against spreading misinformation. State Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury criticised the police action, stating that baton-charging a rally was unacceptable, even if violence had broken out.
Governor CV Ananda Bose condemned the violence and directed the state government to take firm steps to curb such disturbances and file a report. He emphasised that any attempt to disrupt Bengal’s communal harmony should be dealt with “an iron hand”, as per a Raj Bhavan statement.
The BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of allowing law and order to collapse, alleging minority appeasement and selective policing. The Waqf (Amendment) Act, recently passed by both Houses of Parliament and approved by the President, seeks to improve transparency and governance of Waqf properties while protecting stakeholders’ rights.
