What's happening in Murshidabad: Situation still tense; BJP claims 400 Hindus 'forced to flee'

Murshidabad violence

Three people were killed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad amid protests against the new waqf law, while the police have identified and arrested 150 accused. The situation in the locality remains tense, necessitating the continued presence of security forces, the Border Security Force said on Sunday.

The BSF has announced that five additional companies have been deployed in Murshidabad to control the situation and prevent any violence.

IG South Bengal Frontier Karni Singh Shekhawat, said that BSF would coordinate with state police to restore peace in the region. "We have to work along with them in this situation. The discussions were held on this only. We have sent our five companies to help the police. We are here to help the police, not for independent action. We will act according to the demands of the state police. We hope that peace will be restored here soon. If the police need more companies, we will provide them. BSF is ready for all situations," he said.

More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad driven by fear of religiously driven bigots were forced to flee across the river & take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda.Religious persecution in Bengal is real.Appeasement politics of pic.twitter.com/gZFuanOT4N

Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) April 13, 2025

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday that over 400 Hindus have been "forced to flee" their houses following the tension. “More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad driven by fear of religiously driven bigots were forced to flee across the river & take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda,” Adhikari wrote in a post on X.

Adhikari also shared pictures and videos of the people being interviewed. One person in the video shared by Adhikari claimed that his house had been burnt down, and that the police officials did not do anything to help, simply fled the scene.

Criticising the TMC for its appeasement politics, he said, "Religious persecution in Bengal is a harsh reality. The TMC’s appeasement-driven approach has empowered extremist elements. Hindus are being targeted, forced to flee for their safety in their own homeland. It’s disgraceful that the state government has allowed law and order to collapse like this."

In reply, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh alleged that the opposition and the police are trying to create trouble for TMC. “Leaders of some parties and a section of the BSF drew a blueprint to create trouble for TMC. The men who led the violence were all outsiders. BSF let them in from across the border. They have disappeared. After all, who stands to gain politically if a communal violence takes place here?” Ghosh said.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose alleged that the BJP is flooding the internet with fake photos and fake videos of violence and arson, and passing them off as happening in West Bengal.

Sharing a post of the state BJP containing photographs depicting violence during nine Hindu festivals “in West Bengal”, Ghose claimed in an X post that none of those incidents happened in the state, listing the specific locations. “Shocking & alarming. @BJP4Bengal is brazenly spreading FAKE NEWS. Photos of violence from OTHER STATES, (most from BJP ruled states) are being used as photos from Bengal. These are clear examples of hate mongering & conspiracy.”

Meanwhile, the high court has instructed both the Mamata government and the Centre to submit detailed reports on the situation. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 17.