After Murshidabad, violence engulfs Bengal's South 24 Parganas over Waqf Act

Violence (Representative Image)

After Murshidabad, violence engulfed West Bengal's South 24 Parganas after supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) clashed with the police during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The clashes, which erupted in South 24 Parganas' Bhangar on Monday, led to several injuries and the torching of multiple police vehicles, PTI reported.

The unrest, reportedly began when police stopped ISF supporters from heading towards Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act rally addressed by party leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddique.

According to police sources cited by PTI, the protestors were stopped near Bhojerhat on the Basanti Highway, where a large number of ISF workers had gathered from Bhangar as well as neighbouring areas such as Minakhan and Sandeshkhali.

The ISF, according to the agency also accused the BJP of trying to incite communal tension and the ruling Trinamool Congress of suppressing opposition protests. Communal violence also took place in parts of Murshidabad, including Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur, on Friday and Saturday during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The violence left three people dead.

It was also reported that more than 400 Hindus were forced to flee from the violence-hit areas of Samserganj in Murshidabad and crossed the Bhagirathi River to reach Malda.