'Peace will be restored at any cost': Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose begins two-day visit to Malda and Murshidabad

CV Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal. (PTI)

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday departed from Sealdah on a two-day visit to Malda and Murshidabad, districts recently rocked by communal clashes over the newly enacted Waqf Amendment Act.

The visit, which the Govenror claims is aimed at "restore peace at any cost", comes despite reservations from the ruling Trinamool Congress including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

News agency ANI reported Friday morning that Governor Bose departed for Malda from the Sealdah station. As per schedule, Governor Bose will begin his trip from Malda, where he will visit refugee camps housing those displaced by the communal violence before proceeding to the worst-affected areas in Murshidabad.

#WATCH | West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose arrives at Sealdah railway station; from here, he will travel to violence-affected Malda. pic.twitter.com/TaShLKi7q0

ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2025

"I want to go to Murshidabad...What transpired there is shocking. Such instances should never have happened. I want a reality check on the field. Peace must be restored - and it will be, at any cost," the Governor was quoted as saying by NDTV ahead of his visit.

On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court heard a petition seeking an extension of the central forces' deployment in Murshidabad and the transfer of the probe into the violence to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

In its report, the state government cited an escalation of violence during anti-Waqf Act protests, stating that both civilians and police were attacked by mobs wielding deadly weapons.

Bose's visit to Murshidabad also comes just head of a scheduled visit by an NCW fact-finding mission to the district. "This is the darkest hour before dawn...Once I realise that peace has been restored, I will be the happiest person and make my report accordingly," Bose said referring to a report that he may choose to send to the MHA following his visit.

The visit comes a day after Mamata urged the Governor to postpone his visit to Murshidabad, claiming that normalcy was gradually returning and confidence-building measures were underway.

"I would request non-locals not to visit Murshidabad right now. I would appeal to the governor to wait for a few more days as confidence-building measures are underway. I could have gone there, but then others would have also said they would visit, but the situation is not conducive now. An SIT has been formed to investigate the unrest in Murshidabad. I will visit the district at an appropriate time. I would request the governor not to visit the riot-hit district now," she had said.

The Governor, however, rejected Mamata's request and said that he wants to "assess the situation himself".

"I will certainly visit Murshidabad. I will go to the field to see for myself the realities. I will have an objective view of the matter. The situation has been brought under control. We should take further steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. People from the area have requested a BSF camp there," he told journalists after meeting some of the victims of violence in Kolkata.

On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court suggested the formation of a three-member oversight panel including representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, the West Bengal State Human Rights Commission, and the State Legal Services Authority to monitor the restoration of peace and the rehabilitation of displaced persons in the district.

According to the report on violence submitted by the state government before the High Court, protests began peacefully on April 4 across police station areas in Jangipur but escalated on April 8, when a 5,000-strong mob blocked NH-12 at Umarpur.

As per the report, the mob attacked police with bricks, iron rods, sharp weapons, and firebombs, along with arson targeting government vehicles. On April 11, fresh violence was reported from Suti and Samsherganj, including vandalism of public and private property, it added.

The police said it opened fire at Sajur More in Suti in self-defence, in order to protect both officers and civilians. As many as 278 people have been arrested across Murshidabad so far in connection with the violence that left 3 persons dead and several others injured.