Protests against Waqf Act turn violent in Bengal

Kolkata:Protests erupted against the Centre’s proposed amendment to the Waqf Act flared across Murshidabad district on Friday, leaving at least a dozen people — including police officers — injured and disrupting road and rail traffic.

Trouble began around 3 pm when hundreds of demonstrators defied prohibitory orders and blocked National Highway-12 at Sajur More, Jangipur. A 14-year-old boy, Mosharof Hossain, sustained a gunshot wound during ensuing clashes and is in critical condition at Murshidabad Medical College; police have not confirmed who fired the shot. Samserganj’s officer-in-charge and two other policemen also suffered head injuries.

Violence quickly spread to Suti, Dhuliyan, Lalgola and Bhagwangola. Protesters torched an ambulance in Suti, ransacked a police kiosk in Dhuliyan, and hurled crude bombs and stones at officers, who responded with teargas and lathicharges. The Jalangi Block Development Office was attacked, while sub-divisional police officer (Farakka) Aminul Islam was injured. The Puri–Kamakhya Express was stranded for more than three hours at Dhuliyan-Ganga station as agitators blocked tracks and burned tyres on state highways.

District authorities postponed the planned restoration of mobile internet, citing security concerns. Trinamul Congress MLA Humayun Kabir blamed police for failing to contain the unrest. Solidarity demonstrations were also reported in Kolkata’s Park Circus and at Amtala in South 24 Parganas, where a police vehicle was vandalised.