Bengal Waqf protest: 3 dead, 13 cops injured; Centre deploys additional 5 BSF companies in violence-hit Murshidabad

New Delhi: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said that an additional five companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) are being deployed in violence-hit Murshidabad district of West Bengal where three people are reported to have been killed amid clashes over the Waqf Amendment Act.

The additional BSF companies are being sent at the request of the West Bengal State Government.

The Home Secretary held a video conference with the Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal today in view of the violence in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

According to a Home Ministry statement, the DGP of West Bengal briefed that the situation was tense but under control and was being monitored closely.

The DGP further stated that he is taking the assistance of BSF posted locally, and that more than 150 persons have been arrested.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Secretary stated that apart from the nearly 300 BSF personnel locally available in Murshidabad, an additional five companies have been deployed at the request of the State Government.

The Union Home Secretary advised the state administration to keep a close watch on other sensitive districts, and to put in place adequate steps to ensure normalcy at the earliest.

The Union Home Secretary stated that the Centre is closely monitoring the situation and assured the state of all possible assistance, including deployment of additional manpower, if necessary, the statement added.

Police open fire to control violent mobs in Murshidabad

Police fired four rounds after tear gas shells and baton charge failed to disperse groups of violent protesters, who resorted to rioting and arson at Samserganj and Suti in Murshidabad district as part of protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, senior police officials said on Saturday.

The protestors burnt vehicles, looted shops and vandalised government property.

ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim said police fired four rounds after tear gas and lathi charge failed to quell the violent mobs, who attacked police personnel after vandalising vehicles, shops, and looting property.

He said two civilians and 13 police personnel were injured in the clashes that ensued. The injured persons were admitted to the hospital.

According to a report, three persons, including a father-son duo, were killed in the violence-hit Samserganj and Sijimore in Suti.

While the father-son duo were found dead in their home with multiple cut mark injuries at Samserganj , a youth, who was shot at in Sujimore in Suti on Friday, died of his injuries today at a Murshidabad hospital. The report said the bodies of the father and son were brought to Jangipur hospital for post mortem this afternoon.

On Friday, at least 118 people were arrested, and 17 individuals, including 15 police personnel, were injured in the violent clashes in Murshidabad district.

Fresh violence occurred on Saturday in Murshidabad with one person receiving a bullet wound, police said.

DGP Rajeev Kumar said the clashes happened in Murshidabad and warned of stern action against people who indulged in arson and rioting.

The violent incidents erupted in Dhulian in the Samserganj block on Friday, and from the Suti and Samserganj areas of the district in the wake of protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Following Friday's violence, the BSF was deployed in a few areas of the district, which share border with Bangladesh.