- By Shubham Bajpai
- Fri, 18 Apr 2025 07:36 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Murshidabad violence: The West Bengal government on Thursday informed the Calcutta High Court about the nature of violence and attack on police during the anti-Waqf protest in Murshidabad that led to three deaths. The government's report said that a large mob of about 10,000 gathered in the violence-hit city during the protests.
It said that half of them blocked the highway during the protest earlier this month. The report alleged that on April 11, the mob intentionally targeted the police officials with the intention of seizing their weapons.
It stated, "A huge crowd approximately 8000-10000 started assembling at PWD ground out of which a large number of crowd approximately 4000-5000 proceeded towards Umarpur and blocked National Highway at about 15 hrs (3 pm)."
Furthermore, the report added, "At about 16.25 hrs (4.25 pm), all of a sudden the crowd became unruly and started using filthy languages and there after they had started throwing bricks, stones on police personnel and started assaulting police personnel by lathi, hasua, iron sticks and deadly weapons etc. with intention to kill the police personnel."
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The report detailed the acts of violence, saying that the violent mob snatched a loaded Glock pistol, filled with 10 rounds of ammunition, while it set on fire the vehicle of SDPO Jangipur and Highway Patrolling. Moreover, public property at Umarpur was also vandalised.
"A part of unruly mob vandalised, looted and torched many private shops, temples and houses, etc at several places in Dhuliyan town under Samserganj police station... After 4 to 5 hours, the national highway got cleared and police started dominating the area," it said.
"The agitated mob also vandalised and set on fire the government vehicle of SDPO Jangipur and Highway Patrolling Vehicle as well as public properties at Umarpur," it added.
As per the report, the police officials tried to persuade the mob and disperse them, citing a disruption to the ambulance, public transport and school buses, when they blocked the highway, but the mob ignored the requests.
So far, 60 FIRs have been registered in Jangipur station, the report added.
