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Several private establishments, shops, temples, and residences in Dhuliyan town under Samserganj police station jurisdiction were looted, torched, and destroyed, the court was informed
The West Bengal government on Thursday informed the Calcutta High Court that the anti-Waqf Amendment Act protest in Murshidabad, which spiraled into large-scale violence earlier this month, saw nearly 10,000 people gathering, with around half of them blocking a national highway.
The state informed the court that the protest, held on April 11, escalated when a large segment of the crowd moved towards Umarpur and began obstructing the National Highway around 3 pm. Attempts by senior police officials to pacify the demonstrators reportedly failed, despite explaining that the blockade was disrupting emergency vehicles, school transport, and public mobility.
Government submissions to the court indicated that the crowd, soon after gathering, turned violent and began attacking police personnel using bricks, stones, and sharp weapons such as iron rods and sickles. Authorities stated that the attacks appeared intending to cause fatal injuries to the police officers. A loaded Glock pistol belonging to a police officer was also reportedly snatched during the chaos.
The violence continued to escalate, with the mob vandalizing and setting fire to the official vehicles of the SDPO Jangipur and highway patrol, in addition to damaging public property. Several private establishments, shops, temples, and residences in Dhuliyan town under Samserganj police station jurisdiction were looted, torched, and destroyed, the court was informed.
It took nearly five hours for police forces to regain control and clear the national highway. The government’s report noted that a total of 60 FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident in the Jangipur police district. Tragically, three people, including a father-son duo, died during the violence.
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