Calcutta HC Panel Flags Police Inaction, Councillor’s Role in Murshidabad Violence
A committee appointed by the Calcutta High Court to probe the recent spate of violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has reported serious administrative failures during the April 11 unrest in Dhulian town.
The fact-finding panel noted that police forces were “inactive and absent” as violence broke out during protests related to alleged encroachments under the Waqf Act. The committee further alleged that a local municipal councillor had a direct hand in orchestrating the attacks.
The High Court constituted the committee on April 17, 2025, following a series of writ petitions that flagged targeted violence and the failure of district authorities to protect vulnerable communities.
These petitions arose after demonstrations against the Waqf Board's alleged control over land and property in the region turned violent in several pockets of Murshidabad earlier in April.
The April 11 incident in Dhulian involved arson, vandalism, and assaults reportedly aimed at specific households and businesses. Visuals from the scene, which were later submitted in court, showed damaged homes and looted shops.
According to preliminary estimates, over 50 families were affected.
The court-mandated panel, comprising retired judicial officers and independent observers, was tasked with identifying victims, quantifying damage, and suggesting reparative measures. Its interim findings, submitted to the court on May 18, 2025, paint a troubling picture of political complicity and administrative indifference.
The Calcutta High Court has scheduled the next hearing for May 24 to consider the report’s recommendations.