Murshidabad and parts of West Bengal are seeing violent clashes over the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Here's what’s happening, what led to the unrest, and how the government is responding.

Violence broke out in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Jangipur cities following protests against the recently implemented Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Protesters got into fights with the police, threw stones, and set vehicles on fire.

According to West Bengal Police, three people have died in the violence (as of April 11), and over 150 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement.

The violence erupted in Murshidabad, a Muslim-majority district, and later spread to nearby Jangipur. The unrest has raised concerns about law and order across other districts too.

To control the situation, five BSF (Border Security Force) companies were deployed in the area.

What is the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025?

The Waqf Act deals with the management and regulation of Waqf properties, which are land and assets donated for religious or charitable purposes in the Muslim community.

The new Amendment Act of 2025 has triggered protests as many believe it alters the way these properties are handled, sparking fears of government interference and community tension.

What is the government saying?

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that the violence is specifically directed at Hindus. According to the party, more than 400 Hindus have fled Murshidabad following the clashes.

BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato has even compared the situation to Jammu and Kashmir, saying:

"For the last many days, a 'Jammu & Kashmir type' situation - when Hindus were forced to migrate in the 1990s - has been created, especially in these four districts of Bengal," Mahato told ANI.

He has sent a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting the implementation of AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in the four districts of Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, and South 24 Parganas, which have been affected by the violence.

 He claimed that the ongoing clashes are acts of targeted violence against Hindus residing in these areas, according to news agency PTI. He also urged that Murshidabad be declared a “disturbed area.”

The Centre has promised complete support to the West Bengal government. Additional forces are being deployed to curb the violence and restore peace in the region.

So far, there has been no official response from the West Bengal state government regarding the AFSPA demand.

The TMC said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “knows how to run Bengal” and has convened a meeting to “pacify the Muslim community.”



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