Murshidabad Violence | Calcutta High Court Directs State To Remunerate Affected Parties, Consider Calls For Permanent BSF Camp In Area

In a public interest litigation borne out of communal violence in Bengal's Murshidabad area during the Anti-Waqf Bill protests, the Calcutta High Court has directed the state to remunerate and restore all parties whose lives and properties were affected during the violent riots.A division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury further directed that the state consider the locals' calls for a permanent BSF camp in the area and asked the SIT to continue investigating the issue to bring the perpetrators to justice.ASG appearing for the union submitted that that there has been a migration of over 500 people from the Hindu community from Samsherganj Police Station to Malda district and the Union Home Secretary in consultation with the Chief Secretary of West Bengal considering the gravity of the situation in addition to the nearly 300 BSF personnel locally available in Murshidabad, 05 additional companies were deployed at the request of the State Government.It was submitted that intelligence inputs were received about the likelihood of imminent deterioration of law and order situation, including communal situation, leading to sporadic violence and targeting of Central Government properties in some other hotspots in about 15 districts across West Bengal. The State Government was also advised to keep a close watch on social media to curb the spread of any misinformation and to request for additional CAPFs, if necessary.Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the State referred various paragraphs of the affidavit on behalf of the respondent nos.1 to 3 and 6 to demonstrate that the administration has taken adequate measures both with regard to the rehabilitation and maintaining law and order situation in the affected areas. It is stated in the said affidavit that 1093 social media accounts have been blocked since 11th April, 2025. The Government has formulated a rehabilitation project and a sum of Rs.3,69,60,000/- has been sanctioned for the purpose of rehabilitating almost 283 families who have been identified till now for providing relief for the reconstruction of their dwelling houses.Court noted that the victims appear to be in a sorry state of affairs. Their homes have been vandalised, source of livelihood was taken away and movables of every possible kind pilfered and looted with impunity. Shock and trauma were writ large on the faces of the sufferers and the common grievance was the lack of timely police assistance. All the victims interacted by the Committee had expressed the demand for a permanent BSF camp in the locality. The Committee, however, has taken note of the work done by the civil administration of the district after the incident and has detailed the steps taken by the civil administration which according to the Committee was satisfactory.The bench directed that the list of victims prepared by the Committee on 27th April, 2025 shall be circulated amongst the parties. We require the State to respond to their rehabilitation and payment of compensation. They should be restored to their original place after restoring confidence in the system. In the interregnum the state must ensure proper shelter and accommodation to the victim."We are sure that the State shall take note of such anxiety expressed by the victims and take appropriate measures in this regard. Their demand for permanent BSF camp in the affected areas shall also be considered," the bench observed."Considering the nature and extent of the damage caused, we direct the Committee to appoint a valuer at the earliest from the panel of the High Court at Calcutta who shall assess the nature and extent of damage and file a report on the adjourned date. All costs, charges and expenses and remuneration shall be borne by the administration," it added.Accordingly, the matter was adjourned for hearing at a later date.Case: Suvendu Adhikari & Anr. Vs. State of West Bengal & Ors. Case No: WPA(P) 153 of 2025Click here to read order

Murshidabad Violence | Calcutta High Court Directs State To Remunerate Affected Parties, Consider Calls For Permanent BSF Camp In Area

Srinjoy Das

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