2 ‘masterminds' arrested over violence during Waqt protest in Murshidabad
Nearly two months after communal violence rocked West Bengal's Murshidabad district during anti-Waqf demonstrations, police on Tuesday arrested two men alleged to be the masterminds of the April protest that sparked the unrest.According to police sources, the arrested duo, Kausar Sheikh and Mursalim Sheikh, were involved in mobilising the crowd that had gathered at Samsherganj's Dakbungalow intersection to protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Both are residents of Samsherganj and are said to be linked to an NGO.advertisementPolice said they ran a local campaign to draw people to the protest site.
The two were produced in the Jangipur sub-divisional court on Tuesday, where police sought their custody for further questioning.The April protest turned violent after clashes broke out between police and the protesters during anti-Waqf demonstration.The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was passed by Parliament after lengthy debates and got the President's approval on April 5. The Act updates the Waqf Act, 1995, which deals with managing waqf properties in India. The changes focus on keeping better records, resolving disputes, and improving oversight.There were pan-India protests over the Waqf Act, with the demonstration turning violent in Bengal.Several shops owned by Hindus were attacked in Samsherganj, leading to large-scale arson, looting, and three deaths.The unrest later spread to Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, where supporters of the India Secular Front clashed with police and set vehicles ablaze after being stopped from marching to Kolkata.In the aftermath, paramilitary forces, including the Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force, were deployed to control the situation. Must Watch
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