A Calcutta High Court-appointed panel delivered a scathing indictment of the West Bengal administration, blaming police inaction and naming Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders for their alleged roles in the communal violence that erupted in Murshidabad in April.
The fact-finding team reported targeted attacks on Hindu households and shops, singling out TMC councillor Mehboob Alam as the key instigator of the violence on April 11.
What Did the Report Reveal?
The court-appointed three-member committee comprising officials from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), West Bengal Legal Services Authority, and the state judiciary, which was tasked with evaluating the situation on the ground following a string of violent incidents linked to protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
In its report, the panel stated, “The local councillor Mehboob Alam led the attackers. Police presence was virtually non-existent.” The violence reportedly began around 2:30 PM in Dhulian and nearby areas including Samserganj and Betbona. Witness accounts submitted to the committee claimed attackers arrived with faces covered, while water lines were deliberately cut to prevent immediate firefighting efforts.
The report also noted that “Amirul Islam identified unharmed homes, which were then set ablaze. The MLA was seen at the site but left without intervening.” In Betbona alone, over 100 houses were ravaged, and many women fled to relatives’ homes, fearing further attacks
BJP-TMC Clash Intensifies
A day later, on April 12, communal tensions escalated into fatal violence. Harogobindo Das and his son Chandan were stabbed to death inside their home in Jafrabad, allegedly by neighbours. “The situation spiraled out of control,” the panel stated, citing arson, temple desecrations, and looting in markets including Ghoshpara, where 29 shops were vandalised barely 300 metres from a police station.
BJP leader Amit Malviya reacted strongly, tweeting, “This is the most damning report yet… The TMC, its councillor and MLA stood by as Hindu homes burned. This is state-enabled demographic engineering.”
Have a look at his post here:
In contrast, CM Mamata Banerjee maintained the violence was “pre-planned,” accusing external forces.
An earlier state report submitted to the court had acknowledged the scale of violence and detailed troop deployment on April 11-12. The High Court panel has now urged rehabilitation measures, compensation, and expert assessment of damages to rebuild lives in the affected areas.
