Calcutta High Court Calls for Urgent Action Amid Murshidabad Unrest

Court Orders CAPF Deployment in Murshidabad

Kolkata: The West Bengal government's recent efforts to manage communal tensions in Murshidabad district, which escalated due to protests against the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, have been deemed insufficient by a special bench of the Calcutta High Court. The court has mandated the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the area until April 17.

The bench, comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, noted that while the state claims to be striving for peaceful coexistence among communities, the actions taken thus far have not been adequate.

The judges remarked that had the CAPF been deployed sooner, the situation might not have reached such a critical and unstable state.

They emphasized that earlier intervention by the Central Armed Forces could have mitigated the unrest, highlighting a failure to implement timely measures.

The court clarified that the purpose of deploying the CAPF is to assist the state administration in ensuring the safety and security of the local population.

Describing the current situation as 'grave' and 'volatile', the bench underscored the urgent need for action against those responsible for the violence against innocent citizens.

The judges stated, 'Constitutional Courts cannot remain passive and entangled in technicalities when the safety of the populace is at risk.'

Reiterating the court's duty to safeguard citizens, the bench affirmed that every individual has the right to life, and it is the state's obligation to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

The court acknowledged the ongoing violence between communities in various parts of West Bengal, asserting that the troubling circumstances cannot be overlooked.