On Friday, the protests against the new Waqf (Amendment) Act in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district spiraled into violence, leaving several families in distress. In these tumultuous times, when residents sought assistance from the police, their calls went unanswered. Witnesses and locals narrated stories filled with helplessness and agony, and the desperate cries for help from a woman resonate in everyone’s minds.
The violence claimed numerous lives, caused extensive property damage, and created an atmosphere of tension in the area. While Pinky mourns the loss of her husband and father-in-law at one house, Selima grieves the death of her 21-year-old husband in police firing.
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Three Hours Before Assistance After Murder?
In a voice shaky with shock and grief, 32-year-old Pinky Das recounted her ordeal during the attacks. “We kept calling the police after the attacks began. No one responded. Even after my husband and father-in-law were murdered, their bodies lay outside our home for three hours.”
Pinky described how her husband, 40-year-old Chandan Das, and her 70-year-old father-in-law Hargobind Das, were brutally attacked by an incensed crowd. The attackers repeatedly stormed their home to vandalize it, as Pinky explained how groups of “youths” patrolled the area, hurling crude bombs and stones at houses.
Pinky reminisced, “They attacked our home four times. Eventually, they managed to break through the wooden door.” Such conditions weren’t unique to Murshidabad but were reflected in other areas too.
Selima Bibi Loses Husband to Police Fire!
In the Ghazipur area of Kashimnagar, Selima Bibi stood outside her shattered home with her only child. Married to 21-year-old Ejaz Ahmed not long ago, she now faces heightened grief following her husband’s death, reportedly shot during police firing while trying to escape chaos. Ejaz’s uncle, Shahid Sheikh, remarked, “No leader or policeman has visited our home since the death.”
Protests against the amendments to the Waqf law by the central government sparked alleged violence across Murshidabad, leading to unrest throughout the area. Attackers not only targeted people but also vandalized properties across entire villages. Locals reported that the mob assaulted houses, shattered windows, broke doors, and set vehicles ablaze.
During the chaos, 24-year-old Srabani Das shared her ordeal of escaping her burning home after rioters failed to break in. Srabani narrated, “They (the mob) vandalized rooms, broke our belongings, and set homes on fire when people resisted. Apart from arson in many homes, they torched cars, motorcycles, and even government buses.”
Despite pleas for help, police authorities remained silent even after the violence, with emergency calls unanswered.
Pinky's Family Helpless, Selima Bibi Demands Justice!
Still recovering from the trauma of witnessing her husband and father-in-law’s brutal murders, Pinky Das recalls the silence following the violence, saying, “We stood in disbelief as the bodies lay there for hours, and no one showed up.” Her words reflect the pain of locals, battling destruction and arson in their homes.
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According to reports, Chandan Das, killed in the violence, was a mason, and his father was a farmer with some land. Pinky’s mother-in-law Parul Das says, “We were helpless. I took the children to the roof and hid there.”
Selima Bibi's family is similarly devastated. Ejaz Ahmed, planning to move to Chennai for a better future, left behind a one-year-old child. Allegedly shot on NH12’s Sajurmore by police firing, he met his tragic end.
Visiting family for Eid, he was caught in the violence upon returning from meeting his uncle in Islampur, only to be fatally shot by police. Selima asserts, “I need justice. My husband was too young.”
Those Inciting Violence Are Animals!
Following the familial losses, locals remain in a climate of fear. Many express anxiety, stating that residing in the area post-violence incites terror, where they believe violence could erupt anytime.
A local Congress leader expressed, “We are afraid and uncertain if we’ll ever be able to live here peacefully again.” Large-scale devastation occurred in Jafrabadi and Kashimnagar, where mobs looted shops, invaded homes, and set properties on fire.
In a rare moment of unity, TMC MLA Amirul Islam and BJP Block Coordinator Uttam Kumar Das were seen together near Pinky’s damaged home. In unison, the leaders condemned the atrocities and extended support to affected families. The TMC MLA declared, “Those who did this are animals. We stand with the families.”
