'No provocative speeches': High Court's stern directive on Bengal Waqf Amendment protests

The Calcutta High Court has issued significant directives concerning the ongoing tensions in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, which has been affected by violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. A division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury on Thursday ordered that central forces will continue their deployment in the violence-stricken areas. Recognizing the sensitivity of the situation, the court also explicitly urged all parties to refrain from making any provocative speeches that could further inflame the unrest.

In a move aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis stemming from the violence, the High Court further directed the Trinamool Congress-led state government to establish a dedicated team. This team will be responsible for the crucial task of restoring normalcy and rehabilitating individuals who were forced to flee their homes in Murshidabad to seek refuge in neighboring districts. The court's intervention underscores the severity of the displacement caused by the recent events and the urgent need for state-led efforts to support the affected population.

The violence, which erupted on April 11 and 12, has tragically resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left hundreds without shelter across areas including Suti, Jangipur, Shamsherganj, and Dhulian. While police had claimed that the law and order situation in Murshidabad was largely under control, fresh incidents of violence were reported in the Bhangar area of South 24 Parganas district on April 14, indicating the continued fragility of peace in the region.

Responding to the initial outbreak of violence, the Calcutta High Court had previously ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad district on April 12. Currently, approximately 17 companies of these forces remain stationed in the most volatile pockets of Suti and Samserganj-Dhulian, working to maintain peace and security. The High Court's latest order to extend their deployment signifies the court's continued concern over the situation and the need for sustained security measures.

The court's dual directives – maintaining central forces and preventing provocative speeches – highlight a strategy aimed at both controlling the immediate security situation and preventing further escalation of tensions through inflammatory rhetoric. The emphasis on rehabilitation underscores the judiciary's recognition of the human cost of the violence and the state government's responsibility to aid those who have been displaced and affected by the unrest.

The coming days will be crucial in observing the implementation of these High Court orders and their impact on the ground in Murshidabad and the surrounding areas. The focus will be on whether the call for restraint on speeches is heeded and how effectively the state government mobilizes its resources to restore normalcy and rehabilitate those who have been so severely impacted by the violence.