CM Mamata's Murshidabad visit in May after Waqf violence

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that she will visit Murshidabad in the first week of May. This marks her first visit to the Dhuliyan area since the recent violent riots that shook the region. Mamata described the incidents as “unfortunate” and assured that the government would provide financial aid to the families of those killed in the unrest.

The riots, which broke out earlier this month in Murshidabad's Jafrabad and Dhuliyan areas, followed intense protests against the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act. What began as demonstrations soon turned violent, leading to the tragic deaths of father-son duo Hargobind Das and Chandand Das, along with widespread damage to property.

In a significant breakthrough, the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF), with the assistance of Odisha Police, arrested two sons of Ziaul Sheikh—one of the key suspects in the double murder case. The arrested individuals, Bani Israel and Sefaul Haque, were tracked down and taken into custody from Jharsuguda district in Odisha.

Speaking about the arrests, a senior police officer said the breakthrough was the result of joint efforts and intelligence sharing between states. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected as authorities close in on others involved in the violence.

Apart from West Bengal, protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act have also been reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The amendment has stirred strong emotions among various communities, with demonstrators claiming it threatens their religious and property rights.