Six arrested from Odisha in Murshidabad double murder linked to Waqf Act unrest

Six individuals have been arrested from Odisha’s Jharsuguda district in connection with the murder of a father and son in Jafrabad, located in West Bengal’s Shamsherganj area of Murshidabad. The arrests follow a series of violent incidents in Murshidabad linked to protests against the Waqf Act. According to police sources, the accused fled to Odisha following the violence and were traced through intelligence inputs. A five-member team from the Bengal Special Task Force (STF) conducted multiple raids across Jharsuguda and detained several people for questioning, out of which six were formally arrested.

The murder had taken place amid reported unrest in various parts of Murshidabad over opposition to the Waqf Act. The father and son were allegedly attacked and killed in Jafrabad during this period. Ziaul Sheikh, a resident of Sulitala Purvapara near Jafrabad and one of the prime accused, was earlier arrested from Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur on Saturday. His arrest was carried out jointly by the Bengal STF and a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Following his interrogation, officials traced the movements of other suspects to Odisha.

The investigation is ongoing, and all six individuals are being questioned for their roles in both the murder and the wider unrest. The arrested persons are currently in custody, and further legal action is being processed. Police have confirmed that searches and interrogations were conducted in multiple areas of Jharsuguda based on leads developed from earlier arrests. More details are expected as the probe progresses.