In a letter addressed to committee chairperson Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, Khan cited “serious concerns” emerging from Murshidabad, calling for urgent intervention. “I am writing to formally request your kind attention and action regarding the recent serious concerns emerging from Murshidabad, particularly affecting the local Hindu community,” Khan stated. He urged Agrawal to lead a delegation of the standing committee for an on-site review to ascertain the truth behind survivors’ allegations. Khan also requested that the Director General of Police, West Bengal, and the Superintendent of Police, Murshidabad, be summoned to present a detailed status report on the ongoing investigation.
The violence, which broke out on April 11 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, led to the deaths of three people. Allegations have surfaced of targeted attacks on Hindus, including the killing of 72-year-old Haragobindo Das and his 40-year-old son, Chandan Das. The region has since seen large-scale displacement, with many villagers taking shelter in neighbouring Malda district.
Women’s safety under spotlight amid rising tension
The National Commission for Women has also taken cognizance of the developments. In a statement, the NCW said its chairperson has constituted an Inquiry Committee after reports surfaced of women being molested amid the communal violence. The commission cited reports suggesting the harassment of several women that triggered an exodus of hundreds from the affected areas.
The National Human Rights Commission has ordered its own on-spot inquiry into the Murshidabad unrest. At least 22 individuals have been arrested in the last 24 hours in connection with the violence. Despite the reopening of some shops and the gradual return of displaced villagers, an uneasy calm persists in parts of Dhuliyan and Jangipur, with heavy deployment of police and central forces.
