Murshidabad unrest: MHA steps in, reviews situation with Bengal officials

Calcutta: Amid ongoing communal unrest in Murshidabad, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has intervened. The Union Home Secretary held a video conference with West Bengal Chief Secretary and DGP to assess the situation and review law and order measures.

The Calcutta High Court has sharply criticised the West Bengal government's response to recent communal unrest in Murshidabad, deeming the measures taken as inadequate.

The unrest, which erupted in the district following protests over the newly promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act, has turned violent in recent days. A special division bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the district until 17 April.

The bench noted that while the state government claimed it was striving to maintain communal harmony, its actions thus far were insufficient. "Although we have noted the stand of the state that it is making an endeavour to ensure co-existence of different communities in peace and harmony, the measures so far taken do not appear to be adequate," the court stated in its order.