Kolkata: BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday claimed that over 400 Hindus were "forced to flee" their homes in Murshidabad amid ongoing unrest, alleging religious persecution and a failure of law and order in the state.

Adhikari blamed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for its "appeasement politics", which he said had "emboldened radical elements". He stated that the displaced individuals had taken shelter at Par Lalpur High School in Deonapur-Sovapur GP, located in Baisnabnagar, Malda, after fleeing from Dhulian, Murshidabad.

“More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad, driven by fear of religiously driven bigots, were forced to flee across the river and take shelter,” Adhikari wrote in a post on X, sharing pictures and video testimonies. One individual featured in the footage alleged his home had been set on fire, and accused police officers of fleeing the scene instead of intervening.

The BJP leader urged authorities to act decisively, calling on the Border Security Force (BSF), state police, and district administration to ensure the safe return of the displaced. “I urge the Central Paramilitary Forces deployed in the district, the State Police, and the district administration to ensure the safe return of these displaced Hindus and protect their lives from this jihadist terror. Bengal is burning. The social fabric is torn. Enough is enough,” he wrote.

He further accused the state government of allowing a breakdown in law and order, stating: “Religious persecution in Bengal is real. Appeasement politics of TMC has emboldened radical elements. Hindus are being hunted, our people are running for their lives in their own land! Shame on the State Government for allowing this breakdown of law & order.”

The Border Security Force has deployed five companies to support state police operations in Murshidabad following violence linked to protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Inspector General of the South Bengal Frontier, Karni Singh Shekhawat, said: “We have to work along with them in this situation... We have sent our five companies to help the police. We are here to help the police, not for independent action. We will act according to the demands of the state police. We hope that peace will be restored here soon.”

The deployment followed a Calcutta High Court order for immediate central force assistance amid the unrest. The court has also directed both the Centre and the West Bengal Government to submit detailed reports, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on 17 April.

The violence in Murshidabad on Friday night reportedly left three people dead, with several vehicles torched during mob clashes. West Bengal Police have stated that the situation is now under control.