Bhangar, West Bengal: Tensions ran high in Bhangar on Monday after a protest demanding the withdrawal of the Wakf Amendment Bill turned violent. Members of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), reportedly led by Naushad Siddiqui, clashed with police on Basanti Highway. Following a night-long crackdown, 9 individuals were arrested by the Kolkata Police for violence, vandalism, and attacking police personnel.
According to police sources, three arrests were made late Monday night, followed by six more detentions in early morning raids. The arrested individuals face charges including destruction of public property, spreading violence, and obstructing government officials from duty.
The situation remained tense on Tuesday across Bhangar, especially in Shonpur and the Basanti Highway area, where burnt police vans and charred motorbikes still lay scattered. While police claimed the situation was under full control, heavy deployment and patrolling continued.
Violence in Bhangar Over Wakf Protest: 9 Arrested for Attacking Police, Tension Prevails
The violence stemmed from an ISF protest gathering at Ramlila Maidan in Sealdah, where supporters had been called in to oppose the Wakf Amendment Bill. As the rally proceeded, protesters clashed with police after being stopped at a checkpoint on Basanti Highway. Reports allege that ISF members broke barricades, leading to police retaliation with lathi-charge. One ISF member allegedly sustained a head injury during the scuffle.
Protests escalated rapidly with angry mobs vandalizing CCTV cameras, overturning a prison van, setting five bikes ablaze, and attacking police officers—five of whom were injured.
In response, police launched a night-long manhunt to identify and arrest those responsible. State authorities, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have issued repeated appeals for peace, with a clear warning that no violence will be tolerated. The state police have also stated they are operating with a “zero tolerance” policy toward provocation or incitement of unrest.
As a precautionary step, peace committees have been formed at the local level, comprising members of various communities and political parties, to help restore normalcy and report any attempts to trigger violence.
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