NEW DELHI: At least three people were killed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district as protests against the Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Act spiraled into violence over the weekend, prompting chief minister Mamata Banerjee to declare that the law will not be implemented in the state.
The recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has triggered a wave of protests and legal confrontations across India, with political parties, religious organizations, and civil society groups voicing concern over its implications for minority rights and religious freedoms.
ALSO READ: What is Waqf (Amendment) Bill? All you need to know
While the Centre has defended the legislation as a historic reform, critics claim it enables state overreach into Muslim endowments and threatens the secular fabric of the Constitution.
From courtroom battles in Delhi and Calcutta to violent street protests in Bengal and Rajasthan, here’s a detailed look at the top developments:
MHA deploys central forces after Calcutta HC order
Shortly after the Calcutta High Court approved the deployment of central forces in riot-hit Murshidabad, Union home secretary Govind Mohan stated that apart from nearly 300 Border Security Force personnel locally available in Murshidabad, additional five Companies have been deployed at the request of the state sovernment.
Mohan, who held a video conference with Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal, advised the state administration to keep a close watch on other sensitive districts also, and to put in place adequate steps to ensure normalcy at the earliest.
He also stated that the Centre is closely monitoring the situation and assured the state all possible assistance including deployment of additional manpower, if necessary, the ministry of home affairs said in a statement.
The West Bengal DGP briefed that the situation was tense but under control and was being monitored closely. The DGP further stated that he is taking the assistance of BSF posted locally, and that more than 150 persons have been arrested, the MHA said.
People dead in Waqf-related violence in Bengal’s Murshidabad
A father and son, were killed in West Bengal's Murshidabad district after violent clashes, reportedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The victims were found with multiple stab wounds inside their home in Jafrabad, a locality in the violence-stricken Samserganj area. The family claims that miscreants looted their house before fatally stabbing the two.
In a separate incident, another individual suffered a bullet injury earlier in Dhulian, Samserganj. The district has seen widespread unrest, with large-scale violence erupting on Friday in Samserganj and Suti areas during protests against the contentious law.
ALSO READ: Calcutta HC intervenes, ‘We cannot stay silent’; deploys central forces amid Waqf Act protests
The state has so far arrested 118 individuals linked to the unrest. While officials initially said one person had sustained a bullet injury, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim later confirmed two deaths, without clarifying whether police firing was involved. He suggested the possibility of shots being fired from the BSF side but said the source was still under investigation.
"These are early reports that we need to cross-check,” Shamim said, adding that the injured were receiving treatment and that the situation remained tense.
Calcutta HC orders deployment of central forces in Murshidabad
The Calcutta high court on Saturday ordered the deployment of central paramilitary forces in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following large-scale violence during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The decision came after a special hearing was held on a court holiday in response to a petition filed by Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
“In view of the large-scale communal riots spreading like wildfire across West Bengal, I had sought immediate intervention from the state government for the requisition of central paramilitary forces. The state government did not accept it. With no other option, I approached the High Court for an urgent hearing,” Adhikari said after the order.
A division bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chaudhary heard the matter and accepted his plea, ordering immediate deployment of central forces in the violence-hit areas.
Mamata refuses to implement Act, blames Centre
Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that her government will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the state, amid spiraling violence in Muslim-majority districts like Murshidabad. “We did not make this law. It was brought by the Centre. So what is the riot about?” Mamata asked in a post on X.
“We do not condone any violent activity. My appeal to all religions: remain calm and restrained. Do not fall prey to provocation,” Mamata said, accusing “some political parties” of misusing religion for political gain.
Four rounds were reportedly fired by police on Friday, injuring two. Vehicles were torched, roads blocked, and stones hurled at police in districts like Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly. DGP Rajeev Kumar said strong action would follow and urged people not to fall for "rumour mongering."
BJP attacks TMC, demands NIA probe into murshidabad violence
Meanwhile, political leaders have sharply reacted to the ongoing violence.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi commented on the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling the protests in West Bengal a political ploy. "After completing all the constitutional procedures in a systematic manner, the Waqf Bill came to Parliament, was discussed by the JPC, and passed by both Houses. It then received the President's approval and became law. Yet, some are using it for political gain. It is sad that this is happening only in West Bengal. This raises the question if Mamata Banerjee’s politics is becoming a challenge for the entire country," he said.
Suvendu Adhikari moves Calcutta High Court
In response to the growing violence, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking deployment of central forces in the state. “With communal riots spreading rapidly across West Bengal, I sought immediate intervention from the state government for central paramilitary forces. When the state government didn’t act, I approached the High Court for urgent intervention. My plea has been accepted, and the division bench will hear the PIL,” he said.
Adhikari also wrote to the railway minister demanding an NIA probe into vandalism in Murshidabad, alleging a “premeditated assault by jihadist forces.”
“This wasn’t protest—it was an attack on democracy and governance,” Adhikari posted on X.
ALSO READ | President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said the TMC government was enabling the unrest through appeasement. “When BJP comes to power, we will crush such vandalism in five minutes,” he warned.
AIMIM protests in Jaipur over 'targeting' of Muslim community
After Friday prayers, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) staged a peaceful protest in Jaipur's Bhatta Basti area to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Rajasthan AIMIM chief Jameel Khan alleged that the legislation is an attempt by the Centre to take control of Waqf assets and marginalize Muslims.
“This legislation is not about reform, but about reinforcing a broader agenda of exclusion and injustice against Muslims,” said Khan. “We will continue to assert our democratic right to peaceful protest and also launch a public awareness campaign.”
Khan said that their demonstration aimed to urge citizens and lawmakers alike to reassess the broader impact of the amendment on minority rights and social harmony.
Congress, Muslim bodies call act 'unconstitutional'
The Congress party has pledged to challenge the Act, calling it a violation of the Constitution’s basic structure.
“The law is part of a broader agenda to polarize the country on religious lines,” said Congress leader Swadesh Sharma.
“Just as public sector units were sold off to industrialist friends, this law seeks to gift donated lands to a few.”
Several Muslim organizations, including the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and Indian Union Muslim League, have announced plans to take legal recourse, while protests continue across states.
Congress MP Imran Masood, commenting on the unrest, condemned the violence while emphasizing the fight for the Constitution. “We are staunchly against violence. This is not just a fight for Muslims but for the Constitution. The BJP trampled on the Constitution with the Waqf Act. This is about protecting the Constitution, not a political agenda,” he said
National Conference moves Supreme Court; multiple petitions pending
The National Conference (NC), currently in power in Jammu & Kashmir, has petitioned the Supreme Court, calling the Act a "constitutionally alarming interference" in Muslim religious affairs. NC MLAs Arjun Singh Raju, Hilal Akbar Lone, and others filed a writ on April 11.
“On the directions of Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah... our MLAs have filed a writ petition seeking justice,” the NC posted on X.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's bench is set to hear a clutch of similar petitions on April 16. Other challengers include AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, SDPI, AAP's Amanatullah Khan, and civil rights organizations.
Hindu Sena backs act, files intervention plea in SC
In contrast, Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta filed an intervention application in support of the Act, arguing that the original Waqf Act enabled wrongful claims on non-Muslim property.
“The unamended provision of the Waqf Act, 1995, caused serious prejudice to the rights and interests of non-Muslims,” read the plea.
The plea contends that the 2025 amendment restores justice to non-Muslims whose properties were allegedly misclassified as Waqf assets.
Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board to issue notices to 2,000 occupants
In Bhopal, MP Waqf Board chairman Sanwar Patel said the board is preparing to serve notices to nearly 2,000 people for illegal occupation of Waqf properties.
“Out of 15,008 Waqf properties in the state, most are occupied. We’ll ask them to vacate or become legal tenants, failing which action will follow under the new law,” Patel told ANI.
He accused several Congress leaders, including a national president and AIMIM chief Owaisi, of occupying such properties. Patel also cited an RRC (Revenue Recovery Certificate) of Rs 7.11 crore against Congress leader Riyaz Khan.
The recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has triggered a wave of protests and legal confrontations across India, with political parties, religious organizations, and civil society groups voicing concern over its implications for minority rights and religious freedoms.
ALSO READ: What is Waqf (Amendment) Bill? All you need to know
While the Centre has defended the legislation as a historic reform, critics claim it enables state overreach into Muslim endowments and threatens the secular fabric of the Constitution.
From courtroom battles in Delhi and Calcutta to violent street protests in Bengal and Rajasthan, here’s a detailed look at the top developments:
MHA deploys central forces after Calcutta HC order
Shortly after the Calcutta High Court approved the deployment of central forces in riot-hit Murshidabad, Union home secretary Govind Mohan stated that apart from nearly 300 Border Security Force personnel locally available in Murshidabad, additional five Companies have been deployed at the request of the state sovernment.
Mohan, who held a video conference with Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal, advised the state administration to keep a close watch on other sensitive districts also, and to put in place adequate steps to ensure normalcy at the earliest.
He also stated that the Centre is closely monitoring the situation and assured the state all possible assistance including deployment of additional manpower, if necessary, the ministry of home affairs said in a statement.
The West Bengal DGP briefed that the situation was tense but under control and was being monitored closely. The DGP further stated that he is taking the assistance of BSF posted locally, and that more than 150 persons have been arrested, the MHA said.
People dead in Waqf-related violence in Bengal’s Murshidabad
A father and son, were killed in West Bengal's Murshidabad district after violent clashes, reportedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The victims were found with multiple stab wounds inside their home in Jafrabad, a locality in the violence-stricken Samserganj area. The family claims that miscreants looted their house before fatally stabbing the two.
In a separate incident, another individual suffered a bullet injury earlier in Dhulian, Samserganj. The district has seen widespread unrest, with large-scale violence erupting on Friday in Samserganj and Suti areas during protests against the contentious law.
ALSO READ: Calcutta HC intervenes, ‘We cannot stay silent’; deploys central forces amid Waqf Act protests
The state has so far arrested 118 individuals linked to the unrest. While officials initially said one person had sustained a bullet injury, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim later confirmed two deaths, without clarifying whether police firing was involved. He suggested the possibility of shots being fired from the BSF side but said the source was still under investigation.
"These are early reports that we need to cross-check,” Shamim said, adding that the injured were receiving treatment and that the situation remained tense.
Calcutta HC orders deployment of central forces in Murshidabad
The Calcutta high court on Saturday ordered the deployment of central paramilitary forces in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following large-scale violence during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The decision came after a special hearing was held on a court holiday in response to a petition filed by Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
“In view of the large-scale communal riots spreading like wildfire across West Bengal, I had sought immediate intervention from the state government for the requisition of central paramilitary forces. The state government did not accept it. With no other option, I approached the High Court for an urgent hearing,” Adhikari said after the order.
#BreakingNews | #Murshidabad anti-Waqf protest: Calcutta High Court orders deployment of central forces in Murshidabad.
— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 12, 2025
Special hearing held on a holiday following @SuvenduWB’s petition. pic.twitter.com/4G2hKx2RcR
A division bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chaudhary heard the matter and accepted his plea, ordering immediate deployment of central forces in the violence-hit areas.
Mamata refuses to implement Act, blames Centre
Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that her government will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the state, amid spiraling violence in Muslim-majority districts like Murshidabad. “We did not make this law. It was brought by the Centre. So what is the riot about?” Mamata asked in a post on X.
“We do not condone any violent activity. My appeal to all religions: remain calm and restrained. Do not fall prey to provocation,” Mamata said, accusing “some political parties” of misusing religion for political gain.
Four rounds were reportedly fired by police on Friday, injuring two. Vehicles were torched, roads blocked, and stones hurled at police in districts like Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly. DGP Rajeev Kumar said strong action would follow and urged people not to fall for "rumour mongering."
BJP attacks TMC, demands NIA probe into murshidabad violence
Meanwhile, political leaders have sharply reacted to the ongoing violence.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi commented on the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling the protests in West Bengal a political ploy. "After completing all the constitutional procedures in a systematic manner, the Waqf Bill came to Parliament, was discussed by the JPC, and passed by both Houses. It then received the President's approval and became law. Yet, some are using it for political gain. It is sad that this is happening only in West Bengal. This raises the question if Mamata Banerjee’s politics is becoming a challenge for the entire country," he said.
Suvendu Adhikari moves Calcutta High Court
In response to the growing violence, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking deployment of central forces in the state. “With communal riots spreading rapidly across West Bengal, I sought immediate intervention from the state government for central paramilitary forces. When the state government didn’t act, I approached the High Court for urgent intervention. My plea has been accepted, and the division bench will hear the PIL,” he said.
Adhikari also wrote to the railway minister demanding an NIA probe into vandalism in Murshidabad, alleging a “premeditated assault by jihadist forces.”
“This wasn’t protest—it was an attack on democracy and governance,” Adhikari posted on X.
ALSO READ | President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said the TMC government was enabling the unrest through appeasement. “When BJP comes to power, we will crush such vandalism in five minutes,” he warned.
AIMIM protests in Jaipur over 'targeting' of Muslim community
After Friday prayers, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) staged a peaceful protest in Jaipur's Bhatta Basti area to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Rajasthan AIMIM chief Jameel Khan alleged that the legislation is an attempt by the Centre to take control of Waqf assets and marginalize Muslims.
“This legislation is not about reform, but about reinforcing a broader agenda of exclusion and injustice against Muslims,” said Khan. “We will continue to assert our democratic right to peaceful protest and also launch a public awareness campaign.”
Khan said that their demonstration aimed to urge citizens and lawmakers alike to reassess the broader impact of the amendment on minority rights and social harmony.
Congress, Muslim bodies call act 'unconstitutional'
The Congress party has pledged to challenge the Act, calling it a violation of the Constitution’s basic structure.
“The law is part of a broader agenda to polarize the country on religious lines,” said Congress leader Swadesh Sharma.
“Just as public sector units were sold off to industrialist friends, this law seeks to gift donated lands to a few.”
Several Muslim organizations, including the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and Indian Union Muslim League, have announced plans to take legal recourse, while protests continue across states.
Congress MP Imran Masood, commenting on the unrest, condemned the violence while emphasizing the fight for the Constitution. “We are staunchly against violence. This is not just a fight for Muslims but for the Constitution. The BJP trampled on the Constitution with the Waqf Act. This is about protecting the Constitution, not a political agenda,” he said
National Conference moves Supreme Court; multiple petitions pending
The National Conference (NC), currently in power in Jammu & Kashmir, has petitioned the Supreme Court, calling the Act a "constitutionally alarming interference" in Muslim religious affairs. NC MLAs Arjun Singh Raju, Hilal Akbar Lone, and others filed a writ on April 11.
“On the directions of Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah... our MLAs have filed a writ petition seeking justice,” the NC posted on X.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's bench is set to hear a clutch of similar petitions on April 16. Other challengers include AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, SDPI, AAP's Amanatullah Khan, and civil rights organizations.
Hindu Sena backs act, files intervention plea in SC
In contrast, Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta filed an intervention application in support of the Act, arguing that the original Waqf Act enabled wrongful claims on non-Muslim property.
“The unamended provision of the Waqf Act, 1995, caused serious prejudice to the rights and interests of non-Muslims,” read the plea.
#WATCH | Indore, Madhya Pradesh: On Murshidabad violence, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "After completing all the constitutional procedures in a systematic manner, the Waqf Bill came to the Parliament and then went to the JPC. The JPC discussed it in detail, then both the Houses… pic.twitter.com/0aqz6UftfP
— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2025
The plea contends that the 2025 amendment restores justice to non-Muslims whose properties were allegedly misclassified as Waqf assets.
Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board to issue notices to 2,000 occupants
In Bhopal, MP Waqf Board chairman Sanwar Patel said the board is preparing to serve notices to nearly 2,000 people for illegal occupation of Waqf properties.
“Out of 15,008 Waqf properties in the state, most are occupied. We’ll ask them to vacate or become legal tenants, failing which action will follow under the new law,” Patel told ANI.
He accused several Congress leaders, including a national president and AIMIM chief Owaisi, of occupying such properties. Patel also cited an RRC (Revenue Recovery Certificate) of Rs 7.11 crore against Congress leader Riyaz Khan.
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