A joint investigation by two rights organisations — the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) and the Bandi Mukti Committee — has found serious lapses by the police and security forces during the communal violence that broke out in Samsherganj, Murshidabad, West Bengal on April 11 and 12.
The violence, which took place during the Waqf movement, left three people dead and many injured. There were also reports of homes being looted and set on fire.
In a statement, APCR said, “Victims across communities have unanimously stated that if the police had acted promptly, the violence could have been contained at an early stage and not escalated to such a degree.”
The report also mentions that two people in Jafrabad — Hargobind Das and Chandan Das — died because they didn’t get medical help for more than three hours.
The APCR also raised serious concerns about the role of the Border Security Force (BSF). “Besides the killing of Ijaz Ahmed by BSF personnel, at least 13 other
Muslim citizens suffered grievous injuries from BSF gunfire. Locals claim that BSF
forces wore slippers—a sight never witnessed before—and some suspect that RSS-BJP affiliated militia had infiltrated BSF uniforms. Several injured individuals are not
receiving proper medical treatment,” the APCR said.
Locals told the fact-finding team that some of the BSF personnel wore slippers — something they had never seen before. “Some suspect that RSS-BJP
affiliated militia had infiltrated BSF uniforms,” APCR said.
The report also says that the police are mostly arresting Muslims — even minors — in the name of investigation. “Police are breaking into homes at night, arresting
individuals without issuing arrest memos, and delaying their production in court well
beyond the 24-hour legal limit. During this time, detainees are subjected to severe
custodial assault,” the APCR noted.
The team which looked at nearly 300 FIRs registered after the violence, said that many of the complaints are exactly the same, with only the names changed.
“An analysis of the FIRs reveals copy-paste allegations with identical narratives differing only by name, revealing clear signs of fabrication and communal
bias. Arrests are being made based on these false and Islamophobic complaints,” the organisations said.
The report also warns about efforts to create conflict between Dalits and Muslims. The FIR narratives suggest a deliberate attempt to incite conflict between Dalits and Muslims—a strategy currently being executed nationwide by the RSS and Sangh Parivar forces,” APCR added.
The two organisations have demanded a neutral judicial inquiry, compensation for those killed or injured by BSF firing, and the immediate release of people arrested based on what they say are false FIRs. They also called for an end to police raids, proper legal aid for the poor, and the release of all detained minors.
There has been no official response yet from the police, BSF, or the West Bengal government.
