'Trinamool-led mobs targeted Hindus in Murshidabad'

The report by a three-member committee appointed by the Calcutta High Court has revealed how Hindus were targeted at the behest of Trinamool Congress leaders in Murshidabad district in West Bengal, leading to three deaths and widespread destruction of property.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

The violence in Murshidabad district broke out on April 8 in areas like Dhulian, Suti, and Samserganj over protests against the newly promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The report by the committee set up by the Calcutta High Court for identification and rehabilitation of victims of anti-Waqf protests-related violence in Murshidabad district in April was submitted in a sealed envelope to the High Court bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury.

It reveals damning details of how Hindus were targeted and says that the local police were "inactive and absent" during the incidents at Dhulian on April 11.

It also mentions that a local councillor directed the attacks at Dhulian town in Murshidabad. The report, submitted to the High Court by the three-member committee, stated that a garments mall in Dhulian was also looted. Noting that the "main attack" occurred on the afternoon of April 11, the report said: "Local police were completely inactive and absent." The panel, comprising Joginder Singh, Registrar, (Law), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Satya Arnab Ghosal, member secretary, West Bengal Legal Services Authority (WBLSA) and Saugata Chakraborty, Registrar, WBJS, submitted the report to the High Court last week after visiting the affected areas and speaking to the victims as directed by the Division Bench hearing the matter.

The report reveals that all the attacks were carried out on Friday, April 11, from 2 PM onwards, allegedly under instructions from local councillor Mehbub Alam.

The police and administration remained inactive.

Mehbub Alam reportedly arrived at the scene with the miscreants and personally oversaw the destruction of homes. The local MLA is said to have supervised the vandalism to ensure it was being executed as intended.

After observing the destruction alongside the attackers, he left the scene.