Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the deployment of central paramilitary forces in Murshidabad to restore order following large-scale communal violence across several districts in West Bengal over the Waqf Amendment Act.

The decision came during a special hearing held on a court holiday, after Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari moved a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent central intervention.

“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... My prayer has been accepted and a division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chaudhary will hear the PIL filed by me,” Adhikari stated.

Division bench formed despite court holiday

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Adhikari’s lawyers sought the direct attention of the Chief Justice. In response, a special division bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chaudhary was constituted even on a court holiday.

Following the hearing, the bench passed an order directing the deployment of Central forces in Murshidabad, which had turned into a flashpoint of violence.

According to the order, both the police and central forces will jointly work to restore peace in the affected regions.

State government claims situation is under control

During the hearing, the court gave the state government 30 minutes to present its view on the possible deployment of central paramilitary forces.

The state, however, maintained that central assistance was not necessary.

It informed the bench that Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar himself had left for Murshidabad to oversee the situation.

Nonetheless, the court ruled in favour of deploying central forces, stating: “When such complaints are placed before the court, it cannot close its eyes.”

Violence erupts over new legislation

The order followed a day of intense unrest across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts, where protests against a Waqf Amendment Act escalated into violent clashes.

Protesters torched police vans and other vehicles, pelted stones at security personnel, and blocked roads, bringing normal life to a standstill.

Security has since been heightened in Murshidabad’s Jangipur, especially in the Dhuliyan-Ratanpur area, after protests over the Waqf Act turned violent.

The state government also informed the court that 138 arrests had been made so far and claimed the situation was under control.