Consider constitutional choices to prevent violence spillover from Murhidabad: WB Governor Reporting Center

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, File | Image Source: ANI

Governor CV Ananda Bose, concerned about the spillover of violence toward Merhidabad in other parts of West Bengal, advised the center to consider “the constitutional choice is not only to examine the coronavirus, but also to create confidence in people in the rule of law”.

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From April 11 to 12, community violence broke out in Dhulian and Samserganj areas of Murshidabad, taking away three lives and leaving hundreds homeless.

In his special report on public riots sent to the Union Government, visited Hindus, The governor made three recommendations: to develop “a general legislation that empowers the coalition government to uphold laws and orders when state institutions fail to take effective action”; to appoint a committee of inquiry under the 1952 Commission of Inquiry to investigate reported negligence and the Commission’s bill and propose measures to prevent such incidents in the future; and to establish posts for the Border Security Force (BSF) in vulnerable areas.

At the end of his report, the governor mentioned Article 356 of the Constitution without using it as a recommendation, which stipulates that the presidential rule be imposed in a state. “No additional is needed, and the provisions under Article 356 of the Constitution still exist,” the report said.

BSF is required

The governor visited the violence-affected areas on April 18 and 19, where he interacted with the people affected by the violence and listened to their requests, including permanent deployment of the BSF.

In the report, the governor called for “restoration/establishment of central forces’ outposts/BSF’s outposts on its jurisdictional restrictions in areas with fragile international borders”. He added: “From my wilderness visits to areas affected by the riots and interactions with the aggrieved, it seems like a felt of need. This serious requirement may be investigated.”

State Government Action

The report lists details on how the state government is aware of the “threat to be established to the law and order of Mershidabad”, including rallies protesting against the WAQF (Amendment) bill and a temporary suspension of the internet in early April.

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“According to reports, a total of 138 FIRs had been sent until 22.04.2025, and the total number of violent arrests had exceeded 300. Four people, including the main defendants, were arrested in the father duo who targeted Jafrabad's killing.” He added that the national government had identified 109 houses or buildings affected by the violence.

The governor noted that the state government had taken action to control the situation and restore order, but added that there was an urgent need for the Centre to take strong measures, including a strict vigil on the border.

“Religiously driven political narrative”

“The atrocities caused appear to be systematic and intended to undermine the identity of a particular group,” the report said. The governor said the way that “people are ruthlessly subjected to forced displacement and conditions caused by physical destruction of their own identity” is called an attempt at “cultural erasure.”

The report added that the state's political narrative has now become “religiously driven” and argues that the fierce political competition between the ruling party and the opposition has led to increasingly using “religious identities to consolidate their voter base.”

The governor said these issues would lead to an outbreak of community tensions, which would be exacerbated by the state’s failure to curb hate speech or enforce the law and impartially enforce order. He warned that this situation is driving West Bengal's electoral strategy to rely more on division rather than cliffs of development.