Nawshad Siddique, MLA of the Secular Front in India. document
Nawshad Siddique is an MLA belonging to the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and is named in the West Bengal Police Registered FIR for the recent violence in Bhangar. The total number of people related to the incident has climbed to 17.
Condemning the violence, Bhangar’s Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla shared a video accusing ISF workers of inciting protesters and assaulting police officers.
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However, Mr Sidick said the protesters who were “unarmed and peaceful” were arrested. “We comply with the law, but we won’t let this slide,” Mr Sidick said.
According to police sources, 12 of the accused were arrested in the northern Kashgarbha police station area. Eight of the 12 people have been detained by police on April 15, while four others gave birth in court on Wednesday. A man was arrested in the Chandnaswar Police Department area. The other four were detained in the Hatishala Police Station area and gave birth in court on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Until Tuesday, the arrests were at nine o’clock. Police are conducting detailed search operations in all localities to arrest more defendants.
On April 14, violence broke out in the South 24 Parganas Bhangar when anti-Waqf (Amendment) protests turned violent. ISF supporters allegedly caught fire at protest sites, which led to further conflict.
A protest gathering called by ISF leader Mr. Siddique broke out in violence. After ISF supporters stopped attending the party, they began to clash.
In the Sonepur Bazaar area of Bhangar, a mob allegedly attacked police officers and burned five police officers and prison vans.
At least 16 police officers in the clash were reportedly injured.
On April 15, the remains of the burnt police car and bicycles were removed from the streets of Bangal as the area slowly returned to normal.
Bhangar’s Trinamool Congress MLA and observer Saokat Molla shared a video accusing ISF workers of inciting violence and attacking police and condemning the bill. “I ask the Kolkata Police Commissioner to arrest all the persons in charge and punish them as soon as possible,” Mr Mora said on Tuesday.
Mr Siddique added that they were not armed and peaceful protesters were arrested. “We comply with the law, but we won’t let this slide,” Mr Sidick said.
Return to normal
Meanwhile, Murshidabad did not report new violence as anti-Waqf (Anti-Waqf (Amendment) bill protests led to protests in the Dhulian and Samsherganj districts. About 400 people fled to the nearby Malda district to find shelter in the camp.
Amid the main tensions, about 230 people have been arrested as central armed police have been maintaining surveillance.
With the vague tensions, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with Imams and Muezzins on Wednesday to discuss the WAQF (Amendment) Act, reiterating that the bill will not be implemented in the state.
Ms Banerjee said Imams and Muezzins had a duty to ensure that “no one was angry at what the BJP said” and called on the state to establish peace and public harmony.
The All-Indian Muslim Private Law Commission (AIMPLB) gathered at the trip venue in Kolkata on April 26, which was initially cancelled on April 15 amid political and public tensions and resumed on Wednesday.
publishing – April 16, 2025 11:33 pm isst
