Merhidabad Violence Victims Worry about Security, State Must Ensure Protection: Kolkata HC

Central troops marched on routes at Betbona Village, Dhulian, Murshidabad from 11 to 12 April. Image source: Debasish Bhaduri

The Kolkata High Court noted that victims of violence in Merhidabad were anxious about the safety of areas affected by violence and said that their recovery, safety and protection must be ensured.

“They should be restored to their original place after restoring confidence in the system. In the interregnum, the State must ensure proper shelter and accommodation to the victim. Upon restoration and rehabilitation, the State must ensure their safety and security. It should be the duty of the administration to ensure peace, harmony and protection of the property and lives of the victims,” a Division Bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury stated on Thursday (May 15).

Violence broke out in the Samsherganj Police Department area in Merhidabad after protests against the passage of the WAQF (Amendment) Act of 2025.

On April 12, a father and son were killed in Jafrabad, Samsherganj, and another died in police fire in the Sue Sex Police Department area during the violence.

Reports directed in the Kolkata High Court in April to restore normal and rehabilitation reports of victims. It comes from each member of the National Human Rights Commission, the West Bengal Human Rights Commission and the State Legal Services Bureau.

“Premedy of destruction and massacre”

In the order of May 15, the court stated: “The premeditation of vandalism and the Holocaust revealed from the committee’s report, which seemed to be an organized crime.”

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The report and video footage submitted by the Commission also pointed out the serious damage to property and livelihoods in Betbona Village, Palpara and Ghoshpara in the Samsherganj area. It was also observed from the committee’s report that several houses were destroyed, the sources of people’s livelihoods were taken away, and every possible “theft and plundering impunity” action.

The Kolkata High Court observed: “Victims appear to be in a state of regret… From the report, the victims are not very dissatisfied with the relief measures at the moment, but they are anxious that there is a meaningful presence of their suffering.”

The court noted that the state should pay attention to the anxiety expressed by the victims and take appropriate measures in this regard.

“Permanent BSF camp should be considered”

Meanwhile, the Kolkata High Court stressed the committee’s observations on the role of police and said “consider” the victim’s need for the Border Security Force permanent camp (BSF).

“The report submitted by the Commission raises a serious problem with the large number of cases arising from violence…The Commission believes that there may be a reasonable negative view on the performance of police officers because the facts pay attention to the team The facts draw attention to people… Shocking and painful pain and trials are lawsuits involved in the faces of people suffering and the general police.

As of May 16, West Bengal police have arrested 353 people related to mob violence, with a total of 13 arrests involving the murder of father duo Hargobind Das and Chandan Das on April 12 at the home of Samsherganj’s Jafrabad.

It is also worth noting that the bereavement family of DAS who refused compensation in the state had requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry from the Kolkata High Court.

The petition was earlier issued by Judge Tirthankar Ghosh’s single bench, as the aforementioned court had heard about matters related to the affairs of Merhidabad. However, on May 15, the courts of Justice Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury also released the issue and put it before the Chief Justice.

State compensation

The state noted in a court affidavit that as many as 1,093 social media accounts have been blocked since April 11.

According to Kalyan Bandopadhyay, a lawyer representing the state, the government has also formulated a rehabilitation project and approved the sum of Rs 3,69,60,000 to restore nearly 283 families until now to rebuild the houses under its “Banglar Bari Plan”.

Mr. Bandopadhyay also attracted the attention of the court, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed over a check worth Rs 1.2 lakh to 283 households, as well as 40 sewing machines and 40 victims of the riots during his recent visit to the area.

After the Chief Minister’s visit, a large police battalion was also set up in the riot area of ​​Samsherganj.