Latika Mondal, 35, from Dhulian in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, has no idea when—or if—she’ll be able to return home. “We don’t even know what’s left of our house,” said Latika, now staying with her husband and three children at a relief camp set up in Parlalpur High School in Deonapur, Malda district. The family fled their home on April 12, and travelled nearly 50 km to reach the safety of the camp.
“We were all hiding on the terrace as the violence broke out. They vandalised every house, including ours,” said Latika. “That moment filled us with a deep fear. We know things are only going to get worse—our house was spared this time, but next time it could be set on fire. How can anyone live with that constant fear? We left everything behind and took a boat to reach this camp.”
Around 400 people have taken refuge in the relief camp after violence broke out in the Dhulian and Samserganj areas of Murshidabad district over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. On April 14, several civil society groups visited the camp to distribute clothes and dry food to those displaced by the unrest.
Among the visitors was West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, who claimed that the violence was carried out by “fundamentalist forces” masquerading as protestors, leaving many families homeless. “Initially, 200 to 250 families had taken shelter here. Now, due to police pressure to shut down the camp and hide Mamata Banerjee’s failure, only 70 to 75 families remain. They are still living in fear,” he alleged.
The West Bengal police have stated that people who had taken shelter in camps across the river have begun returning home as the situation gradually stabilises. According to Additional Director General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim, 17 individuals have returned to their residences so far, and no major incidents have been reported in the past 36 hours.
However, around 50 kilometres south of the camps in Dhulian, the atmosphere remains tense. Roads are largely deserted, shops remain shut, and visible signs of recent violence mark the streets. Security forces, including the Border Security Force and the Rapid Action Force, continue to maintain a strong presence in the area.
Debris from shattered glass and other remnants of the violence that erupted on April 11 and April 12 still litter the streets. Senior West Bengal police officials have been making public announcements urging residents to return to normal life and reopen their businesses. However, fear continues to grip the community. Locals say they are afraid to step out or reopen their shops as the threat of another attack looms large, keeping them awake at night.
Residents of Dhulian have demanded the permanent deployment of Border Security Force personnel in the area and called for the restoration of internet services. Tensions remain high, especially after a deadly clash between two communities in Dhulian’s Jaffrabad area on April 11, where a father and son were brutally hacked to death.
“I’ve been running a fried food stall here for decades. They destroyed everything,” said Savita Ghosh, 45, from Ghoshpara in Dhulian. “They took whatever was left—cash, chairs, benches, table, gas cylinder—everything. I’ve lost goods worth Rs 30,000. Even though the shutter was down, they broke the locks and ransacked it all.” Ghosh has yet to clear the wreckage of her shop.
“We called the police several times. The station is just a few metres away, but no one came. How are we supposed to survive now? My entire family depended on this,” she added.
Violence in West Bengal erupted primarily over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which aimed to alter the management of Waqf properties. The bill sparked widespread protests across parts of the state, particularly in Murshidabad. Tensions grew between communities, exacerbated by rumours, misinformation, and pre-existing mistrust. Initially, peaceful demonstrations soon escalated into violent clashes between groups. The protests turned into arson, with shops and homes being vandalised and looted. On April 11 and 12, violence reached its peak in Dhulian and Samserganj areas, leading to fatalities and mass displacement. The attacks left residents fearing for their lives, prompting many to flee their homes and seek shelter in nearby camps. Political leaders from opposing parties blamed each other for stoking the unrest. Despite the presence of heavy police and security forces, locals continue to live in fear, with demands for permanent security measures and restored internet services.
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