A Hindu woman from Murshidabad district in West Bengal has alleged that she received a rape threat — surrender her body to sexual assault or risk the lives of her husband and children. Her voice, filled with pain and fear, highlights a deeply disturbing situation that reportedly unfolded amid a surge of communal violence triggered by protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the region.
“They told us — ‘If you let us rape you, we will spare your children and your husband,’” she recounted. The rape threat, allegedly issued by a group of Islamist men during a spate of targeted attacks, left families in terror — particularly women, who became the frontline victims of such abuse. “This is our situation,” she added in a trembling voice. “What else do I tell you? How can we go back home under such circumstances? And if not home, where else do we go?”
‘তোমাদের ইজ্জত আমাদের দিয়ে দাও, স্বামী, সন্তানকে রক্ষা করব’, ভয়ানক অভিজ্ঞতা ঘরহারাদের
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.#reelsviralシfb #waqfnews #waqf #waqfact #waqflaw #Antiwaqfprotest #jangipur #waqfprotest #protestagainstwaqfact #waqfviolence #SutiNews #dhuliyannews #murshidabad #murshidabadNews… pic.twitter.com/afSgcki9tj— Republic Bangla (@BanglaRepublic) April 14, 2025
Another woman from the same area echoed her trauma, alleging that she and other Hindu women were given rape threats and told to “give up their izzat (honour)” if they wanted their families to survive. These disturbing accounts paint a grim picture of helplessness and fear gripping certain communities in Murshidabad — a district that has witnessed intermittent communal tensions over the years.
Tensions turned lives upside down in Murshidabad
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.
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.
