Kolkata

The West Bengal government on Thursday told the Calcutta High Court that the law and order situation in Murshidabad, recently hit by communal violence, is currently under control. A report to this effect was submitted before a division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, who alleged that bomb blasts had occurred during communal clashes in the Muslim-majority district. He urged the court to transfer the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), citing the serious nature of the violence.

Defending its position, the state government informed the court that sufficient measures have been taken by both the police and district administration to contain the unrest and restore peace in the area.

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing the central government requested that the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Murshidabad be extended, given the continuing sensitivity of the situation on the ground.

Around 17 companies of central forces currently remain deployed in the trouble-torn pockets of Suti, Samserganj-Dhulian in Murshidabad.

Another petitioner prayed for steps by the state government for the return of people displaced by the violence to their homes.

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The state submitted that some of the affected families have already returned to their homes.

Several people have taken shelter in a school-turned-relief camp in adjoining Malda district after escaping the violence that took place during anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests in Murshidabad in the past few days, the petitioner claimed.