In the wake of recent communal unrest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called for calm and unity, urging people not to fall prey to provocation or misinformation.
“One shouldn’t play games with religion. Dharma means devotion, affection, humanity, peace, amity, culture, harmony, and unity. Loving human beings is one of the highest expressions of any religion. We are born alone and we die alone; so why the fight? Why the riots, war, or unrest? Remember, one can win everything if we love people. But if we isolate ourselves, we won’t be able to win anyone,” she remarked, as per news agency ANI.
She further urged citizens to uphold law and order, stating, “Everyone has the right to hold peaceful protests with permission. But I appeal to everyone irrespective of who they are, to not take lthe aw into their hands. We have custodians of the law; we do not need those who operate outside it. This is why I request that when someone tries to incite you, do not fall for the trap. Those who keep their minds calm amid all provocation are the real winners. That is real victory.”
As reported by The Economic Times, she remarked, “Every caste and religion has the right to protest, but do not take law into your hands. Some people are trying to mislead you, do not pay attention to them.”
The Chief Minister highlighted her government’s commitment to preserving peace and inclusive development. “There was development in Furfura Sharif, a Gurudwara is being built in Bhawanipur. Religions can be different but celebrations are for everyone,” she noted. She also addressed concerns over the stalled skywalk project at the Tarapith pilgrimage site, clarifying, “The construction of the skywalk at Tarapith is not going through because the road there is narrow.”
Taking a dig at those questioning her religious visits, she said, “But why is my name and caste changed whenever I visit some place?”
Amid the escalating tensions, residents of Dhuliyan in Murshidabad shared harrowing experiences. Khusbhu Das, a local resident, told ANI, “Both our shops and house were burnt. Everything was vandalised. We called the police and fire brigade to douse the fire, but no one picked up our calls. We want a permanent camp (of the BSF) here so that this does not happen again. We want to live here peacefully.”
#WATCH | Murshidabad, West Bengal: Khusbhu Das, a resident of Dhuliyan, says, “Both our shops and house were burnt. Everything was vandalized. We called the police and fire brigade to douse the fire, but no one picked up our calls. We want a permanent camp (of the BSF) here so… https://t.co/BUatLHRFta pic.twitter.com/xySeh0waWL
— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2025
Visuals from the Dhuliyan town of the Jangipur subdivision of the Murshidabad district, where violence broke out during a protest against Waqf Amendment Act on April 11 also surfaced.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Visuals from Dhuliyan town of Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad district, where violence broke out during a protest against Waqf Amendment Act on April 11
Security personnel have been deployed here, and as per the officials, the situation is under… pic.twitter.com/9QZURVp6SJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2025
BSF Visits Violence-Hit Areas In Murshidabad, Meets Bengal Top Cop
In response to the situation, senior officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) visited the affected areas on Monday, offering assurances of safety and support. As per news agency PTI, a BSF delegation led by Additional Director General (East) Ravi Gandhi toured disturbed pockets under Suti and Samserganj police station areas, including Dhuliyan.
“We spoke to people and assured them of their safety and security. We interacted with the locals and our jawans posted there. The situation is slowly returning to normal,” Gandhi told PTI. He added that some residents had voiced concerns about disturbances at night, to which the BSF had promised full assistance and steps to plug any security gaps.
Gandhi also met with West Bengal’s Director General of Police and other senior officials to formulate a joint strategy aimed at intensifying patrols and strengthening coordination with the state police. “We are working in close coordination with the state police to ensure the return of normalcy,” he said.
The South Bengal Frontier of the BSF stated that Gandhi had expressed sympathy with the victims and assured them that their safety and needs would be prioritised. He lauded BSF personnel for their efforts in controlling the unrest and emphasised the importance of vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
“In view of the current situation in Murshidabad district, Gandhi appeared very serious to ensure tight security of the international border and cautioned officials against any laxity,” the BSF said in its statement.
During his interaction with the media, Gandhi reiterated the BSF’s commitment to restoring peace and supporting civil administration. “The safety of citizens is of top priority and any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated,” he asserted.
