Anti-Waqf Act protest caused parts of Murshidabad to burn for the third consecutive day on Saturday, with three deaths and four injuries reported so far amid largescale violence, loot and arson in towns bordering Bangladesh. The Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered deployment of central forces in the central Bengal district, directing the Mamata Banerjee Government to deploy more such forces if required in other districts. Muslims constitute about 67 perc ent of the population of Murshidabad, a district bordering Bangladesh.

A Division Bench led by Justice Soumen Sen said the Court cannot turn its eyes from death, arson and violence, directing the Government to deploy central forces because protection of general life and property and not merely a select section of people was the State’s first priority. The Court also directed the administration to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. The High Court order came amid reports of at least three fatalities, including two in clashes and one in firing, Additional Director General (ADG), Law and Order, Jawed Shamim said.

State BJP leader Rajarshii Lahiri however said that “the deaths occurred after a family of sculptors or ‘Tal Mashai’, who make idols, was hacked to death by a crowd. The third person was “possibly killed in firing”, a police officer said.

Sources said public and private property, including buses and trucks apart from Railway installations at Shamsherganj, were torched by the protesters.

“The traffic via NH-12, the only route connecting north and south Bengal, is nearly blocked as movement of vehicles were halting at various points,” sources said adding that at least three public buses, a few trucks, cars, police vans and traffic kiosks were torched near Shutti town.

Saturday’s developments came a day after sudden flareup at Jangipur town wherein police fired four rounds and injured four persons. One of them, a schoolboy, was rushed to Kolkata for treatment.

The High Court order on central forces came on a petition filed by State Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari for such directions.

“This is a slap in the face of the Mamata Banerjee Government and her Director General of Police who are sitting as mute spectators despite largescale violence by Jihadi forces who are attacking Hindu families… life and property of Hindus in Murshidabad is in danger,” he said, adding “We had to move the High Court because the District Magistrate summoned the Border Security Forces but made them sit idle... one part of Bengal Police was busy protecting Jihadis whereas others was running for cover.”

Appealing to the people to maintain calm, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Waqf law was not passed by the State and so the protesters should take up the matter with the Centre. “I have repeatedly assured that this law will not be implemented in Bengal… so I ask the people to remain calm and have faith in me… I have already made it clear that we do not support this law… So what is the riot about?”

ADGP Shamim said that 138 people were arrested till now. State DGP Rajiv Kumar said that “forces have been asked to take all precautionary measures… we will tolerate no unruly act… police personnel have been directed to take firm action… we advise people not to lend ear to rumours and remain indoors and refrain from taking law into their hands… otherwise, strict action will be taken”. Senior police officers of ADGP rank were camping at Murshidabad to constantly monitor the situation. The police said that seven companies of BSF deployed were conducting route march in various areas.

Reports of disturbances filtered in from other parts of West Bengal, including Birbhum and Malda, where houses of a particular community were attacked. In Birbhum, a few affected women claimed that “police did nothing when miscreants came and attacked our houses… they vandalised our properties and beat us up”.

Meanwhile, tense situation prevailed as area people gheraoed Farakka MLA Munirul Islam and Murshidabad MP Khalilur Rehman after private properties were targeted by violent mobs. "My house was stoned and ransacked… I am myself waiting for police protection," Islam said even as Rehman appealed to the people not to lend ear to rumours.

"Mischief-mongers with a political agenda are spreading rumor to incite violence… I appeal to the people to remain vigilant," he said.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Mamata Banerjee, accused the opposition BJP of instigating communal violence. “After failing to fight us politically on developmental issues, they are now trying to spread unrest in Bengal by sowing social divisions in the name of religion… I appeal to the people to maintain peace,” he said even as Party General Secretary Kunal Ghosh said that “the BJP is trying to create a communal atmosphere before Assembly elections so as to reap political dividends… police will have to find out mischief- mongers to see whether they are political agents or not”.