The riot-affected areas of Murshidabad on Friday witnessed a tripartite visit taking place with Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, members of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and those from National Commission for Women (NCW) visiting the “refugee camps” in Malda district ignoring Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s advise not to go there till the situation normalised. Bose said that he as the Governor took his own decisions to visit affected areas. “I am going to the field,” Bose said before reaching Malda.
The NHRC team visited the Parlalpur High School in Malda, where hundreds of displaced persons have taken shelter since communal clashes erupted in Murshidabad on April 11 and 12 during protests against the Central Government’s amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Act. He further said, “It is Mamata Banerjee’s opinion that I should not go. But I want to. I have my own way of functioning. I want to assess things myself,” before preparing a report. CM had earlier said that the situation in Murshidabad was normal and appealed all concerned to save the locals not to visit there.
“I would request non-locals not to visit Murshidabad right now. I would appeal to the Governor to wait for a few more days as confidence-building measures are underway… I could have gone there … but I desisted because I want the peace to return first,” she said.
At least 275 people had thus far been arrested including the three persons responsible for the brutal killing of a father and son duo. The prime accused in that case has been named as Inzamul and Dildar Sheikh — one from Suti town and the other from neighbouring Murarai in Birbhum district, sources said.
Apart from the Governor two teams from National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women too visited the area.
The NHRC team that visited the Par Lalpur High School at Baishnabnagar in Malda, where hundreds of displaced persons have taken shelter in the wake of communal attacks post enactment of the Waqf laws was greeted with protests with the evacuees demanding permanent BSF camp set up in areas like Shamsherganj, Suti in Murshidabad district. They narrated stories of how they had to flee their houses in a matter of minutes to escape attacks.
“Our houses have been burnt to ashes and our savings worth lakhs including gold and other items have been looted by the attackers,” they complained adding they had to flee on boats across Bhagirathi River to neighbouring Malda. They also alleged that had the BSF not reacted on time they would not have lived to tell their woes. “We called the police continuously but they would either not receive calls or would arrive late when our houses had been looted,” the complained.
NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar said that an inquiry team had been formed and it would conduct an extensive report and submit it. “We have received reports that women in the affected areas and relief camps are not being treated properly… such allegations will also be inquired into.” The life at the relief camp was as good as that in a prison the ‘refugees’ told the NCW representatives.
“We are not even allowed to meet our relatives who come here… the officials do not behave properly with us… as if we are beggars which we are not… They’re trying to force us to return home, but it’s still unsafe. We want BSF camps in our localities in Dhulian before we consider going back,” they told the visiting officials.
After spending the night in Malda the NCW team is likely to visit the riot affected areas of Murshidabad on Saturday. The team is also likely to meet senior district officials and Chief Secretary and State Director General of Police.
HC forms 3-member panel for victims’ rehabilitation
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered the formation of a three-member committee for the identification and
rehabilitation of people displaced by the violence during the protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad district.
A division bench comprising justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury also said that its interim order of April 12, directing the deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in Murshidabad, will continue.
The court said the three-member committee will consist of an official each from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC), besides the member secretary of the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA).
“We deem it appropriate to constitute a committee consisting of three officers who shall monitor and coordinate the situation,” it said. The committee was directed to identify the displaced persons,
extent of damage caused to properties of the victims and also collect the data of the FIRs lodged.