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Murshidabad Violence: Calcutta High Court Dismisses NIA Probe Plea, Orders Rehab Panel for Displaced
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday turned down a a plea seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the recent spate of violence that broke out Bengal’s Murshidabad district, stemming out of protests against the Waqf Ammendment Act 2025. Instead, the court ordered the formation of a three-member committee to identify and rehabilitate those displaced by the unrest.
While dismissing the plea for an NIA probe at this stage, the court clarified that the matter had not yet met the threshold for such intervention. “The prayer for NIA at this stage is not considered in view of the fact that no adequate materials have been placed before us,” the Bench noted. However, the judges acknowledged the Centre’s authority to initiate an NIA probe independently under the NIA Act of 2008. “It appears that the Central Government is yet to take a decision on this aspect of the matter. Our observation shall not stand in the way of the Central Government to exercise its power suo motu if the situation warrants,” the order stated.
A Division Bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury stated that the immediate focus must be on providing relief and support to affected residents. “The prime responsibility is currently to restore and rehabilitate those who have been displaced during the arson and violence,” the court said.
The newly-formed committee will include one member each from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the West Bengal State Human Rights Commission (WBHRC), and the State Legal Services Authority. Its primary task will be to assess the damage, locate displaced individuals, and coordinate their rehabilitation.
The court also directed that central paramilitary forces remain stationed in the affected areas to maintain law and order. It further warned that no party should issue provocative statements related to the Waqf Amendment Act, which has been the centre of the controversy.
The Bench appealed to all political parties and community leaders to help restore normalcy. “It is expected that all the parties and stakeholders shall make sincere attempts for restoration of peace, tranquillity and normalcy in the disturbed areas,” the court said. The matter will next be heard on 15 May.
The violence, which erupted in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas left at least three people dead and many displaced. Several homes were torched and public property damaged during the protests.
The political blame game over the incident has intensified, with the Trinamool Congress alleging that the Border Security Force (BSF) enabled infiltrators to cross the border and provoke the unrest. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, has accused the Mamata Banerjee-led state government of fuelling the violence for political gain.
