WB: CM Mamata declares formation of new sub-division in Murshidabad

Banerjee’s visit to this district, bordering Bangladesh, comes three weeks after widespread communal riots. Read further on Dynamite News

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on an official visit to trouble-hit Murshidabad district, on Tuesday announced creation of a new subdivision comprising Farakka, Dhuliyan and Suti, to ensure a more efficient and responsive administration.

Banerjee said whilst Farakka, Dhuliyan and Suti come under Malda constituency during the Lok Sabha poll and and the same areas come under Murshidabad during the assembly election, we will have a new subdivision to ease the administrative workload.

The main office would be located in the middle of the three locations and this will happen within the next one and half-months.

Banerjee Visit

Banerjee's visit to this district, bordering Bangladesh, comes three weeks after widespread communal riots engulfed the area during Waqf Amendment Act protests on April 11 and April 12. The riots led to the lynching of Harogobinda Das (71) and his son Chandan Das (41) in their Jafrabad village home. Elsewhere in Samsergunj one youth was shot dead in alleged police firing.

Banerjee urged the people to maintain communal harmony and warned them "not to be provoked" by the BJP or any fundamental forces. She claimed that "people from outside" had come and created disturbances to tarnish the image of West Bengal.

"If you want peace then I am with you, and if you want trouble then I am not with you, and you had better sever my head," the TMC supremo said.

She reiterated that the rioters had been "brought from outside".

Banerjee has been touring in this border district since Monday.

70 Percent Muslim Population

Murshidabad has some 70 percent Muslim population and is close to Bangladesh. The chief minister met the families of those impacted by the violence and assured the affected families of all possible government support and promised strict action against those responsible for inciting the violence.

Murshidabad Violence

Last month Murshidabad's massive anti-Waqf Bill protests has spiralled into chaos as visuals show mobs torching vehicles, smashing property, and clashing with authorities. As off now, section 144 has been imposed and the Internet services have been shut down .

Protesters set police vans and buses on fire in Jangipur and Shyamnagar. Officers ran for safety, hiding inside a petrol pump in Nadia. Government buildings were attacked. Broken glass and burnt debris now cover the streets. The violence continues unchecked as authorities struggle to restore order.

While CM Mamata Banerjee claims "peace prevails," her police force appears tenuous. Governor CV Ananda Bose has demanded immediate action, but little visible enforcement reamins unabated.