Kolkata: Violence over the contentious Waqf law continues to escalate in West Bengal, with fresh clashes reported between supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and the police. The latest confrontation took place in South 24 Parganas, where ISF supporters clashed with security personnel, leading to widespread chaos, injuries, and arson.
According to reports, several people were injured in the incident, and multiple police vehicles were torched during the unrest. The violence erupted when ISF supporters were stopped by police while en route to a rally being led by party leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui at Kolkata’s Ramlila Ground. Police claimed the rally was organized without official permission.
How the Violence Escalated
The confrontation began near Bhojerhat on the Basanti Highway, where police tried to halt a large group of ISF supporters traveling from areas like Minakhan and Sandeshkhali. Tensions flared as the crowd allegedly attempted to break police barricades. In response, police used force to disperse the agitators, leading to clashes.
“A group of protestors set several police vehicles ablaze. Multiple officers were injured during the confrontation,” a senior police official stated. The situation intensified when one ISF supporter sustained a head injury during the lathi-charge. In retaliation, protestors staged a sit-in on the highway, causing a major traffic jam in the area.
Following the unrest, police reinforcements were rushed to the spot and high alert was issued in surrounding areas. Authorities eventually managed to disperse the protestors and bring the situation under control.
This incident marks another chapter in the ongoing unrest surrounding the Waqf law in Bengal, raising concerns over law and order in the region.
