Murshidabad Violence 2025: Waqf Act Protests Bring Death and Destruction, April 13 Sunday Pinki Das, a 32-year-old mom from Jafrabad village in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, sat holding her six-year-old daughter, barely able to talk. “We kept calling the police when the attacks started, but no one picked up. My husband and father-in-law were killed, and their bodies lay outside our house for hours,” she said, her voice breaking. On Friday, a mob turned violent during protests against a new Waqf (Amendment) Act, and Pinki’s world fell apart.
During the unrest, Pinki’s husband, Chandan Das (40), and her father-in-law, Hargobind Das (70), tragically lost their lives. Their home was ransacked—doors were broken, windows shattered, and the rooms left in a mess. “Who’s going to help us now? How do we go on?” she asked, fighting back tears. That day’s chaos took three lives, injured 15 cops, and prompted the Calcutta High Court to deploy the Central Armed Forces to restore peace. The state has reported that more than 150 people have been taken into custody.
About 20 kilometers away, in Kashimnagar’s Gazipur area, Selima Bibi clutched her two-year-old daughter, mourning her husband, Ejaz Ahmed (21). He was reportedly shot dead by police at Sajurmore crossing amid the same protests. “I just want justice. He was so young,” Selima said quietly. Ejaz was set to head back to his hotel job in Chennai but got caught in the mayhem while visiting family. “No one’s come to check on us—not police, not leaders,” said Shahid Sheikh, his uncle.
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Pinki’s village took a hard hit. Neighbors said stones rained down, three houses were set on fire, and cars and bikes were burned to a crisp. Sraboni Das, a local Congress leader from nearby Tinpukuria, said her house was attacked, too. “They failed to break in, so they set it ablaze. “We’re too afraid to live here anymore,” she said.
Near Pinki’s wrecked home, local leaders from TMC and BJP stood side by side. “These attackers are monsters. “We stand by the affected families,” said Amirul Islam of TMC. BJP’s Uttam Kumar Das added, “Lots of Hindu homes and shops got looted and burned—not just here, but in other villages too.”
Pinki recounted Friday’s terror: “Young guys showed up around 10 AM, throwing bombs and rocks. They hit our house four times, finally busting the door. Some wrecked everything inside while others dragged my father-in-law and husband out and killed them. I begged, but they didn’t care.” She hid with her kids—two boys, 16 and 11, and her daughter—on the terrace. “Now my kids keep asking for their dad and grandpa,” said Parul Das, Pinki’s mother-in-law, who lost her mason son and farmer husband.
At Selima’s place, a crowd gathered, but no officials had stopped by. Ejaz was rushed to Jangipur hospital, then Murshidabad’s, but didn’t make it. “He loved football and just had a picnic with us Thursday,” said his friend Odudh Sheikh, stunned. Police confirmed the three deaths, and on Sunday, heavy security—police, Rapid Action Force, and BSF—patrolled Sajurmore, where burned-out wrecks of a bus, police jeeps, and bikes still littered the road.
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