Security Forces Restore Calm in Dhuliyan After Waqf Act Protests

The administration has brought peace back to Dhuliyan town in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Protests broke out on April 11 over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Authorities now say the situation is under control. To restore order, officials deployed BSF and CRPF troops. Their presence helped calm the unrest. Security forces are still patrolling the town to prevent further violence.

Shops and Properties Damaged

Many local shopkeepers suffered heavy losses during the violence. Miscreants damaged shops, broke windows, and looted valuables. One shop owner told ANI, “My entire building has been destroyed. All the glass has shattered. The rear side of the building was weak — it had wooden windows and doors. They broke through that and entered inside. They caused complete destruction and even looted some of our belongings. Opposite my building, I have a shop. They broke the shutter of that shop too. Monday was a bank holiday, so I received all the payments on Tuesday. I had around Rs13.5 lakh in cash with me. The cash was meant to be deposited at the bank, but it was all stolen. Apart from that, my shop had furniture and equipment worth Rs7-8 lakh, including chairs, tables, CPUs, computers, and laptops. Altogether, I had nearly Rs20-25 lakh in losses.”

Victims Seek Government Help

Another shopkeeper, Adhir Ravi Das, also shared his loss. He said, “My shop has been completely damaged. Nothing is left. If the administration helps, we will be able to open the shop, or else nothing can be done. Materials worth Rs 6-7 lakhs were in the shop; everything has been burnt. We want peace. Since BSF is here, the situation is normal. We don’t know what will happen if BSF is removed from here. We want a BSF camp here.”

Normalcy Returns Gradually

Meanwhile, some locals confirmed that the situation has improved. Shopkeeper Habib-ur-Rehman said, “The situation in Samserganj is normal now. The administration is asking us to open our shops and stay disciplined. The situation has changed after BSF and CRPF have been deployed.” Authorities continue to monitor the town. They have urged people to remain calm and return to their daily routines.