MURSHIDABAD: A man and his son were among three people killed as violent protests erupted in India’s West Bengal state against the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill.
The unrest, which broke out in Murshidabad district, also left at least 15 police officers injured in clashes with demonstrators.
According to Indian media reports, the protest turned violent when police opened fire and used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Protesters reportedly set vehicles and public property on fire. Police arrested around 150 individuals involved in the demonstrations.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for calm, assuring the public that the contentious legislation would not be enforced in the state.
The bill, passed recently by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, has drawn strong criticism for allegedly aiming to seize Muslim community properties.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and even the hardline Hindu group Shiv Sena, have condemned the bill, calling it discriminatory and politically motivated.
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