'TMC netas may've sparked violence with aid of Bangladeshis'

NEW DELHI: Preliminary reports reaching the home ministry on the communal outbreak in Murshidabad in West Bengal, during protests against the waqf Act, suggest local TMC members had allegedly prompted the Bangladeshi miscreants known to them and part of their "larger network", to trigger minor law and order disturbances so as to create an impression of public "outrage" against the waqf law amendments. However, these minor clashes soon turned into full-blown communal violence as the Bangladeshi elements went out of control; instead of restricting themselves to engineering minor incidents as "asked by TMC members", they decided to escalate things on their own and resorted to clashes that claimed three lives, central govt sources told TOI, citing inputs from intelligence agencies and other sources, reports Bharti Jain.

The violence specifically targeted Hindus, said sources. With TMC members no longer in control of 'rogue' Bangladeshi elements, many Hindu families were forced to flee to Malda. This, according to media reports endorsed by BJP'sAmit Malviyaon 'X' on Tuesday, raised fears of renewed infiltration and communal unrest.

With around 900 BSF troops deployed in Murshidabad since Friday to assist police and nearly 300 miscreants arrested, the situation is now under control. Centre, in a fresh development, has sought a clarification from the West Bengal govt, explaining its alleged failure to protect lives and property and attacks on railway assets and not taking adequate action in initial stages of the violence.