A recent wave of violence in Murshidabad has sparked alarm, with investigations indicating the involvement of radical activists from the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), under the banner of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The unrest, which flared up during protests last week, is now being viewed as a pre-planned act of communal provocation.
According to sources in the police and intelligence agencies, the Bengal police have received credible intelligence suggesting that SDPI played a central role in orchestrating the violence. For several days, SDPI members reportedly mobilised local Muslim youth, claiming that the government was planning to seize Muslim-owned properties under the Waqf reforms.
“Workers of SDPI, founded in 2009 after SIMI was banned, went door to door in various areas, spreading fear among teenagers and youth, warning them that the government was planning to seize Muslim-owned properties in the name of Waqf reforms,” said an officer from the state’s Intelligence Branch (IB).
The situation escalated after the death of Ijaz Ahmed, who had been injured in a police clash and later died of his injuries in a Murshidabad hospital on Saturday.
“His family has confirmed to the police about the presence of an SDPI-led campaign in the area, further fueling the allegations,” said the officer.
Police officials pointed out that Murshidabad has historically hosted extremist outfits. It was once a stronghold for SIMI, and later became a hub for the Popular Front of India (PFI), a radical organisation with links to Bangladesh-based fundamentalist groups.
The SDPI, with connections to both SIMI and PFI, is reportedly well-established in the district.
Intelligence agencies have consistently briefed the Union government about the activities of radical groups such as PFI and SDPI in Murshidabad. The Centre banned PFI for five years in September 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Authorities also noted that the violence appeared highly organised. The first signs of protest emerged in Suti, where demonstrators blocked the national highway.
“As police forces got engaged there, coordinated violence and arson broke out in nearby Shamsherganj, roughly ten kilometres away. This tactical diversion prevented timely police response and allowed the rioters to wreak havoc,” said another police officer.
One of the most alarming aspects of the incident is the involvement of a large number of youth and minors, aged between 10 and 20 years. Viral videos and eyewitness reports confirm that many participants in the violence were exceptionally young.
These boys, many of whom were migrant labourers returning home for the Eid holidays, were reportedly manipulated into joining the mob.
The violence resulted in significant damage to public property and selectively targeted Hindu-owned shops and homes, suggesting a communal motive. As investigations continue, authorities are also probing the involvement of external elements and are on high alert to prevent further escalation.
Police and central forces remain deployed in the region, with heightened security measures in place.
The state administration is under increasing pressure to take strict action, ensure accountability, and address growing concerns of communal polarisation in one of Bengal’s most sensitive districts.
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