The violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad, which was rocked by protests over the Waqf Amendment law, left a very bad mark on the women in the region, who have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government to beef up security to ensure safety for women.
Women in Dhuliyan, one of the worst-affected areas in the state’s minority-dominated Murshidabad district, have urged the Centre to set up permanent Border Security Force (BSF) camps in violence-hit pockets to ensure their safety following recent communal unrest.
Following last week’s violence, a delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW) led by its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar visited Dhuliyan on Saturday to meet those affected by last week’s violence, most of whom are Hindus. Several women broke down during their interaction with the delegation and pleaded for the permanent deployment of central forces.
A local woman, sobbing and touching the feet of a delegation member, said, “We won’t survive without permanent BSF camps here. If needed, we are ready to offer our own land and homes for setting them up.” The NCW team assured locals that their concerns would be conveyed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“We are here to stand with you in this moment of crisis. The whole country is watching and supporting you. We will submit a detailed report to the Centre and include the demand for permanent BSF presence in this region,” a delegation member told the women.
Even before Saturday’s visit, NCW member Archana Majumdar had stressed the need for permanent Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) camps in the region. “The women victims in Murshidabad have clearly expressed the need for permanent CAPF deployment to ensure their dignity and safety. We will raise the issue with the Union government,” Majumdar said on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Murshidabad district administration has prepared a preliminary report on property damage. According to initial estimates, over 250 houses and 100 shops – mostly owned by Hindus – were vandalised during the unrest. “This is just the initial estimate. The actual figure may rise as we complete the detailed assessment,” said a senior district official.
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