West Bengal Police arrested 12 additional individuals on Sunday in connection with the violent protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad, bringing the total arrests to 150. The clashes, which claimed three lives, have subsided, with no fresh incidents reported, as security forces maintain a tight vigil across the Muslim-majority district.

A senior police officer stated, “The situation in Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur is now peaceful. Overnight raids led to 12 more arrests, and our investigation continues, with further detentions expected.” Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) remain in place, alongside an internet suspension in affected areas. Security personnel are conducting vehicle checks and patrolling sensitive zones to prevent any resurgence of unrest.

The protests, sparked by the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, turned violent on Friday, with mobs torching vehicles, including police vans, hurling stones at security forces, and blocking roads across Murshidabad and other parts of the state. Minor flare-ups persisted into Saturday. The violence left 18 policemen injured.

Tragically, two deaths were reported in Jafrabad, Samserganj, where Harogobindo Das and his son Chandan Das were found stabbed to death in their home on Saturday. Another victim, 21-year-old Ijaz Momin, succumbed to bullet wounds sustained during clashes at Sajur More in Suti on Friday.

On Saturday, April 12, the Calcutta High Court took decisive action, directing the immediate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the Murshidabad district to tackle violent protests sparked by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The ruling came during an emergency hearing prompted by a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Suvendu Adhikari, the state’s Leader of Opposition and a BJP leader, who urged central intervention to restore peace in the volatile, Muslim-majority region near the Bangladesh border.

A special bench, led by Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury under Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam’s guidance, lambasted the state government for its failure to control the unrest. “Courts cannot stand by while people’s lives and safety are at risk,” the justices declared, lamenting that earlier central force deployment might have prevented the escalation. The court extended its order, allowing CAPF deployment in other districts if similar disturbances erupt, but stressed that these forces must collaborate with local authorities to stabilize the situation.

The court further instructed both the West Bengal government and the Union government to submit comprehensive reports detailing the violence, setting April 17, 2025, as the date for the next hearing. The directive follows a grim toll: three fatalities, including a father and son stabbed to death in Samserganj and a 21-year-old shot in Suti, alongside over 150 arrests, torched vehicles, and 18 injured policemen since clashes began on April 8.

Dismissing the state’s assertion that order had been restored, the bench pointed to ongoing “chaos and destruction” not only in Murshidabad but also in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, describing the situation as “deeply troubling.” The court also brushed aside claims that the PIL was politically driven, prioritizing the urgent need to protect citizens over procedural objections.

As violence continues to simmer in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan has come under sharp criticism for an Instagram post showing him enjoying tea during the ongoing unrest.

The unrest has claimed three lives, prompting the Calcutta High Court to intervene by ordering deployment of central forces to maintain law and order. Amidst this tense atmosphere, Mr. Pathan’s post — which reads, “Easy afternoons, good chai, and calm surroundings. Just soaking in the moment” — has sparked outrage, especially on social media, for its perceived insensitivity.

Controversy over timing, silence amid violence

Though the violence-hit areas — including Suti, Dhuliya, and Samserganj — do not fall directly within Yusuf Pathan’s Baharampur constituency, they are within close proximity, around 80 km away. Critics argue that as a local MP from the region, Pathan’s public silence and seemingly relaxed post are inappropriate given the gravity of the situation.

Social media users questioned the MP’s response, with one user asking, “Do you have any shame?” The post, shared two days ago, has remained live without any clarification or comment from Mr. Pathan at the time of reporting.

Political criticism from across parties

The BJP has strongly condemned the MP’s actions, linking his post to the broader allegations against the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government for not addressing the violence swiftly. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said on social media: “Bengal is burning… Meanwhile Yusuf Pathan sips tea and soaks in the moment as Hindus get slaughtered. This is TMC.”

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Leaders and supporters from Left parties have also criticised Yusuf Pathan, adding to the cross-party pressure on the MP.

In response to the ongoing situation, the Calcutta High Court said it “cannot turn a blind eye” and ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad. The court observed that vandalism had prima facie taken place and that Constitutional Courts cannot be mute spectators when public safety is under threat.

Yusuf Pathan, a former India all-rounder and brother of cricketer Irfan Pathan, was elected MP from Baharampur in 2024, defeating senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. His selection by TMC had raised eyebrows due to his non-native background, with critics pointing out that he was based in Baroda, Gujarat.

The ongoing controversy over his social media post, along with his silence during the violent unrest, has further intensified public scrutiny of his role and responsiveness as a first-time parliamentarian.

A special team of the Coimbatore City Police apprehended John Jebaraj, a 37-year-old pastor of Kings Generation Church on Cross Cut Road, late Saturday, April 12, in Munnar, Kerala.

Jebaraj, accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls, was brought to Coimbatore early Sunday and remanded in judicial custody until April 25 after appearing before a judge.

The allegations stem from an incident on May 21, 2024, when Jebaraj allegedly assaulted two girls, aged 17 and 14, during a party at his Coimbatore residence. Following a complaint lodged by one of the survivors at the All Women Police Station, Coimbatore Central, a week ago, Jebaraj was charged under Sections 9(l)(m) (aggravated sexual assault) and 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Jebaraj had been evading arrest for nearly a week, prompting City Police Commissioner A. Saravana Sundar to form three special teams led by Assistant Commissioner T.H. Ganesh to track him down.

A lookout notice was also issued to prevent him from fleeing the country. Acting on credible intelligence, a team headed by Inspector R. Arjun Kumar located Jebaraj in Munnar, Idukki district, and took him into custody.

Known for his Christian devotional songs and live performances, Jebaraj, associated with Levi Ministries, has a significant social media following. The 37-year-old pastor arrested for the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls, is a prominent figure in gospel music and ministry, boasting a substantial online following across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

His Kings Generation Church on Cross Cut Road in Coimbatore also enjoys an active social media presence, regularly posting updates, event highlights, and snippets of services to engage its community.