"Husband held hostage; money, jewellery looted, house set on fire": Amit Malviya on Murshidabad violence

New Delhi [India], April 21 (ANI): BJP IT department in-charge Amit Malviya on Monday highlighted a purported incident of robbery and arson in Murshidabad during the recent violence in the district, where a family was robbed of cash and gold jewellery, and their home was set on fire.
In a post on X, Malviya, while sharing a video of the victim, said, "Rs 7 lakh had been saved for their daughter's wedding, and Rs 4 lakh for medical treatment. The husband was held hostage while all the money and gold jewellery in the house were looted. They were asked, 'Do you want your husband or your money?' Their entire home was then set on fire. This is the real picture of Murshidabad."
West Bengal BJP President and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar confirmed that several incidents of arson and looting had occurred during the Murshidabad violence. He also alleged that Hindus were threatened at gunpoint and forced to chant Islamic religious slogans.
Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, "Several incidents of this kind happened that day, and not just this, Hindus were held at gunpoint and forced to chant Islamic religious slogans. This will be the future of other Hindus who are staying in other parts of the state, who think this problem is limited to Murshidabad... I want to ask about the whereabouts of the so-called intellectuals of Kolkata."
The violence began on April 11 in the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protest turned violent, resulting in the killing of two people, injuries to several others, and extensive property damage, forcing thousands to flee their homes for safety.
The protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act spread to other districts, including Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, and involved incidents of arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades.
Following the violence, many families fled their homes. Some have migrated to the Pakur district in Jharkhand, while others are staying in relief camps set up in Malda.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, days after the violence, issued a public appeal urging citizens to maintain peace and unity. She accused the BJP and its affiliates, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of exploiting the incident to incite unrest for political gain.
In an open letter, Chief Minister Banerjee alleged that certain groups were "using the backdrop of an unfortunate incident" to promote a divisive agenda. (ANI)