Radicalisation big threat: Governor files report on West Bengal riots

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has submitted a report on the recent riots in Murshidabad district to the Ministry of Home Affairs, stating that the “twin spectre of radicalisation and militancy” posed a serious challenge to the state.

Bose said that going by the state’s history of political clashes, there was a possibility that the Murshidabad violence would spill over to other districts. He further noted, “Apprehending a “spill-over”, the Centre might consider “constitutional options to put a check on the current situation, besides generating confidence of people in the rule of law”.

He also suggested other measures, including setting up an inquiry commission and outposts of central forces or the BSF in districts bordering Bangladesh.

The Governor further claimed that the riots appeared “pre-meditated” and the state government was “aware of the imminent build-up of a threat to law and order”.

After the Waqf (Amendment) Act was notified on April 8, conflagration unfolded in Murshidabad district and continued for several days, Bose said, adding that the authorities suspended internet services on the same day. “Thus, the state government was aware of the imminent build-up of threat to law and order in Murshidabad,” he alleged.

He said the sequence of events showed woeful lack of coordination among the administration and law enforcement agencies that were either too feeble to rise to the challenge or were reluctant to do so.

The Governor went on to say that the intensifying political rivalry between the ruling party and the Opposition had led to both parties increasingly leveraging religious identity to consolidate their voter bases.

“The divisions are so deep that the CM’s repeated undertaking that she would protect the minority interests, and that the Act would not be implemented in the state, did little to assuage the Muslim community or stem the tide,” Bose wrote in the report.

Bose alleged there was a marked rise in law and order issues ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. Bose observed that the police were ineffective and central forces were needed to bring back normalcy.

He further wrote, “Needless to add, the provisions under Article 356 of the Constitution also remain.” The imposition of Article 356 refers to President’s rule in a state.

However, an official said, “The Governor has not proposed the implementation of Article 356, but meant that the provisions of Article 356 are open to the Centre, if the situation in the state deteriorates further.”

India