Kolkata, 19 April (H.S.): In the aftermath of recent communal violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, a delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, visited the affected areas on Saturday to meet with riot victims. The commission assured them that the Central Government is committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure their safety in the future.

Speaking to victims in the Betbona area, Rahatkar said, “We are here to understand your pain. Do not be afraid. The nation and the Commission stand with you. You are not alone.” She added that the NCW would submit a detailed report of the visit to the central authorities.

Several women shared harrowing accounts of the ordeals they faced during the riots and urged the Commission to recommend the permanent deployment of Border Security Force (BSF) camps in vulnerable regions of the district. They also demanded a probe into the violence by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

A day earlier, the NCW team had also visited relief camps in Malda district, where many families displaced by the Murshidabad violence have taken shelter.

The NCW had taken suo motu cognizance of the violence that erupted on April 11 and 12 in areas such as Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur. The unrest, which broke out amid protests against amendments to the Waqf Act in Muslim-majority areas, resulted in three deaths and left hundreds of people homeless.

During the visit, the Commission assessed the condition of women affected by the violence and is expected to recommend appropriate action from the Central Government based on its findings.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh