"Atrocities against women are not accepted": NCW Chairperson Rahatkar on WB violence

"We came to know from the media reports that atrocities have been committed against women (in violence-hit areas of West Bengal during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act), and the women are scared too. We will go to the spot to see the situation. We have the reports, but we will go there and talk to the women, as atrocities against women are not accepted, and these things should not happen," the NCW chief told ANI.

Meanwhile, Vijaya Rahatkar arrived in Kolkata on Thursday evening to lead an inquiry into the recent violence in Murshidabad following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Rahatkar, who is part of the probe committee constituted by the NCW, will visit affected areas, including Malda and Murshidabad, over the next three days. She said her visit aims to boost the morale of women who have been left traumatised by the communal unrest.

"The women here are very scared after the communal violence that broke out here...NCW has taken cognisance of this and we have constituted a probe committee...I am also a part of the probe committee. Over the next three days, we will visit these violence-hit areas. We will go to Malda and Murshidabad. We will meet the affected women there and interact with them," she said while speaking to reporters.

Meanwhile, a team from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is set to visit a refugee camp in Malda on Friday.

In a post on X on Thursday, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said, "A team of NHRC officials will visit the refugee camp in Malda, West Bengal tomorrow."

The visit comes in the wake of violence that erupted on April 11 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which resulted in the deaths of three people, injuries to several others, and widespread property damage. Several families have been displaced, with many migrating to Jharkhand's Pakur district, while others have taken refuge in relief camps set up in Malda.

On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court stated that central forces will remain in Murshidabad for some time to maintain law and order and said that the court will monitor the restoration and rehabilitation of victims.

The court also ordered officials from the BJP, TMC, and others not to make provocative speeches that could escalate tensions. (ANI)